How to stop breastfeeding
Weaning your child should be a gradual and planned process. Try to avoid the start of weaning during an illness or developmental milestone or when your baby’s schedule is disrupted. “Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse” is a reliable and time-tested way of accelerating the weaning process. Breastfeed whenever your child asks, but don’t offer or encourage it.
Change your daily routine. If you have a certain time of the day or favorite place that your baby associates with breastfeeding, change your usual routine so that your baby will not be reminded to nurse as frequently.
If your baby associates nighttime or waking with breastfeeding then let your partner do bedtime or nighttime duty. This maybe somewhat disruptive to the family but it is important to break the breasfeeding habit. Substitute the nighttime feed with a game or an alternative snack. And in the morning have your partner offer the child breakfast.
Expect some engorgement. As you begin to breastfeed your baby less frequently, you may experience some discomfort. Once you stop breastfeeding completely, your milk production will stop fairly quickly. In the meantime, you may need to express some milk for the first few days -- just don't express so much that you stimulate milk production. To ease the discomfort, apply cold compresses and take a mild pain reliever like Tylenol.
The child who refuses to be weaned
You may be ready to cease breastfeeding but your child may resist all attempts to do so. Your approach will depend on your child's age.
Remember; try to be relaxed about weaning. If you're uptight so will your child and thus their greater reluctance to give up the comfort of your breast.
There are many strategies for weaning a baby onto a bottle or a cup. 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.
Please be aware that the information given in these articles should in no way be taken as a substitute for professional advice and does not necessarily reflect the views of Breast Feeding Information. If you have questions or concerns regarding your family's or your child's physical or mental health, please seek other professional assistance. We cannot be held responsible for any damages that result from the use of the information provided on this website. Any statements and opinions expressed within this site are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of the site.