---------- OR ----------

Create account

Join clubs to discuss your interests
Connect with people like you
Share information, seek advice, get support


Home Pregnancy Baby Names Lucky Names Parenting Rhymes Stories Beauty Love Contests More Cooking Discussion Getting Pregnant Expecting a Baby Newborn Baby (0-3 months) Baby (3-12 months) Toddler (1-3 years) Preschoolers (3-5 years) Kids (5-9 years) Pre-Teens (9-12 years) Teens (13-18 years) Sex Education Preconception Miscarriages Fertility Issues Adoption Pregnancy Newborn Care Baby Names Baby Naming Tips Baby's Diet Child's Healthcare Child Development Pre-Schools Raising Children Food & Nutrition Manners & Discipline Intelligent Child Confident Child Teen Issues Baby Photo Contest Kids Photo Contest

select‌ stage

Baby's Diet Topics..

Breastfeeding

Bottle Feeding

Introduction of Solids

Baby's Diet For Good Health

How to Stop Breastfeeding a Toddler?

Ideallybabiesmustbebreastfedexclusivelyforfirstsixmonths.Thereafter,otherfoodscanbeintroducedinhisorherdietgraduallyandbreastfeedingcanbecontinuedfortwoyearsormore.Doyouthinkitistoolatetocontinuebreastfeedingyourtoddler?Findouthowtostopbreastfeedingatoddlerrightaway.Decidingtostopbreastfeedingatoddleristoughestmomentsforanymother.Itiscompletelyuptoamotherandherchildtodecideupontherighttimetostopbreastfeeding.Breastfeedingisundoubtedlyveryhealthy,butusuallymanymothersfinddifficulttocontinuebreastfeedingachildafterheorsheattainsaparticularage.Infactlongtermbreastfeedingisverybeneficialforthechildbutpracticallymostofmothersdonotprefertobreastfeedthechildformorethan2to2½years.Theprocessofstoppingtobreastfeedatoddlershouldbedoneslowlyinordertomakesurethatheorsheisreadyforthischange.Thiscouldbedoneinsomesimplehomeremedialsteps,withsomeperseveranceandeffort.InthisarticleEducateYourselfTakeItSlowAvoidBreastfeedingAlertsUseDistractionTipsSubstitutesWorkTooEducateYourselfYoumustlearnwhattoexpectfromyourbodyduringtheprocessofweaning.Youhavetopreparetohandleanytypeofdiscomfortthattakes0placeduringsuchtimeandshouldnotbesurprisedbytheevents.Changeswilltakeplacenaturallyandifyoucanhandlethoseemotionalshiftsthatwilloccurasarollercoasterandphysicalchangescausedduetohormonalchanges,thenweaningprocesscangeteasier.Rememberthatyourtoddlerisgoingthroughaforcedtransition,solethimorherruntheshow,andhelphimorherbreakthehabitslowly.TakeItSlowAslowandgradualtransitionisbetterforbothyouandyourkid.Ifyoustopbreastfeedingsuddenly,itcanbetraumaticforbothofyou.Itcanalsocauseyourbreastducttogetcloggedwithmilk,causingpainfulbreastinfectionmastitisoranykindofinflammation.Soyoumustreducethebreastfeedingoverthecourseoftime.Decreasethenursingtimeafterluncheverydayandslowlyeliminatealltheafter-lunchsessionsforoneweek.Continuetoreduceallbreastfeedingsessionsuntilyouhaveeffectivelyweanedyourbabycompletely.AvoidBreastfeedingAlertsAthome,youcantotallystartavoidingtriggerstoyourbabyforbreastfeeding.Donotshowyournakedbreaststoyourkid.Donottakebathinfrontofyourchild.Donotgetundressedordressedinfrontofyourkid.Allthesecangivehimorhersignalsofbreastfeeding.Holdyourbabydifferentlyandavoidholdinghimorherinsuchawaythatyouusedtoholdduringbreastfeeding.Positioningyourkiddifferentlycandistracthimorherfrombreastfeedingdesire.UseDistractionTipsKeepyourtoddlerdistractedasitiseasytodistractthem.Goforawalk,singafavoritesong,usefood,orbecreativeforchanginghisorherfocusfromdesireofnursing.Keepyourtoddlerbusyandcontinueexploringtheworldofwonderswithhimorheruntilheorshegetstiredandeventuallypassesout.Findotherwaysofmakingyourtoddlerfallasleepratherthantakinghimorheronyourlap–makingyourtoddlersleepwithdadmaywork.SubstitutesWorkTooTherearemanysubstitutesforbreastfeedingsessionsoutinthemarket,suchassippycupstoofferyummytreats.Youmustbesurethatyoursubstitutesarenotunhealthy.Alsorememberthatyourtoddlerwasreceivingimmunityandnutritionfrombreastfeeding,soweaningneedsmorenutrientstokeepyourtoddlerhealthy–soyouhavetotakecareofthediettoo.Usesolidfoodasareplacementforbreastmilk,asahungrytoddlerfeelsforbreastfeedingmorethanatoddlerwithafulltummy.Therewouldbecomplications–emotionalandphysical–sogetreadyforthediscomfortandmakeiteasybygettingaccustomedtoit.Takecareofyourbreastsbymassagingnotallowingmilkductsfrombeingclogged.Usecabbageleavemassagetogetrelieffrompain.Wearaproperbra.Donotfeelguiltyfornotbreastfeedingyourtoddler.Expecttofeelsadattimesduringtheweaningprocess,butkeepallyourfeelingsasideandbedetermined,andyourbabywouldsoonbreakthehabitofbreastfeeding.Whenistherighttimetostopbreastfeedingababy?Whatarethebenefitsoflongtermbreastfeeding?Isitdifficulttostopbreastfeedingatoddler?Discusshere.

