Stop Breastfeeding by Slowly Weaning Your Baby

Stop Breast feeding-Weaning the Baby

While different cultures suggest different times to stop breast-feeding, the World Health Organization recommends nursing your infant for at least two years after pregnancy. It is said that a mother should breast feed the baby for as long as you can feed it.

A Baby Feels Good While Breast Feeding

According to anthropologists, a child stops breast-feeding any where between two and half years to seven years. It is quite understandable that a mother will meet with resistance, if she tries weaning before this age.

Research shows that a baby feels good while breast-feeding. The heart rate drops, stress levels, and blood pressure drop as well. A baby likes the taste of the milk and cuddling up to its mom.

You should not consider stopping breast-feeding too early, because the benefits of breast-feeding are many. In fact, if you have a breast problem, talk to your lactation consultant or to a medical specialist.

If You Must Wean Your Baby

If you must wean your baby, preferably do it slowly. You may want to get back to work as soon as possible. So stop breast milk slowly, while encouraging the baby to drink formula bottle milk. Observe the baby for any allergic reaction to the formula milk. There are also fewer chances of you suffering engorgement of breasts when you wean slowly. The other advantages are that, immunity levels in the breast milk increase during slow weaning and give the baby protection against infection.

How to Wean Your Baby

Substitute a day breast feed with a formula feed. If the baby does not develop an allergic reaction, after a few days, you can also substitute the evening feeds with a formula feed.

You can also start weaning by breastfeeding just enough to make you stay comfortable. You may need a supportive bra and a milk pain reliever.

You can decrease milk supply by drinking sage tea at least thrice a day for a week.

You can also stop breast feeding and feed your baby formula milk while you pump milk from your breasts to maintain the milk supply, and at the same time observe whether your baby has taken to formula feeding.

You will do well to wean your baby away slowly. Your breast may appear full for five to ten days after complete weaning, but unless you develop mastitis, you should not be concerned.

Sometimes, when you stop breast-feeding and start formula feeding, your baby may show a negative reaction in the form of a lot of crying, increased spitting or vomiting, watery stools, body rashes, and redness around the rectum.

You should wean away your baby slowly and stop breast-feeding. Read more about this in health magazines and books, to help you get more information about how and when to stop breast-feeding.