How Do I Wean from Supplementing my Breastfed Baby?

Originally published on October 1, 2019

Revised July 11, 2025

Author: Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC, FNC

This is Part Two in our supplementation series.  Don’t miss Part One: I’m Told that my Breastfed Baby Needs to be Supplemented…. What Should I Do?

One of the most challenging aspects of supplementing your breastfed baby is knowing when and how you can reduce or completely stop that supplementation.  You will want to work with your pediatrician and an IBCLC to help fine tune this process for you and your baby, but here are some general guidelines.

The reason you were supplementing may determine when you can stop

Early supplementation in the first few days after your baby was born may have been recommended to help resolve a temporary medical situation, such as jaundice, hypoglycemia, or excessive weight loss.  Typically, once your milk supply has fully ‘come in’ and baby is gaining well, supplementation can stop. Longer-term supplementation, such as for a premature baby, baby with feeding challenges, or a nursing parent working to increase milk supply, will likely require a longer weaning process.  In both cases, though, watching the baby for signs of effective feeding will be an important part of baby's care.  

How do I know if my baby is breastfeeding well?

There are quite a few ways we can tell if a baby is breastfeeding well:

• Baby actively feeds for 20-40 minutes, seems satisfied after eating, and can go about 2-3 hours between most feedings

• Breastfeeding is comfortable and your chest feels softer after your baby has fed

• Diaper count - Babies in the first few weeks to months should pee/poop at least 5 times a day.  As babies mature, so do their digestive systems. After the first few months, babies often continue to pee at least 5 times daily, but poop frequency may drop to 1-2 times daily

• When you weigh your baby before and after a nursing session (like with a gram-sensitive scale at a lactation consultation or support group), your baby is taking in an appropriate amount for his/her age and weight.

• Weight gain - Baby is gaining the appropriate amount of weight based on his/her age  
  

What is the best way to wean from supplementing my breastfed baby?

As your baby begins to nurse more effectively and transfer more milk from you while feeding, you might also notice that your baby begins to refuse supplements (or just takes less) after breastfeeding.  If your baby is gaining weight well, then you might consider offering less of a ‘top off’ after breastfeeding and see if your baby continues to gain weight appropriately. If your baby is gaining more weight than expected for his/her age, this is also a reason to pull back on supplementation.

To wean from supplementing your baby, you will want to either reduce the amount of supplementation after each nursing session or cut back on how often you supplement during the day.  Try this reduced supplement amount for a few days and see if your baby still seems satisfied after eating throughout the day and night, as well as check your baby’s weight to make sure they gained enough over that time period.  If weight gain is still more than needed/expected and your baby seems satisfied after eating, continue to pull back on the amount of supplement per day until you reach a point where you have either cut supplementing completely or dropped down to your baby’s sweet spot.

While reducing the supplementation amount, this also means that you might be able to cut back on the number of times you pump per day, which is what every parent wants to hear, right?  A lactation consultant can definitely guide you on this process so that your milk supply isn’t lowered with this decrease in pumping frequency.

What if I am unable to wean from supplementing my baby?

There are some situations when a nursing parent may not have a full milk supply and will need to supplement long term.  Working with an IBCLC can be very valuable during this process to help maximize your milk supply potential, as well as discuss options for long-term supplementation.  

It is incredibly important for any parent needing to provide long-term supplementation to understand that EVERY drop of milk you produce for your child is valuable.  You are creating a perfect food for your child, as well as providing amazing immunity-boosting benefits that only YOU can create. Your milk was meant for your baby and breastfeeding does not have to be all or nothing.  While it can feel absolutely heartbreaking to hear that exclusive breastfeeding may not be a possibility, I’d like to share a beautifully written memoir on our website.  The author, Aran, brilliantly coins a new term, ‘Inclusive breastfeeding’, which helps put all of this breastfeeding and supplementation into perspective.

If you’re feeling unsure about how much milk your baby is getting while nursing, if your milk supply needs a boost, or how to wean from supplementing your baby —we’re here to help! Our team of experienced lactation consultants is ready to support you. Whether you need guidance on how to supplement, what to supplement with, or identifying the root causes for supplementation, we’re here to provide personalized care. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our lactation consultants for expert advice tailored to you and your baby’s unique needs.