If you are not experiencing any health problems, you can continue to breastfeed your baby as long as you want. This can go on until your baby turns 2. You don’t need to wean your baby off breast milk until both of you are ready to do so. Even though breast milk is no longer the main source of nutrients for your baby, it continues to be a source of health and happiness for him/her.
Some mothers plan the time they will stop breastfeeding. However, the length of time you will continue breastfeeding your baby depends on your physical and emotional circumstances. Regardless of the date you plan to wean your baby, you should breastfeed your baby during the first 6 months. Moreover, continue breastfeeding even after your baby is introduced to solid foods. This will ensure that your baby starts his/her life healthy.
If you decide to stop breastfeeding you may need to implement your decision in different ways, depending on your baby’s age and the circumstances that led you to this decision.
Some babies refuse to be breastfed and thus naturally bring an end to this process. On the other hand, some babies are difficult to wean from breast milk. There are various ways of preparing yourself and your baby for this separation.
For example, you can replace the breastfeeding times one by one with formula in a bottle or some other food. You can reduce the frequency and duration of breastfeeding, starting with the time your baby shows the least interest in it.
If your baby is used to being calmed down by breastfeeding you can have her accustomed to a soft toy or a blanket to be used later on to calm her down. You can change the places you use to breastfeed your baby with those that distract him/her. You can move from a quiet and soft armchair to a room full of interesting toys.
If your child is old enough, you can talk to her about why you need to stop breastfeeding and explain to her the positive aspects of growing up and how there must now be some changes in her life. You can tell your child that your breast milk is all used up or offer her a different reason by saying that it hurts to breastfeed.
Take care to wean your baby when she is happy and healthy and could be peacefully prepared for the separation process, rather than doing it when she is unhappy and restless. Tell and show her frequently that your time together will not be reduced and you can still cuddle together and hug each other.
Implementing each step with a few days or if necessary few weeks of interval in between would ensure an easier achievement of objectives.
If your baby is not as enthusiastic as you are but you are determined to conclude this process and wean your baby from breast milk, you must be patient. Your baby might like the calming effect lying in your lap gives him/her as much as sucking breast milk. You can implement the following tactics, bearing in mind that he/she finds calm and comfort through breastfeeding:
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