11 of 12

Write now Article Tools

As the little newborn grows bigger month after month, breast feeding needs to be stopped completely. It may be hard for the baby and mother in most cases. Through it is a hard and painful procedure, it needs to be stopped one fine day. However, stopping of breastfeeding should occur slowly and gradually.

Reduce the number of breast feedings gradually: When to stop breastfeeding is a personal choice. But when the mother decides to stop breastfeeding, the first thing to do it is to gradually reduce the number of feeding. Breastfeeding cannot be stopped abruptly. If the baby had four feedings each day, reduce it to three, then two and finally stop. This process should occur gradually over a couple of weeks.

Replace the feedings with bottle milk: Replace each breastfeed with bottle milk. Start feeding with bottles whether it is formula milk or expressed milk. If the mother's choice is for expressed milk initially, switch to formula milk gradually. The replacement of feedings with bottle milk/semi solid feeds should start as the baby is young as 5-6 months. If the baby is younger, the tantrums can be reduced.

Make the baby understand: By good communication with the baby, the mother can easily tell that it is time to stop breastfeeding. As the baby grows it is easier to tell them and understand. A mother could often tell the toddler that he/she is too old to be breastfed.
Other ideas would be to tell your baby that the milk is spoiled or something similar to make the toddler understand that it is time to stop breastfeeding.

Entrust someone else to sooth the baby: Quite often, babies wake up at night for breast feeds. It is quite natural for the mother to breastfeed and sooth the baby. Entrust someone close to baby like the father to put the baby back to sleep. It may be difficult for mother and baby initially, but perseverance will work out in due time.

Rule of the thumb is gradual reduction of breastfeeding and putting reasonable limits to breastfeeding as the baby grows. Overall, stopping breastfeeding should be a smooth and gradual process!

Learn more about this author, Nisha Danny.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to stop breastfeeding?
We want to hear your view. Write now!