Ds is 2. I want to stop bf (he has been mix fed from beginning) as there is a medication I want to take that is incompatible with bf. And for other reasons too. Ds like a slurp at night or to get to sleep. I think more for comfort than nutrition. I have tried to stop many times but he isn’t having it. Any ideas for things I could eat that might put him off it?
Don't. He's 2. Just tell him it's all gone. Get him a big boy cup for big boy milk at night time and get your DH to put him to bed for a bit. I know people who've put plasters over their nipples too but I'm not sure how successful that is.
On changing the milk, my second DS weaned at about 19 months when I got pregnant again. Almost overnight he hated the change and stopped almost immediately. But that might be a bit extreme
My Chinese doc gave me a bag of mixed herbs to make a bitter tasting infusion to wipe on my nipples. I couldn't do it so ended up doing bedtime BF up to age 3.5. It scuppered chances of having more children.
@PotteringAlong he's two, not an idiot. He'll still be able to smell it.
OP I've had the same problem with both children. DS1 only stopped when it dried up (as a result of pregnancy). DS2 is still going (and slowly killing me in the process). Any chance that your DH or a grandparent could take care of feeding him for a week while your milk dries up?
I can't just make it stop and he will not take no for an answer so long as he can smell it. Both DH and I are at the end of our tethers with sleep deprivation so a week of screaming isn't worth it. Waiting for an opportunity to get someone else to take care of him for a week while I wait for it to dry up. It's been six months and no such opportunity has presented itself as of yet.
PotteringAlong he's two, not an idiot. He'll still be able to smell it.
Ah well, maybe my eldest was an idiot at 2 then because it worked for us. The op asked for advice, I shared what I'd done. Just trying to be helpful and all that...
Not a great idea to change the taste of your milk (can't think how you'd do this safely, anyway). You've had a lovely BF relationship for most of this time....why end it on a 'bad tasting' note?
It can take planning and consistency to wean from the breast, gently and happily. It doesn't have to include crying and frustration.
Any breastfeeding counsellor (in the UK, anyway) will be able to discuss different approaches with you. The actual mechanics of it will depend on things like how often he BFs, where you do it, how routine it is etc.
For example if he always throws himself up your top when you sit on the sofa, you might have to change where you sit for a while, or even avoid sitting down so much! Distraction can work. Someone else putting him to bed can work. If he is a verbal toddler, explaining the milk is going to go away soon can help.
Find someone in real life who knows about BF and weaning who can listen and work something out with you....and then try the ideas
What we did with our dc was I stopped being involved in bedtime routine till we had stopped bf and dc wouldn’t ask anymore. Got them a new beaker made a big fuss about it, a new teddy, nice warm milk and a story from dh then he cuddled then till they fell asleep. Took a couple of weeks of this routine with them all it worked really well.
I used to teach in Africa. We were talking about our earliest memories and one student told me his mother put chilli on her breasts. He certainly remembered that!
Finally, the thread I've been looking for! It's so hard to find advice / support groups on this. My toddler (17m) really doesn't want to give up, and I'd really like him to. Thanks for these suggestions. Any others?
I fear the only way I'll be able to make this happen is by sending him to my parents for a week, and I can't quite bring myself to do that.
. Don't be a martyr about breast feeding.
