Choosing not to breastfeeding your baby is more common than you may think. Many factors like poor milk supply, long hours spent at work, inverted or sensitive nipples or prescription medications may make a mother feel as if it is impossible to breastfeed her baby. Other mothers simply know before the birth that they will not breastfeed their baby.

Choosing to formula feed your infant was at one time considered to be a social faux pas. Today’s culture is much more accepting of bottle feeding an infant. Many mothers return to work shortly after the birth of an infant and breastfeeding is simply not conventional in the average workplace. Deciding to formula feed your baby is often a matter of necessity rather than personal choice. Electing to formula feed your infant does not have to be a disadvantageous experience for you or your baby.

Many breastfeeding advocates will argue that breast fed infants receive better nutrition than formula fed babies. With the advances in the ingredients of baby formulas, this is no longer true. Eating a well balanced diet with enough calories to sustain two people is often an arduous task for mothers. Strict dieting, indulging in sweets and any consumption of alcoholic beverages are all prohibited for breastfeeding women. Breast fed infants receive a portion of everything consumed by the mother, making prescription drugs, alcoholic beverages and many over the counter medications off limits. It is also difficult to accurately gauge how much milk a breast fed infant actually consumes. For children with medical conditions that require close monitoring of their intake, bottle feeding is a necessity.

Learning about breastfeeding benefits and drawbacks is often one area that healthcare practitioners focus on heavily during the prenatal period and immediately following the birth of a child. Many breastfeeding advocates support breastfeeding in part because of the bond created between the mother and child during frequent breastfeeding. This same bond can be achieved with bottle feeding by holding the infant during feeding times. Making eye contact, stroking and talking to your infant during feedings can create as strong a bond as breastfeeding. Talk about breastfeeding versus bottle feeding with your OB/GYN or nurse practitioner if you have doubts about your choice to not breastfeed your infant.

Many baby websites offer chat rooms or discussion forums dedicated to the discussion of bottle versus breastfeeding. Baby websites can also be a great source of information about the nutritional, social and emotional aspects of choosing not to breastfeed your baby. Many of the popular baby and parenting magazines now offer a corresponding baby website with additional articles, contests and links to other helpful baby-related websites.

Deciding not to breastfeed your infant does not make you a poor mother. Bottle feeding provides adequate nutrition and bonding opportunities for the whole family. Those who prefer to breastfeed simply have decided that natural feeding is best for their lives. Bottle fed infants fare just as well physically as breast ed babies. Choosing to breastfeed your infant is not mandatory. Mothers now have the opportunity to choose between the bottle and breast without sacrificing the well being of their babies.

Most mothers would say that nursing babies are a picture of tranquility and happiness. Nursing babies portray contentedness and tenderness in a universal language that spans the continents. Mothers fall in love while talking to nursing babies and stoking their soft, fuzzy heads as they suckle and coo themselves to sleep. What happens when that adorable baby transforms into a foot stomping toddler seemingly overnight? A demanding three-year-old who yells to be nursed right now may leave a mother wondering how old is too old to be breast fed.

Choosing to breastfeeding your baby may have been a simple decision but determining when to wean a child can be difficult. When many mothers begin to breastfeeding their babies, they assume that weaning will occur naturally. For some breast fed babies, the transition form the breast to the sippy cup comes with a fight. Nursing babies who have a difficult time adjusting to life away from the breast may be objecting to more than just weaning. Some breast fed babies crave the physical closeness of nursing more than breast milk. Determining if this is true for your child can help make the transition easier for both mother and child. Continuing to hold your child during feedings can help reduce the shock of weaning for a sensitive child.

While the appropriate age to wean a child is not set in stone, it is culturally acceptable in America to nurse a child for the first twelve months. Once solid foods are introduced into the child’s diet and they begin to walk, American customs call for the weaning of the child. Some breastfeeding women choose to extend this period of nursing, sometimes until the child leaves for kindergarten. While many breastfeeding women wean their babies shortly before returning to the workforce, some continue to pump breast milk and bottle feed their babies for several years. The choice really is up to each woman and many choose to ignore social norms. Breastfeeding women can even choose to keep their extended breastfeeding a secret by storing breast milk in the refrigerator disguised as cow’s milk or formula.

