Mama-Approved Tips for Breastfeeding and When to Wean

If you’re a new mom, you may be wondering how long you should breastfeed and when to start weaning. This can be a tricky question as it depends on a variety of factors, including your baby’s age, needs, and preferences. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of your baby’s life, followed by complementary feeding for up to two years and beyond. In this post, we’ll go over the benefits of breastfeeding, the signs that your baby is ready to start weaning, and the available options for continued breastfeeding. 

Breastfeeding is the natural process of providing nourishment to a baby through the mother’s milk, offering essential nutrients and antibodies crucial for infant growth. The decision to start weaning depends on the individual needs and preferences of the baby. Such factors include developmental milestones, teething signs, weight gain, feeding frequency, and readiness cues from the baby. The weaning process can be gradual or abrupt, with options like reducing feeding frequency or pumping sessions. Overall, the decision on when and how to wean should be based on the mother and baby’s individual needs.

Keep reading to learn more about breastfeeding, debunked weaning myths, and the different weaning processes.

Breastfeeding and Its Benefits

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Amphiba Baby | Baby Carrier for Active Parents (@amphibababy)

Breastfeeding provides nourishment to a baby through the mother’s milk. Breast milk is a natural source of infant nutrition, providing a balance of essential nutrients vital for growth and development. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals but also contains antibodies that help protect your baby from illness and infection. Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits for both the mother and child. It can increase immunity against illnesses such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, ear infections, respiratory infections, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Some studies even show that breastfeeding may also lessen the risks of postpartum depression in mothers due to the beneficial hormones that are released during breastfeeding. Plus, breastfeeding has been shown to create a closer bond between mother and child.

With that being said, feeding your child with formula (primarily or occasionally) is not wrong or unnatural. Formula feeding can be a practical and necessary choice for various reasons, including medical conditions, personal preferences, or logistical challenges.

How Long Should You Breastfeed?

The WHO recommends exclusively breastfeeding infants until six months old or beyond, alongside the introduction of complementary foods if desired. After six months, mothers can continue breastfeeding their babies while introducing other foods until they are two years old or older. These guidelines are based on the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child and the nutritional values needed for infant development.

Medical conditions may sometimes prevent a mother from breastfeeding her baby for six months or longer. Examples include certain maternal illnesses or necessary medications that cannot be taken while breastfeeding. It is also true that every mother’s body is different, which means they will produce milk in fluctuating quantities. Some mothers immediately produce large amounts of milk, while others might struggle to produce. In such cases, consult your doctor to make sure all formula supplements are safe for the baby. Mothers looking to breastfeed who struggle to produce milk might consider incorporating a breastfeeding supplement into their diet that can support a consistent milk supply.

Commercially prepared are formulated to duplicate the complex combinations of fats & proteins found in breastmilk as closely as possible. Manufactured formulas lack the natural antibodies present in breast milk, but they are fortified with essential nutrients and vitamins to support your baby’s growth and development. 

When Should You Start Weaning?

According to the CDC, stopping breastfeeding and when to wean is ultimately up to the mother and baby and their needs and preferences. Some factors to consider before you start weaning include whether your baby is meeting developmental milestones, if there are any signs of teething, if your baby is gaining sufficient weight, if there are enough feedings per day if your baby signals readiness by refusing to nurse; if there are any medical issues that interfere with milk production or nursing for either mom or baby such as sore nipples or thrush infections in the infant’s mouth.

Different Types of Weaning

Mothers have different options available during weaning depending on their goals and preferences, such as:

• Traditional Weaning: The transition from breast milk or formula to solid foods is gradual, starting with a single ingredient and progressing to more complex combinations.
• Baby-led Weaning: Baby-led weaning involves allowing the baby to feed themselves from the start, usually with appropriately-sized finger foods. The baby learns to control their intake and develop motor skills by handling the food independently.
• Mixed/Combination Weaning: This approach combines spoon-feeding with baby-led weaning. Parents may offer mashed foods with a spoon while also providing finger foods for the baby to self-feed.

Weaning cold turkey is an option as well, but it’s important to keep in mind that sudden, complete weaning might cause pain, breast engorgement, or lactation mastitis. Your baby may also have trouble adjusting and eating new foods since they are so accustomed to breast milk.

It is often believed that weaning must begin by a certain age due to myths such as “babies sleep through the night after they are weaned” or “breast milk goes sour after six months,” which aren’t true! In reality, as long as the baby and mother show no signs of ill health due to extended breastfeeding, then it is entirely safe and healthy for them to continue nursing past six months old regardless of age or developmental stage.