Wean your baby from your breast when you are ready. If you are looking at this from your baby’s perspective, it is ideal to nurse your baby until he self weans. That could be at 2- 2 1/2 years old.

Most breastfeeding women in America wean off nursing when their baby is 6 months old. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you nurse your baby exclusively for the first six months of life, then continue to supplement breast milk with solid foods at least until the baby is 12 months old. Worldwide, the average breastfeeding time is 2 years. What’s best for you and your baby?

How should I wean my baby from my breast?

When you want to wean is up to you. If you feel the need to wean your baby before he is ready to self wean, you should do so gradually. If your baby is under one year old, you can start substituting some nursing sessions with bottles. Continue using the breast for comfort. If your baby is over one year, he may be able to drink from a sippy cup. To distract from your child’s desire to nurse, offer a sippy cup of juice or cow’s milk, a nutritious snack, or a distraction in the form of a game, toy, or a change of scene. Again, it is important to wean gradually. Don’t make your baby go Cold Turkey.

When and how should I wean my baby from the bottle?

Most Pediatricians want you to wean your baby from the bottle at 12 months. This helps to prevent tooth decay and various other potential problems with the mouth. First, you should introduce all juice and water in the sippy cup during meal times. Teach him to drink these other liquids out of the sippy cup first. Then, you can move milk into the sippy cup. If he is resistant, it is probably more out of habit and comfort that he takes the bottle.

The nighttime bottle is usually the last to go, as it is a comfort to him and probably engrained in his nightly routine. Let him have it, if it’s just once a day. He’ll eventually tire of it and move on to more “big kid” things. Peer pressure does wonders on a toddler or pre-school child. Nighttime bottles should not be put in the crib, as the milk will pool in his mouth and lead to tooth decay.

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