How to wean your baby
In Australia, the term 'weaning' refers to the mother stopping her breastfeeding to allow her baby to take formula milk (or other fluids and solids if old enough). Some countries (such as the USA) use the term 'weaning' to describe starting a baby on solids, rather than stopping breastfeeding. In this website we use the term 'weaning' to refer to ceasing breastfeeding.
You can breastfeed your baby for as long as you (and your baby) wish to. It is generally recommended to fully breastfeed babies up until they are about 6 months old, and then continue to breastfeed them with additional solids, and perhaps other fluids, until they are about 12 months old. If you wean your baby off the breast before they are 12 months old, you will need to
substitute formula milk until their 1
st birthday. If your baby is old enough, they may not need to have their formula or other fluids in a bottle, but may go straight to having a cup.
There are many reasons why women will stop their breastfeeding. These may include: