to put tape over my nipples to stop 2 year old DS from BFing?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

DS2 has just turned two and I am still BFing him. I have loved this experience and I also BF DS1 for 14 months. However, I am now starting to want my boobs back! DS2 constantly asks for 'more boobie MORE BOOBIE' and seems to want to feed even more now that he ever did (apart from when he was a newborn). He paws at me and pulls my top down and screams 'BOOOOOOOBIES' when we are public (I wish I had called them something else now LOL).

I still do like feeding him at night and when he wakes up but I feel it's time to stop now. He obviously loves it though and I feel bad about stopping it if he still likes it. I have tried saying no to wind it down but he just shouts even more for it. So I am seriously thinking about taping them up or bandaging them and telling him they have run out of milk.

Would that make me a terrible mum? Any tips to cut down / stop BFing?

[HattiFattner]

I had a friend who resorted to a bandage and lots of plasters for her "poorly" boobies. Every time he asked, she would show him the bandage/plasters (like 20 plasters over the bandage) because he had reached that age that plasters fix everthing. Took about a week with poorly boobies, and he forgot all about it.

[MrsRhettButler]

It could work, tell him they're broken. Milks ran out could be a good one

[squeakytoy]

Just tell him he is a big boy now and give him a banana instead.. :)

[reallytired]

Change routine for example if you sit in a particular chair after lunch then make sure you do something different.

Keep your lo active with plenty of distraction.

I would also be quite stict and keep breastfeeds for certain times of day. Its a bad idea to completely to stop cold turkey if you have been feeding a lot. It risk getting mastitis. For example you might restrict it to morning and evening only for a couple of weeks and then just evening and then stop.

[Bathsheba]

Surely you should just carry on joyously bf-ing until he self weans...

Sorry, there has been wine, the plasters sound like a great idea

[Mare11bp]

Bitty.........

[MrsHicks]

Contact a recognised Breastfeeding Counsellor to get weaning tips and help, I would recommend phoning the BfN.

Also see: www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning_techniques.html

DS2 constantly asks for 'more boobie MORE BOOBIE' and seems to want to feed even more now that he ever did (apart from when he was a newborn). He paws at me and pulls my top down and screams 'BOOOOOOOBIES' when we are public
I really do sympathise with you. Around 2 was the absolute worst. I went on to bf to 2 years 11 months (until I weaned him, it wasn't child-led), but I really struggled for the last year. I did put limits on it though, but it wasn't fun. You can do things like tell him he can nurse, but that you'll count to 10 and he stops when you reach to 10 and I went through a stage at the end where I hardly sat down! (and provided lots of distraction). I also stopped feeding when out before 2, I think, unless he was very hurt or distressed and then would always go somewhere else to do it. I also negotiated him telling me when he would stop, although your DS might be a bit young for that. Good luck!

[CurrySpice]

I remember a friend of mine in a very similar position to this phoning me in tears, convinced she would "Have to poke them through the railings when he started school" :o

[FunnysInTheGarden]

I knew there was a good reason for me stopping at 4 weeks!

[bonnieslilsister]

Yeah more Bitty

[Mare11bp]

I have a friend who still breastfeeds her 21 month old when we go out, he is a big long thing....would i be flamed for saying it looks kinda odd?

[auntmargaret]

My DD1 bf til 26 months old. I called it Mummy Juice though so no one outside the family knew what it was. I used the Dr Tanya technique to wean her, went to bed wearing 3 swimming costumes one over the other, restrict access! Worked within 2 days, though I think she was ready for it, tbh.

[magicmelons]

Rather unhelpful I would say Mare its not a debate bout age at which to cease breastfeeding.

OP if you think the poorly thing will work then give it a go. If i were you i would try a big boy talk, tell him he is so big now that he won't be getting daytime feeds anymore, be firm, continue to feed him morning and night until he gets the hang of no daytime feeds then give him a countdown to dropping another feed and so on. Other treats might help in the meantime and lots of distractions.

[auntmargaret]

My brother did have loads of fun with "Bitty" joke...how they laughed.

[magicmelons]

Oh and I find all the bitty comments a little off, its hardly the same.

[TheMitfordsMaid]

Or, just wait a little longer. My DS1 stopped almost overnight at 2.9 years, at a time which coincided with potty-training. Within the space of a week, he dropped his breastfeeds and nappies both day and night. If DS2 does the same I'll have been breastfeeding continuously for 5 years. Time for another?!

[TheMitfordsMaid]

[corriefan]

I hadthis too. I used to dream of bandaging them up! For me there was no easy solution, I just refused one stage at a time because she wanted it all the time. First I refused at night and wore a high neck top and then refused the others, I'd just had enough when she was 2. I think I'd still be feeding her now if I'd taken her lead, but it was just so constant and rough too! She's 5 now and still likes to cuddle me with her cheek on them and rubs her face on them!

[faverolles]

Oh but magic, it's so witty and original!

[hairfullofsnakes]

Really mare is it more odd than toddlers drinking cows milk then?

And the bitty comments are so typically stupid...


OP I agree with the ones who say be firm about feeding only at certain times of the day and using distraction techniques. Wean him off gradually for him and for you x

[leeloo1]

Can you use delaying tactics? DS (BFing at 2.10) didn't work well with being told 'no' to BFing when he was younger (or now actually), but I could get away with saying yes, when we get home/after I've done x/after you've tidied up or whatever. I now just feed before naps and bedtime - unless he's ill when he wants it more, which is reassuring when he's not eating well, but I do then find I have to wean him off again when he's better.

Oh and maybe change the name... tell him he has to ask for 'milk' or whatever and refuse to 'answer' to boobies.

[bonkers20]

Both mine went through a stage of having to learn that there were other ways to get comfort other than BF. For a few days I refused requests to BF other than nap time and bed time and then distracted, or left the room and left them with someone else.

I just said "You can have some Mummy milk at bed time". There were complaints, but they soon learnt. At nearly 2.5 DS2 will ask when he's cranky, but I'm consistent with what I do - like you have to be with all things toddler really. I'd offer snacks or do something exciting just to distract. It was quite tiring and did mean I felt I couldn't sit down in the lounge but I knew I needed to set the boundries which I was comfortable with. It takes a couple of days to drop a feed once they're toddlers.

I am more than happy to let him wean when he wants, but I am not happy to be groped in public. As it is, he has Mummy milk at bed time and nap time I my non-work days and once in the night.