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Is It Time to Wean?
Weaning, or phasing out breastfeeding in favor of bottle- or cup-feeding, can be a complicated issue for any mother. To help, here's a rundown of the basic -- and not-so-basic -- factors for you to consider.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urges mothers to breastfeed for their baby's first year, but only about 16 percent of nursing moms reach that goal. "Going back to work, a big vacation without baby coming up, and a feeling of 'I want my body back' are some of the explanations I hear," says Marianne Neifert, MD, a pediatrician and the author if Dr. Mom's Guide to Breastfeeding (Plume). "And all of those reasons are valid."
For many women, however, weaning is something that "just sort of happens," Dr. Neifert says. The most likely scenario, she explains, is that a mom starts supplementing breast milk with formula, and her baby regularly gets both the breast and the bottle. "The mother's milk supply then lowers in response to the decrease in breastfeeding. The lower supply frustrates the baby, who gradually realizes that the bottle is the most reliable source of milk. Then he 'self-weans,'" Dr. Neifert says. "But really, he only stops nursing because he isn't nursed often enough."
Some moms do make -- or surpass -- the goal of breastfeeding until baby's first birthday. Stephanie Nakhleh, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, breastfed her daughter for two years. "I'd wanted Julia to wean herself," says Nakhleh. "By her second birthday, she'd feed very frequently. But only for a couple of seconds at a time." Nakhleh, who was also considering getting pregnant again, decided to take the lead in weaning Julia.
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I started supplamenting after the first week when I couldnt keep up with his demands for more at each feeding. I have had no issues with him being unhappy with the bottle, he transitions ver well from breast to bottle! (Added perk, grandma and grandpa can now help with feedings!) Nuk makes hot/cold packs for engorgment that work very well!
5/1/2011 04:45:42 PM Report AbuseI breastfed my oldest daughter until she was 29 months. One day, she just decided she was done. My new baby is breastfeeding. She is 22 months. She nurses fequently and is happy. Nursing is such a great benefit for my baby.I get upset that so many people "FROWN" on an older child nursing.I will let nature take it's course and know I am providing my child with a wonderful gift that's going to last a lifetime. My daughter will wean herself and when she is ready.
2/1/2010 02:42:04 AM Report AbuseMy son is 9 months everyone is telling me to prepare to wean,but im a bit sad at the thought. Breastfeeding has been a wonderful bonding experience i do plan to work once hes one ,but i have no idea how to start.
1/29/2010 10:12:49 PM Report AbuseMy sone is 9 months everyone is telling me to start preparing to wean ,but im a bit sad at the thought of it breastfeeding has been a wonderful bonding experience with my son. I know that i need to make a plan once he turns one i have planned to look for a job. Any suggestions would be great!
1/29/2010 10:11:34 PM Report AbuseI am on my 3rd breastfed baby & am currently weaning her. She drinks water or milk from a cup during the day; there is no reason to switch from breast to bottle with a baby old enough to eat solids. By replacing the breast at meals & then through the rest of the day, I've found they pretty much wean themselves. The hard ones are bedtime & morning. Bedtime can be replaced with another ritual, morning...just resign yourself to a few weeks of early rising to take baby to the highchair.
1/25/2010 08:32:52 PM Report AbuseI feel the same way as the lady with the 22 month old, my daughter is 21 months old and is doing the same thing. I am done, and I want to wean her so she is not traumatized. Any suggestions?
1/24/2010 10:09:00 PM Report AbuseHow do I wean my daughter (22months) She seems to be using me as security instead of nutrition. Tips?\
1/24/2010 03:55:52 PM Report AbuseHow old should a infant be to start whole milk? Also can I mix formula and whole milk together?
1/24/2010 11:27:57 AM Report AbuseThey don't say anything about putting raw cabbage on engorged boobs, my friend says it really helps with the pain.
1/24/2010 11:08:19 AM Report Abusemegalee84, It is not that breastmilk makes the formula bad, it's that components of the formula can interfere with absorption or effectiveness of some of the nutrients from the breastmilk.
1/24/2010 10:55:30 AM Report Abusei am having a very hard time weaning my daughter cries constantly with a bottle and pushes it away. as soon as i give her the breast she takes it happily. PROBLEM IS i am pregnant again and she is 11 months old...what do i do
12/18/2009 07:40:38 PM Report AbuseWhat is meant is adding formula to the menu...NOT mixing them together. Meaning...breastmilk/breast for some feeding SMS formula for others.
12/4/2009 11:58:48 PM Report Abusewhat they ment is give a formula bottle instead of a breast at a feeding.
11/11/2009 12:49:00 PM Report AbuseI think what they meant was not that they were adding formula to the breastmilk, but supplementing by feeding formula after breastfeeding as sometimes the child is still hungry, or they are beginning to wean.
10/7/2009 03:20:50 PM Report Abusethis is false information! Everything I have ever heard or read says not to mix formula and breast milk. Breast milk contains enzymes that will make the formula bad!
10/1/2009 02:06:19 PM Report Abuse