Weaning Your Child From Breastfeeding

Weaning is a natural stage in your baby's development — the gradual process of giving your baby other foods while continuing to breastfeed. It can come with a lot of mixed emotions: excitement at the new independence you and your baby can enjoy, alongside some sadness as she moves into another stage of life. Both are completely normal. Breastfeeding as long as you can is the best thing for your baby — you can continue until your child is 2 years of age and beyond.

When should I wean my baby?

At about 6 months, your baby will be ready for other foods, and will also need them to meet her growing nutritional needs — you can continue breastfeeding as you introduce them. You'll know your baby is ready when he seems hungry earlier than usual, can sit up without support with good neck control, holds food in his mouth without pushing it straight out, shows interest when others are eating, opens his mouth as food approaches, and can signal he doesn't want food by leaning back or turning away.

Weaning can be natural (child-led) or planned (mother-led). Natural weaning happens as your baby accepts more solid foods while still breastfeeding on demand, following her own pace — babies weaned this way usually stop breastfeeding completely between 2 and 4 years of age. Planned weaning happens when a mother decides to start the process — a "partial wean" substitutes one or more feedings with a cup or bottle while continuing to breastfeed at other times, which can work well if returning to work or school while still wanting to breastfeed morning, evening or night.

How do I wean my baby?

Follow your baby's cues whenever possible, and see your doctor if you feel your baby isn't taking enough other foods or liquids.

• It's easiest for both of you if weaning is gradual, over several weeks, months or longer — a sudden, abrupt wean should only be considered in extreme circumstances, such as maternal illness.
• Start by substituting one feed; when that's going well, substitute another, and so on, one at a time, at whatever pace works for you and your baby — generally, slower is better.
• Sometimes someone else, such as your baby's father, needs to offer a feed for your baby to accept it. You can start with a liquid (such as expressed breast milk) in a bottle or cup, or a complementary food, after about 6 months.
• Hold and cuddle your baby if bottle-feeding — this extra closeness helps both of you through the process. Never prop a bottle, which risks choking and early childhood tooth decay.
• Watch the cues you give your baby — sitting in your usual nursing chair, for example, will likely make him want to breastfeed.

Can't I just stop breastfeeding?

If possible, avoid an abrupt wean, which can be uncomfortable for you and upsetting for your baby. If you need to take a medication, talk to your doctor first — very few medications actually require stopping breastfeeding. If you're very sick or need to be separated from your baby for a while, express your milk to avoid blocked ducts, mastitis or a breast abscess if your breasts become uncomfortable. Babies who are sick should not be abruptly weaned — you can pump and store breast milk until your baby can take it again.

What complementary foods can I give my baby?

At about 6 months, start introducing solid foods, one at a time and in small amounts at first — some babies get quite constipated if given too much solid food too soon. You can also offer small amounts of water once or twice a day, usually after 6 months; it's best to avoid juice at this age, since too much can lead to dental caries, obesity, or even poor weight gain and diarrhoea. Offer water or alternate milks in a cup rather than a bottle — breastfed babies can learn to drink from a cup as early as 6 months, and this works with expressed breast milk too.

After 12 months, your baby shouldn't take more than 16–24 oz (500–720 mL) of milk a day — otherwise she may fill up and skip solid foods, or develop iron deficiency anaemia. If your baby has a milk allergy, talk to your doctor about substitute feedings.

What to offer, by age

• 6 to 12 months: breast milk, iron-fortified infant formula, and begin introducing solid foods.
• 12 to 18 months: breast milk and whole cow's milk (3.25%).
• 18 to 24 months: breast milk and whole cow's milk (3.25%) — 2% milk is fine if your child is growing well and eating a variety of foods.
• 2 to 5 years: 2% milk.