Breastfeeding:
6 weeks to 1 year
As you baby grows and develops, there can be changes in how your baby feeds and
behaves at the breast and different positions may be more comfortable. You may be
wanting to get out and about more now, and don’t want to need the pillows and
cushions you started with, or you may feel nervous about feeding in public.
If you have any worries or concerns about breastfeeding, don't hesitate to contact
the health visitor team. You may also like to access support at a local breastfeeding
group. You can find details on the Bucks Family Information Service or you can view
our Breastfeeding support leaflet.
Don't forget to continue taking a vitamin D supplement!
Painful breasts and sore nipples
For more information, view the NHS Choices website.
Night feeds
Most mothers find that their baby is happier if they can breastfeed on demand day
and night. It is normal for a baby to need night feeds until somewhere between 6 and
12 months.
Strict routines do not work for a lot of breastfeeding babies, but this does not mean
that you cannot ‘tweak’ behaviour to fit in with your routines a bit as time goes by.
By between 3 and 6 months, baby's body clock is usually in a pattern of 13 hour
days and 11 hour nights. So this is the time when many babies start to sleep longer
between feeds at night and will settle to sleep earlier in the evening.
We recommend that you try to break baby’s association between breastfeeds and
sleep by about 3 months. Otherwise you may find that you do not know if your baby
is waking and crying for a feed because of hunger or because they cannot settle
again without the comfort of a breastfeed. By this age babies start to develop a
memory and will remember cause and
effect, so they may think ‘If I cry, then mummy will come and comfort me with a
lovely cuddle and a drink of warm milk’ and the longer this goes on the harder the
habit will be to break later.
See our sleep advice for more information about settling, bedtime routines and
nighttime waking.
When you feel that your baby does not need a night feed but keeps waking for one –
or more – you may decide to just not give a feed (which may not be a popular
decision with your baby at the time, but they will soon adapt!) or to try a slower
method of gradually reducing time at the breast each night.
A gradual reduction will help your milk supply to diminish gradually for the night and
reduce your risk of becoming engorged and uncomfortable. Baby will also be able to
adjust gradually, be less stressed, and will have time to increase their food intake
during the day to compensate.
Mixed feeding (breast and bottle)
For more information, view the NHS Choices website.
Working and breastfeeding
Continuing to breastfeed when you return to work is perfectly possible so long as you
plan ahead. Introduce a regular bottle as soon as breastfeeding is established, to
reduce the likelihood of refusal if you leave it too late.
You should be able to continue breastfeeding first thing, at bed time and at night, or
when you are available. If you gradually reduce your milk supply over a few weeks
before returning to work, this will reduce the chance of embarrassing leaks and wet
patches and also reduce the risk of engorgement. And it will help your baby to adjust
to taking bottle feeds too.
The health visitor team or a breastfeeding support group can help you if you want to
develop a plan for breastfeeding while working or need any support. And talk to your
place of work – they should provide you with a private place where you can express
milk if you wish to, and an appropriate place to store it.
Weaning
The World Health Organisation recommends that babies are exclusively breast fed
until the age of 6 months. After that they can be introduced to a range of weaning
foods.
This does not mean that you have to stop breastfeeding; you can continue
breastfeeding for as long as you and baby want to. Breast milk should remain an
important part of your baby's diet until at
least 1 year, but it will become just one part of how your baby gets their nutrition.
Once baby is enjoying a range of solid foods, they will probably spend shorter
periods breastfeeding. Some mothers become concerned that they do not know if
baby is getting enough milk. It is best to trust baby to know how much milk they need
and to concentrate on introducing a variety of weaning foods, including dairy, and
encouraging the use of a beaker for drinks.
See our weaning advice for more information on how to wean your baby.
Stopping breastfeeding
There will come a time when you stop breastfeeding. There are lots of reasons why
women stop. You might have decided to stop when baby reached a certain age, or
you need to work, baby doesn’t want to lie in your arms to feed any more, you or
baby are ill, or baby is teething or starts biting your nipple.
For some mums this can be an emotional time as breastfeeding creates a strong
emotional bond. Some mums even feel guilty, especially if they are stopping earlier
than they had planned. Others may feel rejected by their baby.
There are all perfectly normal reactions. But whenever you decide to stop, you can
be proud that you have given your baby the very best start in life.
As explained in the advice above on mixed feeding, a gradual reduction will be
easier for you and your baby. Try to reduce the time at the breast as well as the
number of feeds you offer. Consider balancing out the times when you stop
breastfeeding. For example, start by cutting out a mid-morning feed, then stop a midafternoon feed, and so on.
Most mums find that they and their baby like to maintain the bedtime feed until it is
the last one. However, it is important to ensure that baby is not using the feed to go
to sleep. And remember that while babies continue to suck milk from the breast or
bottle, there is a risk that the milk sugars will decay the enamel on any teeth. It is
important to clean baby's teeth twice a day as soon as they have come through fully,
and aim to offer all drinks from a cup by the time baby is around 1 year old.
The health visitor team or breastfeeding support group can offer you any ideas, help
and support you need. For more information, view our breastfeeding support leaflet.