How to Stop Breastfeeding: A Practical Guide to Weaning Your Baby

Now that you’ve got the hang of this breastfeeding thing, there may be reasons why you’re considering stopping breastfeeding. There are lots of reasons why a mother and family will choose to wean their baby from breastfeeding - and the decision is only yours to make. Whether it’s a change in family lifestyle or your child is getting older, this is a practical guide that you can apply to make the transition a smooth one. Promise, it’s not always as difficult as it may seem!

How to Start Weaning: Understanding the Weaning Process

The term “weaning” means to transition your baby from drinking breastmilk to other alternatives. It can also mean transitioning them from breastfeeding exclusively to drinking cow’s milk from a sippy cup, for example. This term is also used when moving your baby onto eating solid foods as well as milk.

There comes a time in every breastfeeding journey where it eventually ends, whether that’s 6 months or 2 years down the line! Every mother will have her own reasons for wanting to wean her baby at the age they are at, and sometimes age has nothing to do with it at all.

The choice to stop breastfeeding can stem from a return to work, dwindling milk supply, family planning, managing medications, or for dietary reasons - and the list can be longer than this. It’s a decision that’s unique in every circumstance and as a parent, you want the transition to be as seamless as it can be.

With change can sometimes come obstacles and learning curves, but with practical and real-life advice from our maternal health experts and team of mums who have been there, done it, and got the milky t-shirt - we can help you to overcome these!

During this transition, you’ll need to exercise patience and sensitivity with your little one. Remember, this is all they have known since they were born and it’s a big change to their little world. That being said, there are lots of ways we can make this easier for them and us to gently wean them from breastfeeding.

Signs that Your Baby is Ready to Stop Breastfeeding

Within your baby’s first year, there are times when we’ve experienced our baby trying to refuse milk and/or the breast as they go through their developmental milestones. Although we learn to recognise these signs after some practice, there are behavioural and developmental cues which indicate when your baby might be ready to wean. The signs can be (but are not limited to):

• Your baby is no longer interested in breastfeeding, their attention is elsewhere and they choose other activities over breastfeeding.
• Increased independence can result in babies not wanting to breastfeed. For example learning to drink out of a cup may appeal more than drinking milk at the breast.
• Your baby has dropped some or all of their day time naps and can sleep through the night (for the most part!). They naturally drop their nap time and waking feeds because they are sleeping for extended periods throughout the day and night.
• Your baby can hold their head and/or sit up by themselves which is a prelude to introducing solid foods.
• Your baby is interested in what you’re eating and starting to wean onto solid foods can be exciting for them! (Note: solid foods do not replace breast milk, the two would go hand in hand or with another suitable milk alternative depending on their age.)
• If your body is going through changes and it’s affecting your milk supply, your baby may go looking elsewhere for food and drink, and show signs of not wanting to rely on breastmilk any longer.

Learn more: Common Challenges with Breastfeeding - What to do?

How to Stop Breastfeeding: Is There a Best Time?

Yes, and no. There is no “right time” to stop breastfeeding as this will differ from one mother to the next. But you will feel it click into place without much resistance when you and your baby are both ready to move forwards with this change.

If it feels forced and you’re not getting anywhere, make the changes to your routine even smaller and slow it down so your baby can adapt each time. Some babies will just follow your lead and be ready to stop quicker than you are! And others need a bit more time to go through this change.

“I remember when I was expecting my son, I was 5 months pregnant at the time, and my daughter was still breastfeeding exclusively at the age of 2 and a half. She began to get frustrated and ask me where my milk had gone, because my stage of pregnancy had started to dramatically lessen my milk supply. We didn’t know it was our last feed, but before we knew it, the little girl who was desperate for her breastfeeds at bedtime no longer wanted them and she quickly adapted to a new routine” (Fran, Mum of 2). 

Some people stick to milestones to incorporate it into, such as starting solid food for the first time or weaning when their baby is a year old, when they are old enough to transition onto cow’s milk.

Other parents choose to wean sooner because they are returning to work or other lifestyle factors come into play removing the choice and breastfeeding has to stop. Whichever feels more relatable to you, there is always help available and we strongly recommend that you tap into it so you can navigate it feeling informed and supported.

