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6
Tips on Weaning from the Breast
Figure out when and how you'll wean baby from the breast.
When--and how--should
you move your baby from breast to bottle? There are no hard and fast
rules about weaning. Like many things about parenting, it's largely
individual and based on cues you get from your body and your child.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breastfeed
for baby's first year, but that isn't always feasible or even desirable.
Sometimes baby starts to wean himself long before then, and sometimes
Mom just "wants her body back."
When you're ready
to make the change from breast to bottle, heed this advice:
1. Start with
supplemental bottles. Introduce them gradually, with one bottle in
place of one breastfeeding session each day. If you've started supplementing
breast milk with the occasional bottle for whatever reason, weaning
may have already begun.
2. Try a sippy
cup. If your child is older than 9 months, doctors recommend weaning
to a sippy cup rather than a bottle.
3. Try different
types of nipples. If the classic nipple (the straight up and down
style) doesn't work, try one of the new orthodontic nipples. Designed
to be kinder to a developing mouth, these nipples have a curved rather
than straight angle, and simulate a real breast more exactly. Your
child may find this slanted angle more natural and easier to suck
from.
4. Experiment
with nipple holes. Some babies find it easier to suck from a slanted
hole rather than from a traditional round hole.
5. Be prepared
for engorgement. This is the most unpleasant weaning side effect for
mom. Your breasts will feel hard and uncomfortably full, and you may
have a low-grade fever. Use cold compresses and Tylenol to relieve
pain. Going back to breastfeeding, however, isn't a good idea. Not
only will you confuse baby, but you'll simply delay the inevitable.
Try instead to express a bit of milk with a breast pump, without overstimulating
your milk production.
6. Be patient.
Some babies initially refuse to drink from a bottle for any number
of reasons, including dislike of the shape or feel of a "fake"
nipple, or dislike of the taste of bottled formula. Don't give up.
Weaning may take some time. Try not to stress yourself or your baby
during this transition.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
