Weaning From Breastfeeding

Weaning is the process of slowly giving your baby other foods while you continue to breastfeed.
It is a natural stage in your baby’s growth.

When To Wean

Your Baby

Breastfeeding is good for a mother and child at any age. Some mothers and babies continue to nurse into the toddler years and beyond. The decision to wean your baby is up to you and your baby. There is no “perfect” time.

It’s easiest and most comfortable to wean when your baby starts the process. For most babies, this happens when they are getting more of their nutrition from solid foods. Babies who are ready to wean usually do so gradually. Over several weeks, baby will drop one breastfeeding session at a time. Eventually, baby will only nurse once a day or less.

If you wean your baby from breast milk before baby is 12 months old, then you will need to supplement their diet with infant formula. Keep in mind that babies should not drink cow’s milk before their first birthday.

Your baby’s age, the typical number of times you breastfeed each day and whether your baby is ready to wean can affect how long the weaning process takes.

Weaning may pause or slow down if:

  1. Your baby is sick or teething

    Baby may need the extra comfort and antibodies from breastfeeding

  2. A major change has occurred at home

    Try not to start weaning when you first return to work or school

  3. Your baby is struggling to wean

    If your baby is resisting, they might not be ready. Try again in another month or two.

When you and your baby are ready to wean:

  1. Try a “don’t offer, don’t refuse” approach for one nursing session at a time. This means, at the usual feeding time, don’t automatically offer your breast. But if your child asks to nurse, don’t refuse. Typically, the last breastfeeding sessions babies drop are the ones before they fall asleep or after they wake up.
  2. This assists with weaning and helps your baby start a new routine.
  3. When you would normally breastfeed, distract your baby with an activity. Reading a book with your baby is a special way to bond in place of breastfeeding.
  4. Weaning can be emotional for both of you.

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

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