How do I stop breast feeding my two year old?

[Manchesterhistorygirl]

Ds2 is 2.4 and I am still struggling with spd and hoping that stopping feeding will help with that.

Please remind me, how do I stop? Ds1 is seven and he stopped around the same age.

I also want to go back on the combined pill, because its the only hormonal that has never affected me side effects wise.

[OrganixAddict]

Watching with interest as dd3 is same age and I've had enough. First 2 gave up themselves way before 2 but dd3 shows no signs and I fear I may have to force the issue.

[CreatureRetorts]

Never offer never refuse. So I wouldn't offer a feed to ds but would give him one if he asked. I made sure I didn't unintentionally offer eg sitting in the feeding chair or wearing low cut tops or holding him in a feeding hold.

I also introduced a beaker of milk at bedtime and changes the routine a bit so it was easier to distract him or he would forget to ask for boob at bedtime.

Mornings were similar - gave him milk in a beaker first and he wouldn't ask for a feed.

[ReallyTired]

I am sorry you are have SPD. It must be very hard having SPD and an active toddler.

Don't offer don't refuse. This means that if your son falls over and cries you do not offer the breast to stop him crying unless he actually asks.

Distraction, going out to the park when your ds is due a breastfeed.

Substiting a breasfeed with a snack or drink

Change in routine. Ie. Getting Dad to put your son to bed. Making sure you don't sit in favourite chair after lunch which your son associates with a breast feed.

Delay tactics, ie saying to your son that he can feed later.


Good luck.

[gemma4d]

How many feeds a day? If not too many then you can just stop. Or drop one feed at a time - replace with food, milk, cuddles or whatever is being missed the most.

I went from 2 feeds a day to zilch with DD1 at 22 months when she had a bad vomiting bug and the milk was making it worse. After a couple of days she stopped asking, so I never started it up again.

[ArabellaBeaumaris]

I gave up very slooooowly, so that I think DD1 finally weaned at 2.7 yrs. I dropped one a feed at a time - she had been having first thing in the morning, before nap time, after nap time and last thing at night. I dropped after nap first, then before nap, then morning then evening. I found the easiest way was just to avoid the situation for a while & she seemed to forget about it. I think I took about 6 months over it though!

[williaminajetfighter]

I tried a million ways to wean DD off the breast and was so cross that there was so much literature about breast feeding out there,,, but none about stopping.

In the end I booked myself into a nice hotel for a week, DH managed baby and when I got back baby wasn't allowed near breasts which were already 'drying up'.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Also watching with interest. I just started a thread about the same thing. My DS is a little younger than yours (20mo) but I'm ready to stop.

[Manchesterhistorygirl]

2 feeds a day. We were down to that around Christmas but poor old boy got that awful d&v bug so we ramped feeding back up again.

He loves getting in bed for a quick cuddle in the morning before pottering back to his big brother for playtime. We're back to school next week so may try and use got to be up as out as a delay tactic.

Will introduce a beaker lf milk in the evening the week after! if I did never offer never refuse the little bugger would be on me constantly, he is the definition of booby baby bless him.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Are you me? We also got down to two feeds but are now up to more following a bug, and DS is definitely a 'booby baby'

Good luck

[OrganixAddict]

No, no she's me! Also down to morning and night only until D & V pre Christmas. Struggling to drop daytime ones again now, although (fingers crossed, touch wood etc) seem to have ended the night time ones at last.
I think I'll have to invest in some polo necks and get DH to take a week off work so he can be here for bedtimes if I really want to crack it.
Good luck all - if you find a way, let me know!

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Loving the polo neck idea

I managed to get through last night without feeding him. The first time he woke I went and kissed him and when he pulled at me I told him to wait until morning. He screamed for about two mins but then fell asleep. The second time he woke I said "no milk till morning" and he kind of tutted and then rolled over and went back to sleep. Bless.