Breastfeeding weaning Breastfeeding weaning While there is no set age to wean your child, there are clues that your child will give to let you know when that time has arrived. Most pediatricians will tell you that you should breast feed for at least a year for the health benefits it provides the child and stop bottle bottle feeding at around a year to cut down on the risk of tooth decay. A child may be ready to wean much earlier than this or show no interest in weaning for a few months after this. Regardless, the steps are the same for all situations. Firstly, weaning works best when it is a gradual process.
Children recieve more from breast and bottle feeding than mere nutrition.
They also satisfy their sucking needs and derive comfort from the closeness to their parent. For this reason, weaning a child cold turkey can make it a more traumatic experience than it needs to be. Begin by cutting out the child's least favorite feeding. You may offer your child a cup in lieu of this feeding but do not try to introduce new liquids and the cup simultaneously. Offer only those things in the cup that your child is familiar with and likes.