Weaning: What, When, and How

Seasoned parents know advice from "Parents" conglomerate magazines steers moms toward weaning and formula, pandering to the formula companies that generate huge advertising revenues. Twisting AAP's guidance is inexcusable. The "exclusivity" of the first 6 months of breastfeeding is meant to give way to some complementary solids, not weaning and formula. The AAP is clear that breastfeeding should continue for at least one year and then as long as desired.

Research your information before misrepresenting what the AAP says. It is articles like this that cause mothers to second guess themselves when we should be supporting a mothers choice to breastfeed. Epic fail on the part of Parents and American Baby.

This is the worst, most untrue article that this magazine could publish. The benefits of breastfeeding are innumerable and to say its some bad "habit" is deplorable. You should be ashamed of this. At least I know what companies I will no longer be giving any money to. Hopefully you are okay with all breastfeeding mothers boycotting not only your magazine but all other companies that are voluntarily affiliated with you. Absolutely shameful.

I was horrified by this article, ESPECIALLY the part about weaning from the breast at 6 months. You are twisting the words of the AAP in order to push people toward formula. SHAME ON YOU! How stupid do you think people are, anyway? You would do better to just put in a full page ad that reads, "WE ARE BEING PAID BY THE FORMULA COMPANIES SO PLEASE STOP BREASTFEEDING YOUR BABY AND BUY SOME FORMULA." At least THAT would be more honest on your part!

As a member and leader within the AAP, a general pediatrician and a mother I ask you to correct this information. Our policy statement clearly says that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child." Your title is blatantly and potentially detrimentally wrong and the info within is confusing to the audience you serve. Please address these errors.

This is disappointing information to see. Do you even use fact checkers at Meredith? This attack on physiologically normal infant feeding duration leads me to suspect that Parents and all associated content are taking money from pharmaceutical companies to harm breastfeeding relationships through disinformation. Breastfeeding is not a "habit" and replacing it with a bottle does what? Replaces one sucking "habit" for another less optimal sucking "habit". Shame on you.

This article is misleading. As a member of the AAP, I know the policy of exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months means that the baby does not need additional foods, not that they should stop breastfeeding. I would certainly encourage a mom to continue to breastfeed for as long as she would like. The benefits of breastfeeding continue after 6 months of age.

Slso, I don't know who the person that said 5 days is an acceptable time period to wean but it should be done much more gradually or the mother can get mastitis. My friend weaned too fast and got a clogged duct which led to an infection which also most killed her and she had to have a portion of her breast tissue surgically removed and spend a week in the hospital.

This article is misleading because the WHO recommends breastfeeding for 2+ years and AAP recommends at least 1 year. I know that not all parents wish to or can breastfeed for that long but you should at least mention that ideally the child should not be weaned before a year.

Furthermore, breastfeeding isn't a "habit" to be "broken"...it's a beautiful, healthy, natural way of nourishing an infant that should be respected and honored. Wait, I forgot, this was published by a magazine who generally treats children and babies and things to be "managed" rather than gifts to be nurtured. You should be ashamed of yourselves for publishing such garbage.

I just registered at this site for the sole purpose of telling you how incredibly STUPID and DANGEROUS this advice is. Weaning in 5 days isn't just unnecessarily hard on the infant, it's dangerous for the mother. Ever heard of mastitiis? Clogged ducts? Has the author of this nonsense ever actually breastfed? If so, they would know the pain associated with suddenly stopping nursing.

FAIL american baby.. FAIL... seems that we know where your loyalties lie.. Formula companies? Sure looks like it.

Really? WHO is writing this misinformation?! The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk states that ¿Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child¿. This article only encourages premature weaning!!

#4)having Dad handle the bottle feedings during these magical 5 days would assume that said baby only gets to eat when he is home. Would that mean that the author is also assuming that he's unemployed, or that once a baby reaches 6 months of age they're only interested in nursing in the evenings? Please check your facts, Parents magazine. Apparently American Baby can't be trusted to do it for you.

#3)the recommendation of weaning in 5 days is a recipe for disaster. Weaning, as a natural process, occurs gradually as the child becomes accustomed to other kinds of food, allowing for the mother's milk supply to diminish with her child's demand. Quitting breastfeeding cold turkey would result in painful engorgement for the mother, a flux of hormones telling her that her baby must have died, and a very fussy, confused, and frightened baby to contend with as well.

#2) the WHO not only recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months but continued breastfeeding after the introduction of solids until the child is at least two years of age. Breastmilk is not only best for infants, it continues to be a primary source of nutrients, immunity, and comfort long after it ceases being the sole source of calories.

I'm greatly dismayed at the misinformation in this article. At 500 characters a comment this is going to take a while. My apologies to those who have to read this is in pieces. #1) a child who is weaned before 12 months of age would have to be weaned onto formula. so you're recommending trading in free breastmilk for an expensive substitute.