Learn more: A guide for breastfeeding mums returning to work

How to Stop Breastfeeding Gradually

Unless you have been advised by a medical professional to go cold-turkey when stopping breastfeeding, it is best to stop breastfeeding gradually allowing your body time to adjust. For example, dropping one feed at a time so that your milk supply can adjust to the demand and your baby can get used to different cues in their routine.

If you find your baby still relies on breastfeeding for comfort more than hunger, you can try introducing something else that brings them comfort. For example, you can offer them their comforter (toy, blanket, muslin, etc.), or having a cuddle rather than a feed.

It’s also interesting to check in on how often you offer a feed to your baby versus how often they ask. Sometimes it’s us that need to change our cues and routine! Some sound advice from other breastfeeding consultants when gradually stopping breastfeeding is “Don’t offer, don’t refuse”. In this scenario, you don’t offer your baby breastfeeding and instead give them another option. If they ask to feed, don’t deny them this and let them have that time with you. Each time they ask, you can shorten the feeding time so they get used to shorter feeds that are more like snacks instead of lunch!

Throughout this time, your breasts may feel more engorged than usual as your milk production adjusts to the change in demand. You can use a single electric breast pump or a manual hand-held breast pump to take the edge off and express a small amount of milk to relieve any discomfort. Investing in reusable bamboo cotton breast pads will also be kind to your skin and prevent any leaks going through your clothes.

With any change, some resistance is expected, but know that any emotions you feel throughout this time are valid. Some parents feel ready to give up breastfeeding before their babies are ready, and others reminisce that their babies still breastfeed because they weren’t ready to stop. Either way, it helps by talking about your feelings with other parents, friends, family, or a breastfeeding consultant so you can feel supported too.

Read our e-guide: Protecting Your Mental Wellbeing While Breastfeeding

Supporting Your Baby's Transition

Breastfeeding is a form of comfort for breastfed babies. It’s a safe space where they feel really connected with you. Naturally, your baby needs this connection to support their development and healthy relationships. As you start to wean, try out new ways that you can bond with your baby so they feel comforted throughout the transition without feeling like something has been taken away.

Some strategies you can try are:

• Ask your partner to take over some of the feeds throughout the day or at night time to create a new routine. If you breastfeed your baby before bedtime, ask your partner to feed them instead whilst you are in another room close by.
• Keep giving them skin to skin contact but in other ways, such as baby massage, cuddles and a story, or wearing a sling when you’re out and about.
• Offer them plenty of drinks/snacks appropriate for their age so that their nutritional needs are being met. You can seek advice from your doctor or a nutritionist if you have any concerns.
• Consider combi-feeding as you gradually stop breastfeeding. Mix expressed breast milk with formula or swap out some of your breastfeeding sessions for formula/cow’s milk (age dependent).

If you are breastfeeding a child who is older and they are starting to ask questions or have any concerns when you start to wean, offer them reassurance and explain with words they will understand. There are lots of great children’s books or songs that can help children to understand if you’re not sure how to deliver the answers! Tagging along to mother and baby groups where they can spend time with children their own age will help them in their development and it offers parents the emotional support too to bounce ideas off each other and get advice.

Navigating Your Own Emotions

Just when you thought your physical and emotional wellbeing had been through it all, the word “weaning” crops up and it’s a whole new thing to navigate! Just know that you will make the right decision by you and your baby, and everyone’s breastfeeding journey comes to an end in different ways for different reasons.

Just like when you began to breastfeed, your hormones were heightened and more fragile. It’s no different when you start to gradually stop breastfeeding, which is another reason why it is recommended to cut down slowly. Try partnering up with other parents who are going through the same milestones as you for emotional support and be kind to yourself when you have those challenging days.

Whilst there is a whole host of knowledge online and in Lola&Lykke’s Mamahood Manuals and e-guides, we strongly advise all parents to reach out to their healthcare provider for support if you are feeling unsure. Just a few clicks away, there is a panel of maternal experts ready to answer your questions.