Is It Time to Wean?

Babies Younger Than One

Experts agree that it's more important to wean slowly. Cutting your baby off quickly could be traumatic. He'd feel the abrupt loss of his number-one comfort, your breasts would probably become engorged, and you might miss the nursing ritual too. Moving slowly will help you adjust.

Ideally, you should start the process a full two months prior to your desired stop date, says Dr. Neifert. As you cut out nursing sessions, consider pumping instead, and save your breast milk for the bottle or cup. Gradually reduce pumping, and begin mixing breast milk with formula.

Substitute the bottle (or a cup) for your breasts only once a day for the first week. Use the bottle for a less important feeding, like one at midmorning. Then substitute two bottles a day the second week, and three bottles a day the third week. Your baby will ease into the routine. Baby's favorite feedings -- maybe the first of the day and the last before bed -- should be given up last, since she's probably most attached to these.

Need to wean faster? You can speed the process by introducing a new bottlefeeding every few days instead of once a week, but beware: You'll be at a greater risk for engorgement. You may have to pump a bit after baby is weaned to slow down your milk supply more gradually.