How Long Does It Take to Wean a Baby From Nursing?
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your infant, but eventually all breastfeeding mothers need to wean the baby from nursing. The length of time it takes to wean a child depends on the needs and desires of the mother and child, as well as the method the mother chooses to use to wean her infant.
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Weaning
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Weaning is the process of transitioning a breastfed baby onto another food source, either to formula or directly to solid foods. The weaning process begins as soon as you start to introduce alternative foods to your baby, but active weaning occurs when the baby stops breastfeeding as much or as often. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding until six months of age and continuing to breastfeed until at least one year, so following these guidelines would involve a weaning process of six months or more. The length of the weaning process varies from child to child and also depends on the particular method. A gradual weaning experience is generally less traumatic for both mother and child, according to Baby Center, so attempting to abruptly stop nursing is not advised.
Child-Led Weaning
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Child-led weaning can be an extremely long process that may take years to complete. Child-led weaning occurs when the mother lets the child gradually drop feedings until he has completely self-weaned. Babies under a year old almost never self-wean, although some mothers mistake a nursing strike as self-weaning. Babies and toddlers who do self-wean usually complete the process sometime between the ages of two and four.
Mother-Led Weaning
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Mother-led weaning is initiated by the mother, generally through gentle methods that gradually reduce the number of daily nursing sessions or the length of each session. This can be done over the course of a few weeks to a few months. Mothers who use this method may choose to drop one daily feeding each week until the child is weaned. Delaying feedings and distracting the child with other foods or formula is a common tactic used in mother-led weaning. In general, the older a baby is when a mother initiates mother-led weaning, the shorter the time required to complete the process.
Considerations
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Although stopping breastfeeding abruptly was advised in the past, it is no longer considered an appropriate weaning method. Abrupt weaning can cause problems for both the mother and baby. Mothers who attempt to stop the breastfeeding relationship too quickly often develop engorgement, plugged ducts and breast infections. Because of the change in hormone levels, mood swings and depression are another potential risk of abrupt weaning. Babies who are weaned abruptly experience more stress and anxiety, which can lead to behavioral issues.
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