Weaning Factsheet
Introduction
Weaning is the gradual process of stopping breastfeeding and transitioning your baby to:
- infant formula for babies aged 0-12 months
- solid foods for babies over six months.
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for infants from birth to six months. Parents should feel supported to continue breastfeeding beyond this point as long as they and their child are comfortable.
Parents may choose to wean their baby for various reasons, including:
- medical or health issues
- personal choices or circumstances.
Weaning involves:
- transitioning your baby to another food source
- suppressing or reducing your milk supply.
Gradual weaning is when you slowly reduce milk supply. It’s important to slowly suppress your milk supply to ensure you and your baby remain comfortable and healthy. No medications are available to assist with stopping milk production.
Rapid weaning is when you stop breastfeeding or expressing abruptly. Rapid weaning can increase the risk of engorgement and mastitis. Speak to your local doctor, nurse or lactation consultant for more information.
Things to consider
Staying comfortable while reducing milk supply
- Avoid Stimulating Your Breasts
Limit unnecessary touching to prevent increased milk production. Hand expressing may be needed to avoid mastitis and engorgement.
- Wear a Supportive Bra
Use a firm, comfortable bra or crop top without an underwire for support and light compression.
- Use Cold Compresses
Apply cold compresses to your breasts using an ice pack wrapped in cloth, a wet washcloth, or a nappy that has been filled with water and frozen to reduce discomfort and swelling.
- Pain Relief
Over-the-counter pain relief, like paracetamol or ibuprofen, can help manage pain and inflammation. Follow packaging instructions and consult a doctor or pharmacist if unsure.
- Avoid Heat
Warm showers may help relieve discomfort.
- Use Breast Pads
Wear disposable or washable breast pads to absorb leaking milk and prevent nipple rubbing, changing them regularly to avoid infection and irritation.
- Stay Hydrated
Drink water as needed; limiting fluids won’t suppress milk supply and may lead to dehydration.
Gradual Weaning
Reduce the Frequency of Feeds
Gradually decrease the number of times you breastfeed or express over several days.
Shorten Sessions
Decrease the length of each feed or expressing session, for example, from 15 to 10 minutes.
Reduce Expressed Milk Amount
Over time, lower the amount of milk expressed, adjusting as necessary. For example, if you usually express 100ml, try stopping when you reach 80ml.
Skip a pumping session
If you are pumping, consider skipping a session every 3 to 4 days to signal your body to reduce milk production.
Express for Comfort
If your breasts feel full and uncomfortable, hand express just enough milk to give relief without completely emptying your breasts.
Final Stages
When ready, stop expressing or breastfeeding altogether. Occasional expression for comfort in the last few days is normal.
Monitoring Your Progress
Monitor your baby’s feeding patterns and check the number of wet nappies daily. Follow your baby’s lead and seek help if transitioning to another food source is challenging.
Your milk supply may take days or weeks to dry up completely. Look for signs of pain, lumps, or redness, which may indicate engorgement or mastitis. If you have concerns, speak to your local doctor or nurse.
Leftover Expressed Milk
If you have extra expressed milk that has been frozen, consider:
- thawing and adding to solid foods like purees or porridge
- donating milk to help other babies in need
- having it made into a keepsake, such as jewellery.
For milk donation, contact:
Australian Red Cross Milk Bank
Phone: 1300 459 040
Phone: 1300 259 763
