How Best To Stop Breast Feeding?

I knew when it was time to stop, they were not getting enough. My doctor told me the best way is to supplement formula once a day at a certain time, then pick another time and so forth.  I started with a noon feeding. I did this for a few days, then supplemented at a afternoon feeding, then as time went on I was breast feeding in the am and the night feeding. The night feeding stopped, they had a bottle with their dinner. NEVER did they go to bed with a bottle! Eventually the morning feeding stopped and they were eating 3 meals a day. At about 4 months, they started on cereal and other foods. By the age of 1, they were both off the bottle and drinking regular milk. My younger son was off the bottle at 6 months because he saw his big brother using a cup!  I was happy to nurse my babies, but also relieved to stop, for their sake, since they did not get enough from me. They have grown up to be healthy men! Good luck to you!

If you are wondering just from your physical point of view, your milk is produced in reaction to the baby nursing. So to stop breast feeding, you gradually decrease the number of times that you feed your baby this way.

Your milk naturally "dries up." It doesn't produce the same amount that it used to. Your milk will build up for awhile and since you aren't relieving the pressure, you will be uncomfortable and leaky and that will happen for awhile until your body gets the message that your milk is not being used or needed anymore. Then the production of milk will stop.

Firstly, when you think it is time to wean the baby, you will have to prepare your baby for it gradually. If done gradually over a period of time, it is simpler for both the mother and the baby.

Firstly, introduce the practice of feeding your baby through a cup or a bottle, as you may wish. Babies who are breastfed generally find it easier to drink from a cup rather than a bottle. Begin by replacing one feeding time with the cup daily, preferably the baby's least favourite feeding time. Then gradually keep increasing the replacements, one at a time though. Also while you are weaning the baby, track his weight on a regular basis.

If your breasts are making you uneasy, try expressing the milk out of applying cold compresses, also they should not be bound and you fluid intake should be restricted.