Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil
Question: Assalam aleykum,
I will soon be starting to wean my son from breastfeeding. I have heard that if a child does not suckle for one day then it is no longer permissible to let them suckle again. Is this correct? Could you please clarify the amount of time before suckling is no longer allowed?
Answer:. Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray this finds you well. May Allah reward you for reaching out to us.
Weaning
I pray that Allah makes this process easier for you. This is likely to be a bittersweet time for you and son, and you are both likely to shed tears. Be patient with yourself and him, and please perform the Prayer of Need for ease.
Please do not worry – it is still permissible for you to breastfeed your son after a gap of one day, or even longer. Weaning toddlers can be challenging, and it is often a process that comes with many setbacks and some successes. I suggest that you give yourself a reasonable time limit, for the sake of your own emotional and physical health. Is There an Age Limit to Breastfeeding?
I pray these links are helpful for you:
13 Tips for Gentle Weaning
Weaning Toddler: 5 Easy and Natural Tips
I pray that Allah eases you and your son through this transition. May Allah make him the coolness of your eyes and raise him to be amongst the the foremost of the righteous.
Please see:
Should I Be Breastfeeding My Baby for Two Years?
Wassalam,
[Ustadha] Raidah Shah Idil
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil has spent almost two years in Amman, Jordan, where she learned Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajweed. She continues to study with her Teachers in Malaysia and online through SeekersHub Global. She graduated with a Psychology and English degree from University of New South Wales, was a volunteer hospital chaplain for 5 years and has completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law.