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Talk to me about weaning

catycatecatycate member
in Breastfeeding
DD is 5 months and I'd like to wean around 6 months. I'm not weaning due to supply, I'm just "done" doing it. What would be the best way to go about it? Cold turkey? Dropping a feed a week or so? I just want to make it as easy as possible for DD, I'm not concerned with how long it takes or discomfort for me.
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Re: Talk to me about weaning

  • CLLDLLCLLDLL member
    I 100% agree with PP.  Slow and steady will be much better for both of you. 

    Start with the feeding LO seems least attached to.  Maybe nurse for a few minutes then offer some formula or a half and half BM/Formula bottle for the rest of the feed.  Repeat this with the same feeding for 2-4 more days.  Then repeat the process with the next least attached to feeding.  

    Remember that BF isn't just nourishment for LO.  It's also comfort.  So he/she may need more cuddles and attention from you during this transition time.  Also you might need your husband/SO to offer bottles to LO for a while instead of you as he/she may get mad that you aren't nursing. 

    Good luck! 
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  • catycatecatycate member
    She does take 1 bottle of formula a day, so I know she is used to it and will take it. I will definitely drop 1 feeding at a time.

    There aren't any specific problems I'm having breastfeeding, it just isn't this joyful experience and it stresses me out a lot. I'm proud I made it this long, but it's time for us.
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  • numbersgirl08numbersgirl08 member
    I just finished weaning at 8 months. My LO had no problems taking formula bottles, so this is what we did, and it was (mostly) painless. I struggled MAsSIVELY with plugged ducts while breastfeeding, so I knew I needed to go slowly. Right before I weaned, she was nursing 5x a day. Also, my whole freezer stash of breastmilk went bad when my freezer broke a couple of months ago, so we had to go straight to formula (so many tears shed over all that pumped milk...)

    The first week I dropped the nursing session that seemed the shortest for her (it wa early evening) and replaced it with a bottle of formula. Since she had been nursing 5x a day, I estimated about 4-6 oz for this missed session so that she could get around 30 total for the day.

    The next week, I dropped my mid morning session so that my remaining 3 nursing sessions were about evenly spaced apart - morning, afternoon, and bedtime. She got 6-8 oz of formula.

    The next week, I dropped my afternoon session and replaced with 6 oz formula. The first day I got engorged but it only took a couple of days for my body to regulate.

    The nex week, I dropped the bedtime session. I did this because she always gets more and is more interested in the morning. I know some people drop this one last because it's a comfort thing.

    The next week, I went 36 hrs between nursing sessions. It wa painful a couple of times - had planned to go 48 hrs but just couldn't make it. After a few days at 36 hrs, I went 48 hrs between nursing. After doin that twice it seems like I'm mostly all dried up now!

    Going slow was critical for me to avoid plugs. It worked well for us! Good luck!
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  • eves1989eves1989 member
    Do it gradually. Reducing feeding will surely help. Good luck!
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