Weaning or stopping breastfeeding
Many mums wonder how to wean their baby from the breast. Often there is little information available about the gentle, gradual process of stopping breastfeeding. Therefore, only stressful and harsh advice comes to mind, both for the mother and the baby.
Breastfeeding is not only about nutrition, but also about relationships, about calming the still maturing nervous system, pain relief during teething and the basis for overcoming a growth spurt, during mastering a new skill or overcoming a challenge like a cold or a new event in life (adapting to kindergarten, the arrival of a younger child in the family, moving, mother returning to work).
If we look at breastfeeding from this point of view, we will understand that often, for a calmer and more harmonious end to breastfeeding, it may be useful for us to consider the age stage of the child's development, his needs and capabilities at this age, as well as to prepare a basis in the form of proper nutrition and the introduction of other methods of putting the baby to sleep and calming him down.
It is important for us to replace breastfeeding with something else, without depriving the baby of what is important and necessary. Children, even after the end of breastfeeding, continue to need our attention, care and comfort, because this is what will fill them up so that a little later, they can become adults, independent individuals.
Usually, before starting a consultation on the issue of stopping breastfeeding, we consider the specifics of the situation and develop an individual plan. Consultations on weaning usually require the most individual approach. Everyone has their own path and their own story.
During the consultation, we consider:
- the age and developmental needs of the child, as well as the individual characteristics of the child's temperament and sensitivity.
- the family's capabilities and factors that may affect weaning (stress, the beginning of new stages in the child's life, new skills, nutrition (complementary feeding or main food).
- exercises and games that can develop self-regulation of emotions and provide sensory load, which can help reduce the number of nursing times.
- development of self-regulation of emotions in the child.
- nutrition, especially in cases when the baby has a reduced interest in main food.
- We discuss the approximate possible time for weaning.
I can help with both sudden weaning and a more gradual weaning. Usually in the case of gradual weaning it can take 2-3 months. Some babies go faster than that, some take a little longer. It depends on the baby's sensitivity, the number of feedings and other factors.
- We take into account the comfort of the mother and the reduction of the risk of lactostasis for the breasts. During the consultation, it is important to take into account the emotional and physical state of the mum, her needs and possibilities.
You will receive recommendations:
- on how to reorganise feedings.
- on introducing bedtime rituals.
- on finding other ways to soothe the baby.
- Preparing for life without breastfeeding: nutrition, meeting the baby's needs in other ways, sleep, putting to bed, changes in the mother's mood and emotional state in the first days after stopping breastfeeding, changes in the breast that occur when stopping breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is not all or nothing. I also help with stopping 1 feeding or reducing the number of feedings without stopping the lactation completely.
Completion of breastfeeding is a transition to a new stage of the relationship between mother and baby. Both mother and baby need to prepare for this. Once prepared, the adaptation to life without breastfeeding and the process of weaning will be more relaxed.
If you do not know where to start and what to do, or you feel that you need support in weaning, write!
You can choose:
- A mini consultation of up to 20 minutes, during which we can discuss the elimination of one feeding or reduction of nighttime nursing times, or introducing a bedtime ritual.
- A consultation lasting up to 1.5 hours, where we will look at your situation in detail and draw up an individual plan. Sometimes I break this counselling into several parts, more often two. And when you have reached a certain stage, we meet again and discuss the next steps to complete your breastfeeding or achieve your goal.
- Consultation with follow-up until the full completion of breastfeeding. Not only do we create a personalised plan, but in addition to counselling I am in constant contact with you and we adjust the plan if necessary, you get support and answers to your questions.
Now a consultation with support about weaning until the end of breastfeeding is available at a special price (until Mother's Day 11.05.2025 inclusive).
Don't miss the opportunity to benefit from the experience and expertise of a specialist for a more peaceful end of a breastfeeding journey!
Author of the article: Aleksandra Ņekrasova
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