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Weaning Your Baby or Toddler

How Do I Wean My Baby?

It is recommended that babies be fed only breast milk for the first six months of life, with the addition of nutrient-rich solid foods at six months with continued breastfeeding for two years or more.

If you are breastfeeding and choose to wean your baby from breast milk when your baby is younger than nine months of age, you will need to feed your baby a commercial iron fortified infant formula. Call the Healthy Children Info Line, 519-883-2245, for information about what type of formula to give your baby.

If your baby is between nine and twelve months of age, you may wean her to an iron fortified infant formula or whole cow's milk if she is eating a variety of iron-rich foods. You also may want to think about weaning directly from the breast to a cup.

When you decide to wean your baby remember to do it gradually to give her and yourself time to adjust! If you are breastfeeding, give yourself time to let your milk supply decrease slowly, without discomfort.

Weaning from the Breast to a Bottle or Cup

• Gradually replace one feeding at a time with a bottle or cup until all the feedings have been replaced. Most mothers leave the morning and evening feedings till last.
• Wait a few days before stopping another feeding, to let your milk supply go down slowly.
• At the time of the missed feeding, express only the amount of milk needed to relieve any discomfort.

Take as long as you want to wean your baby. Do what is right for you and your baby. Some mothers choose to wean over a longer period of time, keeping an evening and/or morning feed well past their child's second birthday.

Weaning from a Bottle to a Cup

Most babies are ready to start drinking from a cup between six and eight months of age.

• Start giving small amounts of breast milk or formula or whole cow's milk (if baby is over nine months) in a cup so your baby can get used to the cup.
• As your baby takes more milk or formula in a cup, gradually give less in the bottle, until your baby is drinking only from the cup.
• It may take until your baby is between 12 to 18 months of age before your baby gets all the milk needed from a cup.

For more information about weaning your baby, call the Healthy Children Info Line at 519-883-2245.