Abstract
Exclusive breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for infants until they are six months of age. After six months, infants require complementary foods to meet their nutritional needs. This is when weaning begins. Weaning is the gradual process of introducing complementary foods to an infant’s diet while continuing to breastfeed.
There is no universally accepted or scientifically proven time when all breastfeeding must stop. The timing and process of weaning need to be individualized by mother and child. Weaning might be abrupt or gradual, take weeks or several months, be child-led or mother-led. Physicians need to guide and support mothers through the weaning process. This document replaces a previous Canadian Paediatric Society position statement on weaning published in 2004.
Keywords: Breastfeeding, Breast milk, Complementary foods, Infant, Weaning
Français en page 211
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHYSICIANS
Support exclusive breastfeeding, with vitamin D supplementation, for the first six months of life.
Encourage continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond while providing appropriate nutritional guidance.
Advise mothers to introduce iron-fortified foods in the form of meat, fish or iron-fortified cereals as first foods, to avoid iron deficiency.
Advise slow, progressive, natural weaning whenever possible.
Inform and support breastfeeding mothers while ensuring adequate nutrition for their babies, regardless of the timing of weaning.
Acknowledgments
This position statement has been reviewed by the Nutrition and Gastroenterology Committee and the Fetus and Newborn Committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society.
Footnotes
CPS COMMUNITY PAEDIATRICS COMMITTEE
Members: Carl Cummings MD (Chair); Sarah Gander MD; Barbara Grueger MD; Larry B Pancer MD; Anne Rowan-Legg MD; Ellen P Wood MD (Board Representative)
Liaison: Ruth B Grimes MB, CPS Community Paediatrics Section
Principal author: Barbara Grueger MD
The recommendations in this statement do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate. All Canadian Paediatric Society position statements and practice points are reviewed on a regular basis. Retired statements are removed from the website. Please consult the Position Statements section of the CPS website (www.cps.ca) for the full-text, current version.