How Would I Wean My 7 Month Old from Breastfeeding??

My daughter started teething at 3 months, but I successfully breastfed her for 13 months. There were a few times that she bit me (once even drawing blood) but a stern "NO BITING!" and ending the feeding put a quick end to that. Also, you may notice that he "chews" towards the end of the feeding which means he's done, so you should just end the feeding as soon as you notice he's getting distracted, etc.

But if you want to wean, best to do it slowly (for your sake and his). Start by delaying a feeding or skipping it (preferably afternoon) and continue dropping feedings ever few days or so, replacing them with formula. He'll most likely hang onto his bedtime feeding (although my daughter enjoyed her morning feeding best) until last, but you could have your husband/partner give him a bottle and then put him to bed so he learns that milk doesn't always need to come from mom. It took me 2 months to fully wean my daughter.

Good luck!

My daughter would bite a lot, and hold it and pull away with it..ouch! I just had her get the need to bite out before I nursed. I would give her a frozen toy or her favorite chew thing before nursing. Then if she bit down I would take her off the breast and tell her no biting. She has not done it in a while. I think it is just a phase they go through when they first get teeth. If you can make it through this you will be giving your son a great gift. Good Luck!

My son started doing the same thing to me at about 9 months. He was teething and started to bite me. You can teach him not to bite you. That's what I did because I wanted him to have the benefits of being breastfed until he was at least one. You might want to consider it and afterall formula is expensive.

When he did try to bite me I would quickly take him off the breast and put him down on the floor. He would get so mad, but it only took a few times for him to learn not to do it. I have had other people tell me that you can give them a little thump (not hard of course) on the nose when they bite you while they're nursing, but I didn't try that one.

Good Luck!

Hi J., first I think its your decision when you want to quit for what ever reason. and since you are looking to back to work in Jan,or Feb its perfect timing to start the weaning now. i started the afternoon first and i bought my daughter the play tex bottle because you can sqeeze out the air and the nipple feels like mom's nipple they like that. as for as everyone saying you should nurse until they are a yr old first off if you read books it states that even if you start off nursing the first week is the most important because they get their ammunities frm the cholestum .i think it should be your choice. see thats where our society comes in and makes us mom's feel like we all have to do the same thing sorry but every child is different.you do what you want.but what i did was i warmed up her formula and she took it but she would not take it cold so maybe try that if you are alone but if you have others who can give the bottle let them do that for a couple of days then work on the morning a couple of days then work on the evening. it took me about 1 1/2 weeks to wean her and i wadnt gorged and i was drying east without any pain or soreness. but you could check with your dr. and get a referral to a lactation dr.or nurse good luck to you.

You do not have to put up with biting! Even at 7 mos he can learn not to do that. You just say "No biting!" and take him off the breast and put him down. If he cries, ask if he needs to nurse again (we used sign language and my son could sign Milk at 6.5 mos, you can try that, when you say Milk just squeeze your hand like you are milking a cow) and if you are OK with it, let him try again.

If it is towards the end of the feeding, he could be finished anyway, so just say No Biting and end it. If it is in the beginning, you should let him chew on something else before you start like a teether or wet washrag. Then when he seems bored of that and really wants to eat, ask him and do the sign. Signing really helped us so much before he could talk!

I know you say you are going back to work, but have you considered pumping? There's no biting and he can still benefit from the properties in your milk. BTW, there is no magic thing that happens to your milk supply at 1 year! The benefits are the same as long as you continue to lactate, whether you are breast feeding or pumping and feeding by bottle. Actuallly, if he has only been breastfed until now, you may have a hard time weaning him to a bottle at all (BM or formula!). Some babies will not take a bottle, ever and will go on strike!

Whatever you do, try to consider what he is going through. Put yourself in his shoes and respect where he is at in his development. This will help you with all things he will go through. Then offer him solutions you can both live with.

Best of luck! Contact LLL or some of the hospitals have great nursing support groups. I know Tuality has an excellent group that meets on Tuesdays 10am and 6pm. They answer questions and offer support, it's great to connect with other moms too.

Please call La Leche League or a Lactation Consultant to get some suggestions about how to prevent and respond to chewing and biting at the breast - you can go on to nurse for a year or beyond (one year is the *minimum* recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics) - many mothers deal with biting and chewing when teeth first begin to erupt, but there are effective and gentle ways to respond that can preserve breastfeeding! You can also get help with weaning in a way that is safe for your breasts, if that is what you decide to do in the end.