There will come a point, however, when you will need to stop breastfeeding. This could be for a variety of reasons; perhaps, for example, you're going back to work or your baby is starting nursery. The decision is a personal one and you shouldn't ever feel pressured by those around you - either to continue or to stop.

Once you have made the decision to stop breastfeeding - whether your baby is one month or one year - you may wonder how to go about it! That's where we step in -here's gurgle's guide to weaning your baby off the breast:

Of course, if your baby has simply lost interest in the breast as she's been weaned onto solids and there are more tempting alternatives, then this will be much easier for the both of you. However, while some babies readily take to the bottle, others are more stubborn and will take that extra bit of persuasion. If your baby is rather partial to the breast, it may help if initially you are not the one to offer her the bottle - or cup if she is an older baby. Ask your partner to give it to her while you go out for a walk or to the shops - you may find it traumatic if you hear your baby crying for the breast and may be tempted to offer the breast if you're nearby. Your baby will also be more likely to take the bottle if you're not around, as she won't be tempted by the smell of your breast milk.

Be prepared for the fact that it may be tougher than you anticipated - for both you and your baby. This will probably vary according to how long you have breastfed, but even if it was only for a month it will take time for the two of you to adjust. Breastfeeding helps you to bond with your baby and you may find that you miss the closeness and the special time you and your little one share when you're breastfeeding. You may feel a bit emotional for the first few days after you stop and this is fairly normal, but if you find that you're feeling low for a prolonged period of time you should visit your GP.

Ideally, you should avoid stopping breastfeeding too suddenly as your baby may find this traumatic which in turn will upset you. It is better to reduce slowly the number of breastfeeds your child has; first replace one breastfeed a day with a bottle or cup of formula milk (or cow's milk if he is over the age of one and has no known allergies). After a few days you can replace another feed and so on until you have stopped breastfeeding altogether. You may find it helpful to keep a diary noting your baby's progress.

If you do have to stop cold turkey, as your baby refuses to take a cup or bottle when the breast is still being offered for some feeds, then it's important to keep expressing your breast milk to prevent your breasts from becoming engorged. Once you have expressed, you can either give it to your baby in a bottle or, if you have decided to go straight on to formula, then discard the milk.

Top tip:  You may find that your baby is more resistant to swapping breast for bottle if she has never taken a feed from a bottle. Therefore, the earlier you introduce a bottle, the easier the transition will be - even if it's just one feed of expressed breast milk once a week to replace a breastfeed.

For more information on how to stop breastfeeding, read our feature on Weaning your baby off the breast. You could also consult your GP or health visitor for extra tips.

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.

Last Modified: 07/01/2009