How you choose to ween your baby off your breasts, will depend greatly on what stage they're at in their development. Some new mothers out there will need to ween after the first month, or two of their babies life for career reasons, while others may want to free up their metabolism for getting into shape.
However you choose to ween your baby, there are a few simple guidelines to follow, that will make the process easier on you and your baby.
Weening Infants
Infants are usually the easiest to ween. The less time a baby has to grow attached to your breast, the less stress they will have in losing it. Whether your child gets milk from your breast or a bottle -- the feeding mechanism (breast in this case) becomes a comfort to them, particularly at bed time.
When you decide to ween your infant baby, start gradually by supplementing the bottle for 1 or two meals a day and see how they react. Most infants who have only breast-fed for a month or two, will take to a bottle of formula rather quickly.
Older infants may require that you leave the room and have someone else feed their bottle to them, so they aren't reminded of your breast, as breast milk and formula do taste different.
Weening Toddlers
Toddlers can present a much more fickle bunch when your trying to ween your baby. They have become quite accustomed to feeding from your breast and by this time even though you've introduced solid foods they think mostly of your breasts when they think of food.
For you to be successful, you have to be ready to start out slow. If you plan on going back to work, then you can simply have your care-giver start to bottle feed the toddler (or switch right to solids and whole milk if they're old enough).
However, if you plan on being in the vicinity while your child is feeding, you have to slowly trick them into seeing other options. At a normal time when you breast feed; try sitting them down and sharing some nutritious foods at their play table (so there is distance between the two of you).
Bedtime will present the greatest challenge as the warmth of your breast and sound of your heartbeat present a calming effect to put them to sleep. This is where having the father, or another family member will greatly help the transition.
However you choose to ween your baby, there are a few simple guidelines to follow, that will make the process easier on you and your baby.
Weening Infants
Infants are usually the easiest to ween. The less time a baby has to grow attached to your breast, the less stress they will have in losing it. Whether your child gets milk from your breast or a bottle -- the feeding mechanism (breast in this case) becomes a comfort to them, particularly at bed time.
When you decide to ween your infant baby, start gradually by supplementing the bottle for 1 or two meals a day and see how they react. Most infants who have only breast-fed for a month or two, will take to a bottle of formula rather quickly.
Older infants may require that you leave the room and have someone else feed their bottle to them, so they aren't reminded of your breast, as breast milk and formula do taste different.
Weening Toddlers
Toddlers can present a much more fickle bunch when your trying to ween your baby. They have become quite accustomed to feeding from your breast and by this time even though you've introduced solid foods they think mostly of your breasts when they think of food.
For you to be successful, you have to be ready to start out slow. If you plan on going back to work, then you can simply have your care-giver start to bottle feed the toddler (or switch right to solids and whole milk if they're old enough).
However, if you plan on being in the vicinity while your child is feeding, you have to slowly trick them into seeing other options. At a normal time when you breast feed; try sitting them down and sharing some nutritious foods at their play table (so there is distance between the two of you).
Bedtime will present the greatest challenge as the warmth of your breast and sound of your heartbeat present a calming effect to put them to sleep. This is where having the father, or another family member will greatly help the transition.
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