Deciding to stop breastfeeding a toddler is toughest moments for any mother. It is completely up to a mother and her child to decide upon the right time to stop breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is undoubtedly very healthy, but usually many mothers find difficult to continue breastfeeding a child after he or she attains a particular age. In fact long term breastfeeding is very beneficial for the child but practically most of mothers do not prefer to breastfeed the child for more than 2 to 2 ½ years. The process of stopping to breastfeed a toddler should be done slowly in order to make sure that he or she is ready for this change. This could be done in some simple home remedial steps, with some perseverance and effort.

Educate Yourself

You must learn what to expect from your body during the process of weaning. You have to prepare to handle any type of discomfort that takes 0place during such time and should not be surprised by the events. Changes will take place naturally and if you can handle those emotional shifts that will occur as a roller coaster and physical changes caused due to hormonal changes, then weaning process can get easier. Remember that your toddler is going through a forced transition, so let him or her run the show, and help him or her break the habit slowly.

Take It Slow

A slow and gradual transition is better for both you and your kid. If you stop breastfeeding suddenly, it can be traumatic for both of you. It can also cause your breast duct to get clogged with milk, causing painful breast infection mastitis or any kind of inflammation. So you must reduce the breastfeeding over the course of time. Decrease the nursing time after lunch every day and slowly eliminate all the after-lunch sessions for one week. Continue to reduce all breastfeeding sessions until you have effectively weaned your baby completely.

Avoid Breastfeeding Alerts

At home, you can totally start avoiding triggers to your baby for breastfeeding. Do not show your naked breasts to your kid. Do not take bath in front of your child. Do not get undressed or dressed in front of your kid. All these can give him or her signals of breastfeeding. Hold your baby differently and avoid holding him or her in such a way that you used to hold during breastfeeding. Positioning your kid differently can distract him or her from breastfeeding desire.

Use Distraction Tips

Keep your toddler distracted as it is easy to distract them. Go for a walk, sing a favorite song, use food, or be creative for changing his or her focus from desire of nursing. Keep your toddler busy and continue exploring the world of wonders with him or her until he or she gets tired and eventually passes out. Find other ways of making your toddler fall asleep rather than taking him or her on your lap –making your toddler sleep with dad may work.

Substitutes Work Too

There are many substitutes for breastfeeding sessions out in the market, such as sippy cups to offer yummy treats. You must be sure that your substitutes are not unhealthy. Also remember that your toddler was receiving immunity and nutrition from breastfeeding, so weaning needs more nutrients to keep your toddler healthy – so you have to take care of the diet too.Use solid food as a replacement for breastmilk, as a hungry toddler feels for breastfeeding more than a toddler with a full tummy.

There would be complications – emotional and physical – so get ready for the discomfort and make it easy by getting accustomed to it. Take care of your breasts by massaging not allowing milk ducts from being clogged. Use cabbage leave massage to get relief from pain. Wear a proper bra. Do not feel guilty for not breastfeeding your toddler. Expect to feel sad at times during the weaning process, but keep all your feelings aside and be determined, and your baby would soon break the habit of breastfeeding.

When is the right time to stop breastfeeding a baby? What are the benefits of long term breastfeeding? Is it difficult to stop breastfeeding a toddler? Discuss here.

You may also be interested in:

Central Nervous System
(9671 views)

Breastfeeding a Premature Baby
(5247 views)

Correct Breastfeeding Position
(39177 views)

Breastmilk FAQs
(35781 views)

Tips for Successful Breastfeeding
(38259 views)

How to Stop Long Term Breastfeeding
(21456 views)

Notifications

3 Comments

Sort by Newest

Barkha.7 years ago

Child will not leave his mother until she does something due to which child hates drinking breast milk. I had put neem paste on my nipples to make my child stop asking for breast milk. My child was 2 years old when I stopped breastfeeding.

Hemali.7 years ago

Putting turmeric paste on nipples is a good idea to scare the child and stop breastfeeding. The child will not come near mother, when he will see the turmeric paste on her nipples and areola.

Ishika.7 years ago

It stopped breastfeeding my child when he was 2 and a half year old. It was quite stressful and emotionally draining. But it a matter of just few days, so don't worry.