When a mother decides the time has come to stop breastfeeding, it can signal the end of a special bonding time between mother and baby. Children can sense anxiety and unhappiness in a parent and may react by acting out during the initial attempts to stop breastfeeding. It is important for a breastfeeding mother to examine her feelings about weaning and come to terms with any unresolved emotions before attempting to stop breastfeeding her baby.

Mothers who choose to formula feed a nursing infant can be in for a fight unless the transition is made slowly. Abruptly springing a formula feed schedule in place of breastfeeding sessions can be traumatic to nursing babies. The bottle should be introduced slowly and be filled with 100% breast milk at first. Formula can be slowly added to subsequent bottles of breast milk until the child is completely weaned from the breast. Gradually substitute a breastfeeding session with a bottle feeding session over a period of several weeks if possible. Once a child is accustomed to the 100% formula feed schedule, the mother should continue to provide physical interaction with the baby during bottle feeding sessions to continue bonding and provide intense social interaction for the child.

Nursing babies can transition smoothly to the bottle or sippy cup if a nursing mother is emotionally prepared to wean her baby. Armed with a few facts, mothers can help nursing babies adjust smoothly to being away from the breast. Not all nursing babies will be pleasant to nurse as they grow to be demanding toddlers. Each woman must decide for herself when her child needs to stop breastfeeding. Before you decide on it, have get right your necessary pregnancy and breastfeeding accessories to support your breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding moms are generally eager to share their breastfeeding expertise with other mothers. A group of breastfeeding moms at the mall or local playground can be heard giving advice on breast pumps, formula feeding, caloric intake and good nursing bras. Breastfeeding moms will step in to help out new moms who are struggling with breastfeeding their infant.

If you are looking for advice about breastfeeding- a nursing mom may be your best source of information. Experience is the best teacher and a nursing mother can tell you all of the intimate details about breastfeeding. While a lactation consultant will provide a wealth of facts and statistics, a breastfeeding mom will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about breastfeeding, without the sugar coating.

Another source of support is the internet. Baby websites can be a great way to connect with other moms and get some great tips and facts about breastfeeding. Baby websites offer discussion forums, caloric intake calculators, nutrition information and inside tips for nursing moms. Consulting a few baby websites can be another great way to connect with other moms who have first hand knowledge of the ins and outs of breastfeeding.

If you are looking for information about nutrition, a breastfeeding specialist, lactation consultants and nurse practitioners are available to answer your questions. They can even help you develop a personalized eating plan that is healthy for you and your baby. Many breastfeeding moms worry about losing pregnancy weight while still consuming enough calories to keep their infants healthy. It is possible to balance proper nutrition, breastfeeding and weight loss with a little advanced planning and effort. Consulting a nutritionist or healthcare provider can help you sort through any confusion you may have regarding nutrition, breastfeeding and weight loss.

When breastfeeding women band together, loneliness and isolation dissipate. Sharing friendship with other breastfeeding women can help a first time mother adjust to her new role without sacrificing her personal identity. The stories, advice and support offered to new mothers by other breastfeeding women can be invaluable.

Joining a breastfeeding advocacy group will provide you with access to newsletters, health fairs and a wealth of information about breastfeeding. A breastfeeding advocacy group helps to promote breastfeeding awareness and support in your community. Contact your local La Leche League representative for information about joining a breastfeeding advocacy group in your area.

Breastfeeding moms can find help, breastfeeding support and hope by joining together with other moms. By sharing experiences and helping each other through struggles, breastfeeding moms often become friends for life. New mothers don’t have to face breastfeeding alone. With the help of experienced moms, they too can grow to mentor other moms as they join the band of breastfeeding moms.