If you decide on a bottle, eventually your baby will need to be weaned from that. Start with whichever breastfeed of the day your baby seems least interested in. If the breasts are uncomfortable when a feed is missed, you may need to express a small amount for comfort, to avoid blocked ducts or discomfort from fullness.
Reduce either the time of expressing or volume removed over days for the breasts to adjust. The concentration of antibodies to bacterial and viral diseases in breastmilk is increased as weaning progresses and milk supply reduces.
This ensures that your baby is protected as they are being introduced to new foods and exploring new surroundings.
Remember to give your baby plenty of cuddles during the weaning process so that you and your baby still have plenty of close time together. Slowly reducing the number of breastfeeds protects your baby during the weaning period and will also help you avoid problems such as mastitis.
If you need to wean your baby quickly, talk to a healthcare professional or a lactation consultant about caring for your breasts. Health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, with a gradual introduction of appropriate foods in the second 6 months and ongoing breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond.
Babies show they are ready to start solids when they:. A baby born at full term has a store of iron passed on from the mother during pregnancy. Breastmilk contains small amounts of readily absorbed iron, and recent studies have shown that the risk of iron deficiency is very low in full-term healthy breastfed babies who continue to breastfeed past 6 months as solids are introduced. If you become pregnant , you may choose to continue to breastfeed or you may like to gradually wean your baby.
This is an individual choice. Whether or not you choose to continue breastfeeding, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. Seek advice from your health professional or the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Some parents and babies enjoy breastfeeding so much they are in no hurry to stop. It is not unusual for children up to 4 years of age to continue to be breastfed. Family members and friends may feel uncomfortable about extended breastfeeding and it can be helpful to have information to give your family and friends about why you have decided to keep breastfeeding.
This may include information about the continued health benefits, security and comfort for your child. You may be ready to cease breastfeeding, but your child may resist all your attempts to do so. There are many strategies for weaning a baby. Unfortunately the child would need to be able to take a bottle, sippy cup, or straw cup comfortably before you are able to wean, to ensure they are able to take adequate feed volumes.
If your child can talk and understand well, talk with them about your breastfeeding. Explain that you are going to stop and introduce other ways that you can enjoy being close together. You could seek professional advice about weaning or difficulties associated with weaning. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Although extended breastfeeding does take some planning, Weiss says that it can also be much more convenient than formula.
Plus, she adds, when your baby starts eating solid foods, the diapers get increasingly stinky. By Kate Silver August 25, Save Pin FB More. By Kate Silver. Be the first to comment! No comments yet. Close this dialog window Add a comment. Add your comment Cancel Submit. Close this dialog window Review for. Back to story Comment on this project. Tell us what you think Thanks for adding your feedback. As a result, breast milk will continue to be a source of nutrients for him or her.
Other children, however, might use solid foods to meet their nutritional needs and want only small amounts of breast milk. If you have questions about your child's diet or the role breast milk might play in it as he or she grows, talk to your child's doctor.
It's often easiest to begin weaning when your child initiates the process — which might be sooner or later than you expect. Weaning often begins naturally at about age 6 months, when solid foods are typically introduced.
Some babies begin to gradually transition from breast milk and seek other forms of nutrition and comfort closer to age 1. Others might not initiate weaning until their toddler years, when they become less willing to sit still during breast-feeding. How long you breast-feed is up to you and your child. If loved ones — and even strangers — share their opinions about when to wean, remind them that the decision is yours. Try not to worry about what other people think.
Instead, trust your instincts. Breast-feeding beyond infancy can be an intimate way to continue nurturing your child. If you're considering breast-feeding beyond infancy, think about what's best for both you and your child — and enjoy this special time together.
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