Giving yourself the best chance of weaning your baby

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months, and continued breastfeeding until at least 2 years, alongside the introduction of solid foods. Until the age of 1 year, milk — whether breast milk or infant formula — should remain the basis of your baby's diet. In France, fewer than one in five children are breastfed until the age of 6 months [1].

Find out more about breastfeeding in the article on: breastfeeding duration.

Weaning may be a choice or something that happens for reasons outside your control, and the reasons that lead you to move to bottle feeding can be varied.

If you are stopping because you feel you have an insufficient milk supply, do not hesitate to seek support from an IBCLC lactation consultant and, if needed, to take a breastfeeding food supplement to support your milk supply and continue breastfeeding for as long as you wish.

There is no "right" duration for breastfeeding, only recommended durations. 

The best time to stop breastfeeding is the one that suits you, and the decision to continue or stop breastfeeding is yours to make. It is for you to make an informed choice.

Whether chosen or not, the end of breastfeeding can be experienced as very difficult by some mothers, who may see it as the loss of a strong and unique bond between themselves and their baby.

It's a page turning, but a new chapter beginning!

Breastfeeding is very instinctive for a baby who has been fed at the breast from birth. Nothing is more natural to them, which is why the transition to a bottle can prove challenging. A new shape, a new texture, a different milk temperature — everything is different between breast and bottle. Be kind and patient with your child as you introduce this new feeding object, which feels so unfamiliar to them.

The duration of weaning
 

Weaning from the breast can take many different forms — it is unique to each mother and each child. It's not an exact science!

A bottle can be introduced at different paces and can be given more or less regularly. A mother may choose to replace one feed a day, every day or not.

Some mothers will manage to continue breastfeeding alongside one or two bottles a day, while others will find that their milk supply drops very quickly as soon as a daily bottle is introduced.

Weaning is generally considered to take about a month, but it's not an exact science! Give yourself as much time as possible, so that both of you have the right to refuse the bottle, to not feel ready, to not manage it, and to try again the next day.

Themixed feeding may take longer if your baby needs more time to adjust to the bottle. Take it gently — the best weaning timeline is the one that works for both you and your baby.

Bottle feeding offers a different kind of interaction to breastfeeding. Because your baby is no longer nestled against your breast but facing you, you get to enjoy every expression on their face as you feed them. A chance to discover new emotions and expressions every day.

Choose a gradual approach

If weaning your baby is a choice, then you set the pace and the timeline. If it is linked to returning to work, a low milk supply, or pain, then you have a deadline to work towards.

Whether weaning is chosen or imposed, you can always opt for a gentle approach by introducing bottle feeding earlier. You'll benefit from a smoother, less stressful transition, with no worries about your child's ability to feed without you.

Between 3 and 5 months, babies typically have 4 feeds a day. You can start by replacing one breastfeed a day, keeping the morning and evening feeds and introducing a bottle during the day. 
 

Once your baby has accepted this daily bottle, keep to this routine for a week before introducing a second one. Over the following weeks, you can gradually introduce more and more bottles into your routine.
 

Take care mama. Don't focus on the amount of milk taken, especially in the early days.
 

Rest assured, the end of breastfeeding doesn't necessarily mean the end of feeds. Your baby may still ask for the breast from time to time, especially when they are unwell or tired, until they gradually stop entirely on their own.

Don't be too hard on yourself — moving from breast to bottle won't happen overnight! Take it at your own pace and listen to yourself.

Create a new ritual

Introduce a calm and reassuring routine that your baby will associate with bottle feeding — this can help make the transition easier.

Continue to take care of your body by carrying on with your post-partum supplement, to replenish your nutrient stores.

There is a wide variety of bottles and not all of them will suit your baby. When you decide to wean your baby, take the time to explore the different options available. You may find that you need to try a different bottle during the weaning process if your baby does not seem to take to it.

If you are looking for a medical-grade silicone bottle, Elhée bottles are practical, lightweight and unbreakable! Elhée also offers physiological teats in 3 flow rates: slow, medium and fast, to suit the baby's pace. They are extra-soft and fit perfectly to your baby's mouth cavity. The teats are also fitted with an anti-colic valve designed to reduce air intake and aid digestion in young babies.

Weaning is a stage that all mothers go through with their baby. Whether chosen or imposed, weaning is not always straightforward to navigate. 

If in doubt, seek support from an IBCLC lactation consultant.