When Is It Best to Stop Breastfeeding?

You as a mother will know the right time to stop breastfeeding your child, whether it is due to a medical decision, you going back to work, or it just being the right time for both you and your child. This is something that is your decision, or your decision with your doctor’s advice, and you will know what is best for your baby.

If you have decided to go back to work while you are still feeding your baby at your breast, you will need to begin weaning him or her before you go back full time, as you may not have time to feed your child during your work day. Thus, it is important to stop breastfeeding your child before you go back to work, so it isn’t a shock to him or her (or to you!) when you are not able to feed your baby for those hours you are away. You will find your breasts will get used to gradual decreases in feeding, rather than stopping all at once, which can become painful. Your child will also become used to gradual decreases in feeding from your breast, and more from a bottle, if you introduce a bottle slowly in between feeding from your breast. In this way both you and your baby are taking a very slow and deliberate change from breastfeeding to bottle feeding well before you have to go back to work, so it is not a shock for either of you.

If you have to stop breastfeeding for medical reasons, it may be best to consult your doctor on the best way to do so. If you are not producing milk or have some medical advice on why not to breastfeed, your doctor is the best person to talk to about how to go about finding an alternative for your child.

Also, there comes a time when you just feel it is right to stop breastfeeding your child and start him on a bottle or a sippy cup to allow him to eat that way. You will know the right time in your head, and can deal with ways to wean your child depending on his or her age. You will know the time is best to start your child on something other than feeding him or her breast milk exclusively. This is an intuition in each mother, and with the guidance of your doctor, you can make the decision.

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