Desperately want to stop breast feeding but DD is fed to sleep! Help!

[MAC2402]

Hey everyone,

My DD turned one last week and I'm so ready to stop breast feeding...I've just had enough now! Problem I'm having is she has always been fed to sleep (unless in car or buggy) and I've no idea how to even begin with this. Anyone any tips?? Should I teach to self settle first and then stop? I don't see how I can stop otherwise, I maybe wrong?
All help gratefully received x

[WillSingForCake]

What happens if you take her off the breast just before she's asleep, and then put her in her cot? Does she scream?

[MAC2402]

Hello...it's almost impossible to do it! If she's not clinging onto my boob for dear life then yes she wakes fully and cries/protests you name it!

[AliceInChains]

I fed my DD to sleep until she was 14 months old. When I stopped, I just held her until she went to sleep instead, then transferred her to the cot. After a while - can't remember exact details, sorry, brain addled by lack of sleep thanks to nine-week-old - I put her in her cot drowsy, then awake. I'd stay with her until she dropped off. Then one day I just left her to it and she was fine. I guess it was a very very gradual retreat but it worked for us and I never regretted feeding her to sleep for all that time. Not sure if that's of any use - just wanted to reassure you it can be done without too much stress...

[McBaby]

When my dd was 11 months I fed her till she was sleepy in the lounge with lights and tv on, (previously fed her in her bed room in semi dark etc till she was fast asleep) the my DH took her up and put her down. We had a week of protesting and crying but she learnt very quickly.

After a few weeks my DH offered her a cup of milk before the took her upstairs - she wasn't and still isn't a massive fan of cows milk at 18 months so we just make up her dairy intake with other foods. She really didn't seem to miss breast milk at all.

[addictedtosugar]

We shifted the order of things around too - so fed downstairs, then upstairs for bath / PJ's/ Teeth / story.
Cuddles to sleep where he was normally fed, just no milk.

[WillSingForCake]

I would teach to self-settle and then stop bfing, as it's quite a lot to change all at once. As others have suggested try swapping the order around, so that last feed isn't right before sleep - I expect there will be some protest at first, but may not take as long as you fear for her to adapt. Once she is happily self-settling then start trying to stop bfing. Good luck!

[TheNaughtySausage]

Is anyone else around to do bedtime? I used to feed DD to sleep - then I went back to work when she was 11 months, and DH has to do bedtime when I'm on a late shift. He would just offer milk in a cup and because I wasn't there she just had to get used to it. I would feed her to sleep on the nights I was there but after about a month I just stopped one weekend - DH did 5 bedtimes in a row and I stopped bfing altogether (had a horrendous cold and was so run down I decided Enough was Enough and I wanted some lemsip ). DD now has a cup of milk just before she goes into her cot and is happy with that. It was easier than I thought, you just have to do it and stick to it. Easier said than done though. Good luck!

[BillyAndBamBam]

No advice as I'm still feeding my 11mo to sleep but in hoping to stop soon after her birthday so watching with interest.

She is a little better then she used to be as every now and again she slightly wakes when I put her down and just turns over and snuggles up.

[ultraviolet11]

I also want to stop bf 19 month ds. he is boob mad. feeds to sleep wakes up multiple times in the night and constantly asks for bf during the day. I would like a gentle gradual approach but don't know where to start.