Trying to stop BF 15 mth old PLEASE HELP

[Hummingbirdy]

Hi Im trying to stop BF my DS2. I have been bfing her since birth and I am trying to stop but finding it very difficult. I do not have enough milk to satisfy her now and i think she just wants to go on for comfort rather than for a feed. I am trying to give her formula as its tastes more like breast milk. I am having a lot of trouble as she really is screaming and does not want to take it at first. She is a real fiesty little thing. should I just stop trying to give her formula? Does it get easier if i persist. Please help her screaming for a BF is upsetting both of us.

[luciemule]

I gave formula as an addition to start with, also gave different formula to DD as the tastes do vary. She drank HIPP and not SMA. But DS loved SMA!

I started by giving formula as extra drinks so they got used to it. They too loved BF and DS was very tricky to wean.

Try a spout with a cup/bottle instead of a teat, so it's completely different than your nipple. Mine saw the formula as a completely different drink and didn't put 2 and 2 together until they were completely weaned.Start in the morning, perhaps when you're out shopping or at a friend's by giving the milk then as they definitely won't do it at the bedtime feed as they want you for comfort.

Soon, after a few weeks of introducing more and more formula drinks, you should be able to have a bottle/cup formula (we had it downstairs)and then had stories upstairs to distract them.

Good luck - it'll work in the end - sorry for long post!

[luciemule]

ps - I gave follow on milk as it contains more iron so wasn't quite as worried if they were taking less breast milk than usual.
And just remembered I swapped DD onto cow's milk at 18 months after BF and added the tiniest amount of instant hot choc into her milk and she drank loads of the stuff.

They both still love hot chocolate and rarely drink milk without it in.

[choolie]

just a thought, have you tried expressing and giving EBM mixed with formula to get used to the taste?

[Hummingbirdy]

Thanks luciemule, that helps. I will try with a spout tomorrow. I did try adding honey to fresh milk but that didnt work, i will try hot choc when moving on from formula.

Choolie I will try that idea with the spout tomorrow
Also i dont think it helps as she is also teething, so she wants comfort more than anything!

I am still breastfeeding her at night do you think i should stop altogether? She also gets up duringthe night because of her teething and a breast will only calm her. what do you think?

[luciemule]

I guess for me it would depend how old he/she was.

Have you considered a couple of sessions of cranial osteopathy to help her teething/sleeping. After a couple she could go through the night anyway.

My DS had awful problems teething as he was a ventouse baby and so his skull was shaped differently and pulled a bit, which made it harder for his teeth to come through without causing lots of pain and head banging!

[luciemule]

just reaslied the op says 15 months! A 15mont should be able to go through the night without feeds but try the milk in the day thing first and let him/her vget used to that - trying to give up night bf's when you're tired will be more traumatic for you both.

[CantSleighWontSleigh]

Can I ask why you want to stop bf Humming?

If it helps, my dd also wants to feed pretty much constantly when she's teething. There's nothing wrong with it being for comfort rather than nutrition .