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When your baby stops breastfeeding and obtains all of his nutrients from sources other than the breast, he is termed weaned. Although newborns are weaned from bottles as well, the word "weaning" usually refers to when a baby is weaned from breast feeding.

When weaning is a mother's idea, it usually takes a lot of patience and time, depending on the age of your baby or toddler and how well your kid adjusts. Everyone's overall experience is unique.

Weaning is a protracted farewell that may be both emotional and difficult. It does not, however, mean that the intimacy you and your kid have formed throughout the breastfeeding era has come to an end. This implies that you must substitute other forms of nutrition for breast feeding.

Begin weaning

You are the greatest judge of when it is time to wean, and there is no real deadline until both you and your kid are ready to wean. One year is the suggested period for weaning. There is no right or wrong time to wean, regardless of what relatives, friends, or even total strangers tell you.

Weaning Procedures

Regardless of your child's age, you should approach cautiously. Experts advise against abruptly withholding your breast since the consequences might be severe. Instead, you should attempt the following methods:

  1. Skip a feeding - Skip a feeding and watch what happens, instead handing your infant a cup of milk. You can substitute a bottle of your own pumped milk, formula, or cow's milk. Your youngster will ultimately acclimate to the adjustments if you limit feedings one at a time.
  2. Reduce feeding time - Begin by reducing the amount of time your kid spends at the breast. If your regular feeding time is 5 minutes, try 3 minutes. Follow the meal with a nutritious snack, depending on the child's age. Bedtime feedings are frequently the most difficult to wean since they are the last to leave.
  3. Feedings can be postponed and distracted if you just feed a handful of times each day. This strategy works well if you have an older child with whom you can reason. If your youngster requests the breast, tell him you'll feed him later and then divert him.
If you've tried everything and weaning isn't working, it's possible that the time isn't right. You can wait a little longer to see what occurs, since your kid and you must decide when to wean together.