10 Creative Tips for Weaning off Breastfeeding

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Weaning off breastfeeding is often easier said than done! These tips for stopping breastfeeding will help make the transition easier when weaning a baby. These stop breastfeeding tips are real world advice from our real world community. You are not alone when weaning baby from breast!

text: 10 Creative Tips for Weaning Baby - baby hand reaching for bottle - Kids Activities Blog — How to wean from breastfeeding advice from moms

Weaning Baby off Breastfeeding

Weaning baby from breastfeeding when he was ten months old was not my original plan. In the beginning I had no intentions of stopping that early and would have loved to make it longer.

Related: Ways to Wean Toddler from Breastfeeding

Our problem was that he began biting me (like most do when they get teeth) and he wouldn’t stop. In fact, most of our nursing sessions were not feedings at all anymore, they were more like a game of, “How long can I go without crying or bleeding?”

After suffering through the phase for weeks, trying my best tough it out and get it through it, I threw in the towel. Neither one of us was getting anything positive out of breastfeeding anymore.

I stopped cold turkey and although he wasn’t very happy about it at first, after a couple of nights he was weaned and ready to move on.

Tips for Weaning Baby

We were wondering what other people did to wean their baby from breastfeeding and what worked best, so we asked our amazing Facebook community.

I completely changed the order of bedtime routine items one night to kind of confuse him. He didn’t notice a thing and went straight to bed. He never looked back.
Instead of breastfeeding, give him a bottle with just water. He will learn that it’s pointless to wake up at night, just for water. That’s how I broke both of my children from night time pacifier and feedings.
I know this sounds completely crazy, but check out the Farmer’s Almanac and what days they recommend as best for weaning animals or children. I have used it to wean all three of my children. Here are the recommended days for this year.
I put a drop of ginger extract on the areola (not on the nipple). It was so bitter that when he tasted and smelled it, it put him off. The next day, every time he attempted, I’d rub some on my shirt near the breast. On the second day he decided to not nurse anymore but drink from the cup instead.
Try just holding him. A lot of the time it’s not so much the milk, but the warmth and smell and sound of you that calms. Make sure he ate enough at dinner and just try being with him. Eventually he’ll realize that losing the milk doesn’t mean he is losing his mommy.

More Baby Weaning Tips

Put band aids on your nipples and your baby will see that you have an ouchie. I’ve heard it’s very successful.
After we decided to drop the night feeding, my husband had to take over the bedtime routine. She went to sleep so much better for him than for me. It’s good bonding for them (she is very attached to her mama). So if you have someone else that can put him to bed, maybe that will help.
I had some serious trouble with 2 of my kids – in the end I put Vegemite on the milk bar and told them it was (yep you guessed it) poop! It worked great; took probably three times for them to see it on them, and no more.
Cold turkey. .. it’s rough at first but I find it easiest.
I breast feed my daughter until she was 2.5 and I tried heaps of things, but the only thing that worked was drawing black dots and lines on my boobs.

What to Apply on Nipples to Stop Breastfeeding

When deciding to stop breastfeeding, some mothers might want to find ways to discourage their child from nursing or to reduce discomfort from engorgement. Applying substances to the nipples to deter breastfeeding is a practice that some mothers consider. However, it’s important to be cautious about what is applied to the nipples, as substances could be harmful to the child if ingested.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both have guidelines and resources regarding breastfeeding and weaning. For professional advice tailored to your specific situation, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider, lactation consultant, or pediatrician.

If you still want to explore topical applications to deter breastfeeding, a common suggestion has been to apply bitter-tasting, food-grade substances to the nipple. However, this method is not universally recommended and should only be considered after discussing it with a healthcare provider to ensure it’s safe for both the mother and the child. There are no specific science resources that recommend applying a substance to the nipple to stop breastfeeding, as the focus is typically on gradual weaning for the health and comfort of both mother and child.

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Recommended Supplies for Weaning from Breastfeeding

These are bottles that are specifically designed to look, feel and act like a breast. Although there is no substitution, these may help transitioning to a bottle a bit easier.

Here is a list of our favorite cups to use when weaning for baby.