Baby Parenting Guide

How do I know when to stop breast feeding?

I currently exclusively breast feed my 4mnth old baby. He was a big baby at birth 10lb12, so larger than the average baby , and Im beginning to wonder if he needs something heavier than breast milk. He seems to be feeding every two hours and still wakes several times in the night for feeding. (although he goes down at approx 7 and then wakes around 2am but then almost every 2hrs again after that) How do I know when to start weaning? Should I switch to formula?

Public Response to How do I know when to stop breast feeding?

1. Stop feeding him when he asks "Bitty"?
2. You are doing a brilliant job and your baby sounds a picture of health and normal development. Breast milk is the perfect first food for babies and your milk is perfect for your son. In a few weeks you will be thinking about introducing solids as well as milk so if you are both happy just carry on as you are. You will know when it's time to wean him from the breast.
3. It is recommended that babies be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age. At 6 months you should begin to introduce some solid food whilst still supplementing with breastmilk. Continue to breastfeed up to 3 years of age depending on your personal choice.
4. We have 11 babies between three of us and we feel it's time you got your wee one onto solids. My current 6 month old was weaned at 10 weeks, my 9 year old at 12 weeks, and our 10 year old at 13 weeks - others range arund this sort of period. If your asking the question then really you know in your heart it's the right time. I feel strongly that it is best to use your own food not jar/tin and my youngest is currently without teeth and eating mushed lumps fine. Basically don't have them on slops for too long introduce lumps gradually but your doing great to have breast fed this long so enjoy the progression to "big" food!!
5. Well done on getting this far! Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby, and at the moment he doesn't need anything else. It is recommended by the World Health Organisation that you don't feed anything but breast milk for the first 6 months. have a chat with your Health Visitor and see if she can offer you help and support
6. wow you have a lot of patience. I can not do every 2hrs, which is why i give my 6-month-old girl 2 bottles a day of formula, between 4-8 oz, and then the rest breastfeed. I have been doing this since she was 3 days old. It sounds like supplementing wouldn't hurt, but it's really your choice. If you're fine with doing every 2 hrs, then that's okay. But if its getting to be hard on you, then yeah supplementing maybe 1-2 bottles a day might not hurt. I have found that when I eat a lot on a given day, somehow my milk is more filling for her, so she can go longer between feedings when I don't supplement at all. also fenugreek at vitamin stores helps increase milk supply so he gets more milk at each feeding so he can go longer between feeds. you could also maybe introduce rice cereal to him in a baby spoon---about 3-4 baby spoons starting out. but if he constantly thrusts it back with his tongue it means he's not ready yet for solids. also, if you are going to introduce a bottle, then give it to him the same time everyday, so it doesn't mess up your supply. and if he has never had a bottle or not for a very long time, don't be surprised if he puts up a fight. the person below me is wrong---the american academy of pediatrics recommends 6 months of age, not a year, when introducing soldis, but some babies are ready by 4-5 mons.
7. Don't start weaning. Supplement with formula. You can do both without any problems. Be careful about allergic reaction when you start the formula. I see some say it's recommended to start solids at 6 months, but it's not. The doctor might tell it's o.k. but the WHO, Pediatrics Association and Pediatric dietitians do not recommend it. They recommend solids about 1 year because of food allergies and stomach problems that could develop. Keep breast feeding as long as possible. There's no reason to stop the best food you're baby will ever have until they are closer to 2 years.
8. Wow - someone who had a baby almost the size of my son!! (10 lb 14 oz!) By 4 months I was feeding him some baby cereal (just a little here and there - don't freak out people) and feeding him formula every other feeding - I just couldn't take nursing CONSTANTLY!! I felt like a cow at a milking machine - that's ALL I DID! By the time you sit down, nurse on one side, switch, etc. and change him, it was almost an hour gone by, and an hour later he was hungry again - I got nothing done and had 2 little girls (3 & 4) to look after also. If you need to do the same, go for it - it'll save your sanity!
9. You don't need to give formula......absolutely not. Although if you choose that, that's fine :) I think he's probably ready for solids. My son was 10lb 13oz at birth, and doubled his birth weight by 10 weeks. I fed him until he was 10 months old. He was feeding hourly through the night at 4 months and I was not prepared to wait until the recommended 6 months. He got on really well with solids. He was always on the jars ahead of his age. So he had 9 month jars at 6 months. And 3 weetabix for breakfast at 10 months!! He is now 3 and still has a large appetite. He eats twice as much as my 4 yr old daughter, if not more! If you're happy with breastfeeding then carry on. EDIT: If you want to stop breastfeeding, and give formula, then do. And don't feel guily about it. With my 3rd I stopped at 4 months. It was either that or a completely insane mother!!!
10. There are a number of indicators. The 18th Birthday is usually a good point at which to stop. so, if your son/daughter is shaving, married, has childeren, is attending University and so on, you probably shouldn't be pumping them full of milk all the time Apart from anythign else, it can cause terrible wieght gain, which will do their self-esteem no good at all.
11. if your baby is putting on weight then there is no need to worry the milk he has the better for him as for you get sleeps in during the day as breastfeeding is extremley tiring i breastfed both my 2 children they both new when they had enough as the would detach themselves never detach the baby yourself, No dont switch to formula milk you doing a great job and you and your baby wll benefit from it in the long run honestly you should try bathing him every night as this helps babies sleep longer but make sure its just before he goes to bed say 6.30 feed him then put him down to sleep it worked with my children they slept throught the night from 2 weeks old once you get him in routine he will settle trust me try it if you dont believe me
12. My sons all were different...and they all weaned off the breast for different reasons. The eldest one lost interest as soon as he learnt to walk at 10months...he went to the bottle...he had been supplemented with solids since he was 3-4 months as he had refulx and the infant nurse advised me to feed him a little baby cereal. The second son was weaned off the breast at 3 months as we lived in tropical Darwin where it was 100% humidity much of the time and too hot to nurse him constantly...he started solids early at around 4 months...cereal and yoghurt were his first "foods". My 3rd son was weaned abruptly at 6-7 months because he was biting and turning his head to watch his older brothers(ouch!) He did not take to the bottle at all first and it took about week of trying to get him to take it...he was weaned onto yoghurt as well. Your baby sounds as if he is doing well and you are doing a marvellous job nursing such a big boy...If you think he seems ready for more , and I think its worth a try...just a few mouthfuls as he will probably reject it anyway but keep trying a little bit everyday...I would give him whatever is the current first food of choice and you could also try a bottle at one of his daytime feeds and see if that makes any difference to his nightly schedule...waking every 2 hours to nurse takes its toll on mummys. Both my 2nd and 3rd sons were on bottles at 6-7 months and slept really well. all the best for you and your lovely boy...trust your motherly instincts.