The Perfect Evening Weaning Routine for New Moms
Weaning can be a big change. It’s emotional, and sometimes it’s a little overwhelming, especially in the evening when those last feeds are often the most comforting for both you and your baby.
But with the right routine, you can make this transition easier for both of you. By creating a calming evening routine, you can guide your baby through the weaning process and get some much-needed relief both physically and mentally. Let’s break it down step by step.
1. Start with a Warm, Relaxing Bath
Bath time is the perfect way to kick off your evening weaning routine. The warm water helps relax your baby, signaling that it’s time to wind down for the night. If your little one loves bath time, it can also be a great bonding moment.
You might even find that it’s the perfect way for you to calm your own mind. In the early days of postpartum, a Dead Sea salt bath soak can help you heal and recover quickly too.
As the bath winds down, it’s a great moment to prepare mentally for the next steps. Weaning can be tough emotionally, but this peaceful moment can help you reset before moving on to the next part of the routine.
2. Offer a New Source of Comfort
When your baby is used to breastfeeding in the evening, suddenly stopping can be hard on them. They miss the closeness, the warmth, and the comfort of nursing. To ease that transition, offer them a new source of comfort. A favorite blanket, a soft toy, or even just extra cuddles can provide the security they need.
If your baby still wants to suckle, you can offer a bottle of expressed breast milk or formula. This helps them stay full and content without needing to nurse. Keeping the environment calm — dim lights, soft music, or white noise — can also help create that comforting, sleepy vibe that your baby craves at night.
3. Slowly Reduce Nursing Time
A slow and steady approach works best when weaning, especially at night. If your baby is used to nursing for a certain amount of time, gradually reducing that time can make things easier. Start by shaving off just a minute or two every few nights.
For example, if your baby usually nurses for 10 minutes before bed, try reducing it to 8 minutes for a few nights. Then, drop it to 6 minutes. This gives your baby time to adjust without a sudden shock, and it also helps reduce discomfort for you by gradually lowering your milk supply.
4. Give Your Baby a Light Snack
As your baby starts to wean, they might need a little extra food to keep them full through the night. Offering a nutritious evening snack can be a great way to fill that gap. Foods like yogurt, oatmeal, or a mashed banana are gentle on your baby’s stomach but help keep them satisfied until morning.
Be mindful of timing and portion sizes. Offering the snack about 30 minutes before bed can help make sure they feel comfortably full without being too full to sleep.
5. Stick to a Predictable Bedtime Routine
Consistency is key during the weaning process. Babies thrive on routine, and a predictable bedtime routine can make the weaning process much easier. Create a simple, calming routine that you can repeat every night.
Here’s an example:
- Warm bath
- Comfort object or bottle
- Storytime or lullaby
- Cuddles in the rocking chair
Keeping the same routine each night helps your baby understand that it’s time to sleep, even if nursing isn’t part of the equation anymore. They’ll start to expect what comes next, and that sense of predictability can help them adjust to the changes more easily.
6. Handle Night Wakings Gently
It’s normal for your baby to wake up during the night as you start to wean. When they wake up, they might be looking for the comfort of nursing. Try to soothe them with gentle pats, calming words, or offering their comfort object before jumping straight to breastfeeding.
If your baby is still having a hard time settling back to sleep, try offering a sip of water or a cuddle. Stay consistent with your approach, and they’ll gradually learn that nighttime is for sleeping, not for feeding.
Managing Breast TendernessWeaning isn’t just hard on your baby — it can be uncomfortable for you, too. As you start nursing less, your body will adjust, but you may experience some engorgement and tenderness as your milk supply decreases. Taking care of yourself during this transition is just as important as helping your baby adjust.
7. Use CaboCréme Extra Strength for Relief
During the weaning process, your breasts may become sore or swollen as they adjust to producing less milk. CaboCréme Extra Strength is an effective solution to relieve that discomfort. Made with concentrated cabbage extract and soothing botanicals, it helps reduce swelling, relieve tenderness, and speed up the reduction of your milk supply.
Using cabbage leaves for relief can be messy and inconvenient, but CaboCréme gives you targeted, mess-free, safer, and more effective relief. Simply apply it to the affected areas as needed, and you’ll feel the difference. The soothing properties of cabbage extract will help you manage the discomfort so you can focus on this special time with your baby.
Final Thoughts
Weaning is a big step, and it can feel like a lot to handle. But with a consistent, loving evening routine, both you and your baby can make this transition smoothly. Take things at your own pace, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. And remember, if you’re feeling discomfort during the process, CaboCréme Extra Strength is there to give you the relief and support you need.
