What is weaning?

Weaning is the term used to describe the process of switching a baby from:

• Breast-feeding to bottle-feeding.
• Breast- or bottle-feeding to a cup.
• Breast- or bottle-feeding to solid foods.

Your baby will go through one or more of these weaning processes. All types of weaning usually work best when they are done gradually-over several weeks, months, or even longer.

Weaning a baby from the breast is a big change for moms as well as babies. Besides affecting you physically, it may also affect you emotionally.

Some moms feel a little sad to lose some of the closeness that breast-feeding provides. But you will also have more freedom, because others can feed your baby. Don't be surprised if you feel both happy and sad that your child is becoming more independent.

How do you know if your baby is ready to wean?

Signs that a baby is ready to wean often appear after the baby has learned to crawl or learned to walk. Your breast-feeding baby may suck a few times and then stop nursing. He or she may just start to lose interest in your breast.

Bottle-fed babies who are ready to wean may start spitting out the nipple, or throwing or hiding the bottle before it is empty. Your baby may show more interest in drinking from a cup.

When is the best time to wean?

There is no right or wrong time. And there is no correct length of time that it should take. It depends on how ready you and your child are to start weaning.

Some moms wait longer because they are not ready to give up the closeness that breast-feeding brings. Others are ready to wean sooner or have responsibilities or life changes that make it necessary.

Choose a time when your child is ready. Try not to start weaning when your child or your family is under stress. Stress can range from cutting a new tooth to moving to a new house or starting a new day care program.

What is the best way to wean a baby?

Gradual weaning is best for both babies and moms. One feeding is dropped every few days, giving the mother and baby time to adjust. If you are breast-feeding, this helps keep your breasts from becoming too full, a problem called breast engorgement. It also lets the baby learn other ways of eating.

How do you meet your baby's nutrition needs while weaning?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:¹

• Breast-feed babies for at least a year and as long after as mother and child desire. Introduce iron-enriched solid foods at 6 months of age to complement the breast milk.
• For babies who were weaned from the breast or the bottle before 12 months of age, give iron-fortified formula, not cow's or goat's milk.

What if your baby does not want to be weaned?