According to Statistics Canada, in 1971 there were only 25 per cent of mothers breastfeeding their children. As of 1997, the numbers grew to 78 per cent. With so many more mothers taking part in this natural process, there are many experts writing books and taking part in studies regarding breastfeeding.

Thankfully, you don't have to read every book to find out that most of the experts agree on one thing: breastfeeding is an essential part of ensuring a healthy baby. The Canadian Paediatric Society indicates that a baby will receive all the nutrients it needs from breast milk for the first six months of its life.

If a mother decides to breastfeed her newborn child, the question then becomes, "When do I stop?" Most mothers in today's world are working women who want the best for their child and yet are torn by the fact that they have to return to work at some point. Fortunately, our government has seen fit to extend a mother's maternity and parental benefits to 50-52 weeks to allow a more reasonable transition period for mother and baby. Still, there are women who cannot take that amount of time away from work (for one reason or another) and for them, finding the right time to wean becomes more difficult.

There are a few different opinions about the appropriate time to wean a breastfeeding child. The Canadian Paediatric Society specifies that a mother should breastfeed for at least the first four months of the baby's life, as these months are crucial to the health of the baby. Thereafter, they recommend breastfeeding for up to two years or more. The World Health Organization and UNICEF both concur with this advice and also recommend two years or more of breastfeeding. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends nursing ideally for at least one year and as long after as the mother and child want to continue. Most of all, the experts all agree that each child is different and will wean themselves when they are ready.

Unfortunately, there is no specific date that tells you when to switch to a bottle and food. Although, it appears that are there are four distinct phases to the weaning process that may help you decide on your perfect time to quit. They are as follows:

1. Accustoming the baby to small amounts of foods other than breast milk before they nutritionally need it (Usually between four to six months).

2. Adding foods when breast milk can no longer meet the child's nutritional needs (usually after 6 months).

3. Replacing breast milk with other foods (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. Usually around 10-14 months).

4. Stopping breastfeeding completely. No more night time feeding. Time varies for every mother and child.

If you're concerned that you are not able to breastfeed your baby as long as you'd like, you're not alone. Statistics Canada indicates that out of the 78 per cent of breastfeeding mothers, 21 per cent of infants under the age of 2 were being breastfed at the time of the interview, 35 per cent had been breastfed for at least three months, and 22 per cent had been breastfed for less than three months. Just remember that no matter when you stop you have still given your baby a good start in life by breastfeeding.