Weaning your baby off the breast:

There will come a time when, for whatever reason, you will want to stop breastfeeding your baby. Some women continue for many months, even years, while others know at what point they would like to wean their baby from the breast.

You do not need to stop breastfeeding when your baby has solid food introduced to his diet and it is worth considering that your baby will need either breast or formula milk until he is 12 months old when making this decision.

However, you may need to return to work or have other practical, emotional or physical needs that require you to wean your baby off the breast so, here are some handy hints to help you make this process as painless as possible:

Pick your moment. It is not a great idea to start weaning your baby from your breast when he is experiencing an upset routine. This might be as stressful as a move to a new house or as familiar as cutting a new tooth. Either way, these occasions are stressful for a little person and getting rid of a good comforter like breastfeeding is only going to make your job harder at this time.

Take one step at a time. Unless you have been instructed by your medical practitioner to stop breastfeeding quickly (perhaps prior to being admitted to hospital), then you should make this experience a process rather than an earth-shattering event. Your baby will be able to cope with this change if it is approached in the right way. Cut down on the breastfeeds gradually. For example, at the beginning, pick one feed to get rid of (preferably one that doesn’t seem very important in an emotional sense to your child) and do without this one for a good few days, preferably a week, before losing another.

Express yourself. In order to minimise any physical discomfort you feel at this time, you should express a little milk. However, do not express more than you need to feel comfortable, as your breasts will keep making the same amount of milk. You should take a little off though as otherwise your breasts could become engorged and possibly develop mastitis.

Offer substitutes. If your baby is under twelve months, don’t forget he needs either breast or formula milk to satisfy his nutritional needs, so do encourage him to take a bottle. You can get tips on making up a bottle with gurgle's giude.

Ask for help. You will need the support of your partner at this time. If your partner has been giving your baby bottles (perhaps of your expressed milk, or of formula), then the chances are that weaning will be less of an ordeal for everyone involved. He will already have helped to establish to your baby that it is not only you that is able to provide feeds. To stop giving a bedtime feed, it can be necessary to ask your partner or relative to take over bedtimes for a while, in order to introduce a ‘new’ breastless routine.

The art of distraction. You will already be a veteran at baby-focused distraction techniques and this will be the ultimate test of your skills. Get out, get walking, go to the park, go swimming, in short, do whatever it takes to occupy your baby’s time. No time to think about breastfeeding can only be a good thing. Sitting down with your baby is an open invitation for a quick snack.

Above all, make sure that your baby is party to lots of hugs and kisses and is made to feel very loved. This is a big change for him and he may feel slightly insecure or vulnerable at this time. If you are finding this process of weaning your baby from the breast, do not hesitate to seek support. Organisations such as ‘The National Childbirth Trust’ (NCT) will be able to give you lots of help with any breastfeeding related questions.

You can also chat to other mum's about this by leaving a message on our chat section.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.