FollowHow and When to Stop Breastfeeding
Before your baby was even born, you decided that breastfeeding was the best thing for him. You constantly breastfed your baby, even dealing with sore and cracked nipples. At one point in time, you more than likely wondered if there was any end in sight. While you may have loved the bonding time with your baby, there comes a time when every mom wants to wear a sexy bra instead of a nursing bra and they wonder what it is like not to have their baby pawing at their shirt all day and night. The good news is that breastfeeding does come to an end at some point. Read on to find out how you know when it’s time to stop and the best way to stop.
So how do you know when it is the right time to stop breastfeeding your baby? There are some signs to look for as an indication. Your baby may gradually begin to cut back on the number of nursing sessions they need. If you notice that your baby is decreasing the length and frequency of their nursing sessions, it may be a sign they are ready to wean.
If your baby refuses to nurse for a period of two weeks, this is a clear sign they are ready to wean. If you just are not into the nursing sessions anymore, this may definitely be a time to stop. You may find that you don’t want to continue after six weeks or six months.
You want to be sure that your baby has breast milk for at least the first six months. At that point, you can introduce him to solid foods in addition to breast milk. Once your baby is about a year old, he will be getting all the vitamins and nutrients he needs from solid foods so you can stop breastfeeding completely.
To wean your baby off of breast milk, allow your baby to finish their nursing session and then offer him a small amount of solid food. Gradually, you can start to offer him solids first and then the breast milk. There will come a point when he will no longer want breast milk and will just want solid food.
