When you are feeling ready to wean from breastfeeding, you want to do so gradually. It is helpful to begin by setting times and limits. A good place to start is by removing nursing sessions before and after naps, and offering a snack instead. Next, tackle when your little one wakes up in the morning and go straight to feeding them breakfast instead. Allow night time nursing to be the last session you remove.

I usually cut the mid morning session first at 12 months and offer a snack instead. Then at 14 months I cut the afternoon session and offer a snack instead. At 16 months I stop the morning one and go directly to breakfast and at 18 months I stop the night time one. This can be done either with nursing or a bottle.

If your child pulls at your shirt or says, “milk,” respond with: “mommy’s milk is closed right now. I know you really want milk. You are very mad.” Then pause, and allow your child to sit with that feeling. Validate their feelings of frustration and sadness. This transition is a change, and that is hard. Sit with them and allow them to be uncomfortable.

I will typically replace a nursing session with a snack (or meal) if my child is asking for milk and tell them “you may have a snack.” Or if it’s not time for snack or lunch or a meal, then say “we may play xyz” to redirect their attention.

Instead of giving a child a bottle or sippy cup to have on hand, I prefer to have them drink milk during a snack or meal. I recommend offering nut milk or whatever you want to serve in a cup for them to drink. Some children won’t drink milk from a cup and that’s ok too. Many just drop milk all together. That’s okay as long as you are providing a balanced diet.

*If you need to wean more quickly, taking oregano oil can help dry up your supply. Wearing tight fitting sports bras and putting cold cabbage leaves in your bra can help too. If you are feeling uncomfortable, can manually express enough out where you are comfortable. And of course, check with a lactation consultant.

For more information, I have my Instagram post about post-weaning depression linked here.