Wean Your Baby from Night Time Breastfeeding

The breastfeeding mother finds rest much easier to come by because she doesn't worry about heating up a bottle before bedtime. She and her baby snuggle on the bed or in a comfortable chair where she relaxes while her baby nurses until falling asleep. Breastfeeding becomes security and comfort for her baby. Changing this routine as you wean your baby can cause stress for both mother and the baby. But there are things you can do to decrease the stress as you wean your baby from the night time breastfeeding.

Cut down on breast milk. Weaning starts with cutting down on the breast milk you offer your baby. This means you offer healthy substitutes such as yogurt, other milk or formula-depending on the age of the child, and other solid foods. Before bedtime make sure your baby has a full tummy so your baby isn't hungry. The amount of breast milk you make is in direct proportion to how much milk is expressed from your breast. As you introduce other foods, your baby will need breast milk less often and your supply will decrease accordingly. As your milk decreases, your baby will breastfeeding more a time of comfort than for sustenance.

Sing to your baby before sleep time. Before you stop or begin to wean your baby from that night time breastfeeding, get your baby used to other comforting measures such as the sound of your voice. This may include singing softly to your baby. You baby doesn't care if you can't hold a tune. All your baby cares about is the soothing sound. You can also recite verse or talk about what's on your mind. The main thing is to render comfort through the sound of your voice. This provides another security and comfort when you wean your baby from that night time breastfeeding.

Spend time cuddling. Instead of relying on putting your baby to sleep with the comfort, security and habit of breastfeeding, allow only a short time at your breast. Instead spend lots of time cuddling, rocking and comforting your baby with your warm arms. Every few days allow your baby less and less time at your breast before he goes to sleep. Continue to hold and cuddle and give your baby the same time, even more, as when you allowed him to fall asleep while breastfeeding. This helps your baby adjust to this new and unsettling situation called weaning.

Deal with your own emotional readiness as you wean your baby. Breastfeeding becomes a very special bonding time between mother and child. For some mothers, the change in this very special relationship with weaning brings a certain amount of sadness, even grief. Your baby senses your feelings. If you struggle to allow your baby the next step in her maturity, your baby will sense your reluctance and instinctively feel unsettled, making your baby less willing to wean without stress. Weaning must come when both you and your baby are ready for this move or the weaning process will be more difficult. At times, this means you may have to realize your baby needs to move on and make it a habit of praising your baby for every step of progress. It also means, not giving in when your baby demands more breastfeeding time, when you know she is really isn't hungry. With patience-with both your baby and yourself, attention and love you can wean your baby to sleep without breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Basics: Weaning
http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/html/weaning.shtml

Woman's Passions: Woman and infants: Weaning breastfeeding
http://www.womanspassions.com/articles/233.html