Weaning From Breastfeeding: How, When, and What to Expect
- Rebecca McCann
- Jan 23
- 5 min read
Weaning from breastfeeding looks different for every family. Some parents wean gradually over years, while others wean more quickly due to work, health, pregnancy, or personal reasons. However it unfolds, weaning is a significant transition—for both you and your child.
This guide walks through common questions about weaning off breastfeeding, including when to wean, how to wean at different ages, night weaning, partial weaning, and the hormonal and emotional changes that can come with the process.
When Is the Right Time to Wean?
There is no single “right” time to wean off breastfeeding. Families wean for many different reasons—sometimes by necessity, sometimes by choice. Unless you are weaning for medical reasons, the decision is ultimately between you and your baby.
It’s very common to feel pressure from outside opinions—family, friends, or broader cultural expectations. My hope is that you feel supported in making a decision that works best for your family, not one driven by guilt or comparison.
Children will naturally wean over time. You can choose to let that process unfold on its own, or you can gently guide it along when the time feels right for you.
What Is the Recommended Age for Weaning?
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend breastfeeding for 2 years or longer, as long as it is desired by both the parent and the child.
Across cultures, the age of weaning varies widely. Anthropological research and observations of our closest mammal relatives suggest that a biologically “natural” age of weaning for humans may fall somewhere between 2.5 and 7 years.
That does not mean you need to breastfeed that long—but it can be reassuring to know that extended breastfeeding is developmentally normal. Breastmilk continues to provide nutritional, immune, and comfort benefits for as long as breastfeeding continues.
Emotions and Hormones During Weaning
Many parents are surprised by the emotional side of weaning. It can bring a wide range of feelings—from accomplishment, relief, and contentment to sadness, grief, anxiety, or even depression.
Weaning represents a major transition: a new stage of parenting, a shift in your relationship with your child, and a significant hormonal change in your body. As breastfeeding decreases, levels of prolactin and oxytocin drop—hormones that play a role in mood regulation, bonding, and emotional well-being. At the same time, estrogen, which is suppressed during lactation, rises back to pre-pregnancy levels. This hormonal shift can contribute to mood swings and may trigger changes in your menstrual cycle or the return of your period.
Because of these hormonal shifts, some parents experience:
Mood swings
Increased anxiety
Tearfulness
Trouble concentrating
Feelings of grief or loss
These feelings can be especially noticeable if weaning happens quickly, due to the sudden shift in hormones. Be gentle with yourself during this time, and reach out for support if something feels off. Post-weaning depression is real and deserves attention.
You may find this article helpful:
How to Wean From Breastfeeding
The best approach to weaning depends largely on:
Your child’s age
How quickly you need or want to wean
In most cases, slower and more gradual weaning is easier on both your body and your baby.
Weaning From Breastfeeding Under 1 Year
If you wean before your baby turns 12 months, breastmilk will need to be replaced with infant formula, as babies under 1 year should not receive cow’s milk or non-dairy substitutes as a primary drink.
If your baby has difficulty accepting a bottle, you’re not alone—and help is available. Bottle refusal is common, especially for breastfed babies. I strongly recommend reaching out for support rather than trying to push through on your own.
For more information about bottle refusal and bottle feeding support:
Weaning Quickly: What to Know
Sometimes weaning needs to happen faster than planned. When weaning quickly, the biggest concerns are breast comfort, engorgement, and risk of mastitis.
Tips for faster—but safer—weaning:
Drop one feeding or pumping session at a time
If possible, wait 3–4 days before dropping another session
Spread out dropped feeds (for example, alternate between day and night feeds rather than eliminating all of the night feeds in a row)
Save your baby’s favorite feeding—often the bedtime feed—for last
If you become uncomfortably full, express just enough milk to relieve pressure, not to empty the breast
That lingering fullness signals your body to gradually reduce milk production.
Weaning After 1 Year
Weaning after 1 year often happens more gradually and with less planning. Many toddlers naturally breastfeed less as solid food intake increases and their routines expand.
If you’re ready to gently move things along, these strategies can help:
Reduce one feeding every few days (or longer) to allow your milk supply to adjust
Save your child’s favorite nursing session—often bedtime—for last
Replace nursing time with other forms of connection: snuggles, books, songs, or quiet play
Try a “don’t offer, don’t refuse” approach
Adjust routines to avoid common nursing triggers (for example, avoid typical nursing spots, plan activities during usual nursing times, or have another caregiver handle certain transitions)
Anticipate nursing requests and offer substitutions like a snack, special drink, or activity
Gradually shorten nursing sessions. If your child is old enough, you can give verbal cues that include counting, singing a song, or setting a gentle endpoint — for example: “We'll nurse for as long as it takes me to sing the ABCs.”
Talk with your child about what’s happening using clear, short, and age-appropriate language—many understand more than we expect
The last time?
Some toddlers wean so gradually that you may not even notice the final nursing session. A few days may pass before you realize they haven’t asked to nurse.
If you’d like to make that last breastfeeding session intentional, you may choose to plan ahead—perhaps picking a day to celebrate or quietly mark the transition. If you’d rather not know when the last time will be, but still want to remember this stage, consider taking a few extra photos or mental notes when you sense the time is near. Many parents appreciate having those memories to look back on.
Night Weaning and Bedtime Nursing
Night weaning is often the most challenging part of weaning from breastfeeding. Having another caregiver handle bedtime or nighttime wake-ups can be very helpful. Replacing bedtime nursing with other forms of connection—stories, snuggles, or music—can also ease the transition.
If your child is old enough, books about weaning may provide additional support:
When the Sun Shines by Katherine Havener
Loving Comfort by Julie Dillemuth
Mommy’s Hug by Sarit Guy
A Time To Wean by Marlene Susan
Booby Moon by Yvette Reid
Booby Moon with Two by Yvette Reid
Partial Weaning: A Flexible Option
Some families choose partial weaning rather than stopping breastfeeding altogether. This might include:
Nursing at home but stopping pumping at work
Nursing only at naps and bedtime
Night weaning
A quick heads-up about night weaning: stopping breastfeeding at night does not always mean your child will stop waking. Night waking is still developmentally normal for toddlers, and many continue to need comfort overnight.
After baby is about a year old, your milk supply is usually pretty adaptable and can adjust to partial weaning. Milk production will decrease, which is fine if gradual weaning is your goal. If maintaining a higher milk supply is important to you, partial weaning may not be the best fit.
Weaning is a process that deserves time, patience, and support — whether you’re weaning slowly or more quickly than planned, whether it feels relieving, emotional, or both. Trust that your relationship with your child continues to evolve, even as breastfeeding ends. If you need guidance along the way — whether that’s support with night weaning, partial weaning, or navigating the emotional and hormonal shifts — help is available, and you don’t have to do this alone.
