After breastfeeding your baby for a few months, the time may come when you want to wean your baby from breast milk. Your baby is teething, the biting has become too painful, you want your breasts back to yourself, or maybe your baby is growing older and you just think it is time- no matter what the reason may be, you should take charge and make the decision. You do not need to wait for your baby / toddler to wean himself/herself, which can take much longer than you are willing to allow for.

Think before you act. If you are ready to wean your baby, try to start gradually and replace breast feedings with the bottle or solids depending on your baby’s age and current diet. Once you are left with one or two breast feedings a day, you may be ready to stop all together.

Depending on your baby’s nature and attachment to the breast, it can be a tough transition for the both of you. You may find your baby having a harder time falling asleep as he has become accustomed to breastfeeding before bed, or it might take longer to calm him down as he has grown used to expecting the breast for comfort. You should expect to face a few challenging days, even weeks, before your baby will accept this change. Make sure to offer the bottle instead and do not be discouraged if he refuses to take it. With time he will change his ways.

While your baby adapts to the changes, your body will take a little while to adjust as well. It usually takes about two weeks for your breast milk to dry out completely, and it can be quit painful for a while. Your milk production will continue in the beginning, not knowing about your decision to stop breastfeeding.

To relieve the pain and get you through this phase, here are some suggestions: wear a sports bra that is one or two sizes smaller, cold cabbage leaves in your bra will both help stop milk production and relieve the pain, you can also take Motrin if the pain is overwhelming. Do not stimulate your breasts- shower with your back to the water stream and try not to get any water on your breasts. Avoid anyone touching your breasts as they are sensitive during this phase. Lastly, do not pump, unless you want to keep your milk supply running. And stick to your decision.

If you break the weaning mid-process, it will be that much harder to wean your baby the second time around.  So before you wean, make sure you are ready for it!

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Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed babies. Breast milk is designed to provide a baby with all its needs right from the start. Right after birth and for the first 3-5 days after, your body produces colostrum, which is a thick yellow fluid, rich in protein, low in fat, and high in carbohydrate, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. Within the first week after birth, your milk will come in, replacing the colostrum, and it will change in content with your baby’s growth.

Creating a solid basis for breastfeeding is important for a good mutual nursing experience for both you and your baby. The key to breastfeeding successfully is a proper latch. When there is a good latch, the baby will get the milk or colostrums needed to grow and get stronger, while simultaneously stimulating your body to produce more milk.

A poor latch can lead to a malnourished and frustrated baby, which in turn may discourage Mom. More so, a poor latch can cause the Mother nipple pain – if not cracking and bleeding. If the baby does not get milk, you may experience engorgement, which is painful and will make it even harder for your baby to breastfeed.

A good nursing position is important in achieving a proper latch. You can start practicing right in the delivery room, minutes after your baby was born. Skin to skin contact is important, and tummy to tummy positioning with easy access to the breast is crucial. If you have doubt or any questions, you should ask to see a lactation consultant in the hospital.

Where there is demand, there is milk. If you wait for your milk to come in before you start breastfeeding, you will miss out on the breastfeeding experience. Almost all mothers can breastfeed, but you have to stimulate your body to do so. All you need to do is allow your baby to do what is natural, for your body to get the signal. It is that simple.

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We previously talked about your baby’s very first food. Whether it may be breast milk or formula, this was just the beginning of your baby’s culinary experience. The next step comes somewhere between four and six months of age. Consult with your pediatrician first before starting to try out baby food. Your baby will let you know too, they know best when they are ready. Some signs to look for – your baby turning six months old; your baby has doubled his/her birth weight; he/she is staring at people while they eat ‘grown up’ food.

Once you decide it is time to start your baby on solids, you should take a moment or two to learn what options are available to you. Like anything in life, each of the options has pros & cons. Take the time to learn about them so you can make the best decision for you & your baby.

Readymade foods are convenient. They are designed specifically for babies, so the taste should be acceptable by most babies. If you are not a ‘kitchen person’, readymade food is a great solution that will introduce your baby to a variety of tastes and ingredients. The down side of readymade foods is that they can burn a hole in your wallet. Also, to have extended shelf lives, they must contain preservatives, which affect both their nutritional value and taste.

Making baby food at home it easier that you imagine! You don’t have to buy special products and in comparison with readymade food, the expense is dramatically lower. The benefits of making your own baby food is that you know & control what goes in it, and when it was made. Once you & your baby have experimented and you know what foods get the green light, you can pre make them & freeze, so you don’t have to cook every day.

As with anything new give both yourself & your baby time to experiment.  Whatever your decision is, remember, this is just another taste in your baby’s culinary road. In no time, your baby will be eating what you do, just in smaller pieces…