5 Signs It's Time to Stop Breastfeeding



1.      Your child is at least a year old. "Keep in mind that most babies won’t self-wean until they are older than 12 months," says Jennifer Lincoln, MD, an OB/GYN and lactation consultant at at Bundoo.com, which connects parents with doctors and other childcare professionals online.
2.      Your child has slowly cut back on the number of nursing sessions. "A gradual decrease in the length and frequency of nursing sessions is also a sign that your baby is ready to wean," says Lincoln.
3.      You just aren't into it anymore. Since kids are often happy to nurse for years, "often moms are the ones ready to wean before their children are ready, and that is okay," says Leigh Anne O'Connor, lactation consultant at LeighAnneOConnor.com.
4.      You feel resentful. "One clear sign a mom is ready is if she feels resentful about nursing," says O'Connor. Many moms continue breastfeeding because they feel they should, but if you're not enjoying your time breastfeeding, it will do little good for you and your child.
5.      You need medical treatment that is incompatible with breastfeeding. If a mom needs to wean to prioritize her health, then she should make sure a lactation consultant is involved to make sure she really does need to stop nursing, give her techniques on weaning, and be there for emotional support, as this can be quite stressful for a family.


When did you know it was time to stop breastfeeding?


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