14mo DD using my breasts as a dummy for entire night - how do I stop?

Both of my sons did this. I didn’t mind because I knew it was for emotional comfort and security. But I totally understand the annoyance. In both instances, they were older than your daughter when I could no longer deal with it. I put bandaids on my nipples and said mommy had booboos at the moment so they couldn’t be used. Worked like a charm.
When your DD is doing this, could you gently remove your breast once she has fallen asleep again? How do you feel about co-sleeping for the rest of the night? She may have less of a resistance if she is comforted by co-sleeping. It may be an easier transition for her.

Mine are teens now, but I do remember that night time suckling leads to an increase in milk supply. At 14 months she should be having solids, I think 3 meals a day (? Not sure about this) so if you don’t want to increase the amount she breastfeeds during the day, perhaps offer more at meal times, and perhaps a bit of a snack before bed

Mine did the same. I went with it best I could but what worked for me is gently unlatching and replacing with an actual dummy.

Are you completely against the use of dummies for soothing? If not, then buy one and introduce it. Then you will both get a good night's sleep.

Bugger that. Get her a dummy.

Oh I remember this except my DD was 11 months old when I gave up being her night time pacifier. She woke me every 15 minutes. I kept a diary for two weeks to know what was happening and I was shocked.

I moved her to her cot and then when she woke I moved to the sofa. DH used to sleep in the spare room because he “needed his sleep because he was working”. MN did not exist then.

I came to settle her every time she woke. We quickly moved through that stage and she slept through the night. We were all so much better off. I was sad to stop BF but could not carry on under the circumstances.

I think you'll either have to go with it and just hope it doesn't last long or go cold turkey (if you're happy to) and deal with a few bad nights while she gets used to it

Have you got a partner who can do bedtime? Don’t get near her for a couple of nights sleep in another room - I had to do that with my eldest but it worked.

I strongly disagree with those telling you to get a dummy (and 2 of my kids had one).

It would be ridiculous to introduce one at 14 months old - the age you should be looking at weaning them from it!

The plaster approach from the first response sounds good, I'd do something like this to break the habit.

Stack the comforts - introduce a soft toy and back pats while feeding, then after a few days don't let her feed but keep up the soft toy and the back pats. New associations are the way! First couple of nights you'll most likely have a lot of resistance but just be responsive and you'll get there

A previous poster has mentioned this but I got some advice online that worked an absolute treat. Put two large plasters over your nipples and saw ow ow mummy is sore. Worked almost immediately, I couldn't believe it!

Mine would do this. I left bedtime to my ex husband for a week until DC learned to sleep without my nipples!

errr this child is 14 months old. Or 14 weeks old? Why is the child not in a separate room?.

The child can’t reach your breasts unless you’re right next to each other. why is this happening now? Maybe you need to create a healthy distance overnight? Oh, and get the child a dummy.

Get her a dummy, and use plasters.

is that helpful

She's not using your breasts as a dummy. Its the other way around. Dummies are created to replace breasts. So she'd be using a dummy as a breast.
It's very normal and natural for babies to reach for comfort from their mummies. It's why we have breasts. Why would you want to replace your natural comfort with a bit of plastic? She's still only 14 months and won't be little forever.

Use a dummy.

Put her in her own cot in her own room? It’s fine to say enough is enough, you don’t have to be a martyr 🤷‍♀️

This sounds absolutely awful. I’m no expert as I weaned at 6 months and never co-slept but there must be advice on whether it’s better to do a clean break (“now you are a big girl and get to sleep in your own bed! ) or to cut the contact more gradually.

At that age she shouldn’t still have a bottle so I’d skip and go straight to sippy cup, possibly via a straw in the bottles of ready-made formula.

Good luck!

Why would you post something like this that’s so guilt-inducing when OP is quite understandably becoming a bit fed up? There’s absolutely no need to suckle toddlers through the night unless you really want to.

Agree with @Autumnalbride re: dummies being used as breast replacements not tlbabies usung breasts/mum as a dummy.
If it's only recently started could she be teething or have earache? This can be a reason for suddenly waking and stops as suddenly as it started.
Why not try a breastfeeding helpline or group as they can also talk about nighttime strategies for cutting back 9r stopping.
https://momab.org.uk/ are a small but growing breastfeeding support org who may have a group near you. Otherwise I think BFN or ABM have helplines.

If this is a new thing could she be teething or have an earache? I would try calpol first and see if it helps.

If it carries on I think it’s best just to gently refuse but offer cuddles, comfort and a drink of water. Keep putting her back into her cot and don’t bring her to bed, or put her in bed only with dad so that she doesn’t have access to your breasts. Don’t feel guilty about it either if she is getting cuddles and comfort, at 14 months she doesn’t need your breastmilk several times a night x

At 14 months, I gave a milk in the morning, 3 meals + snacks if needed, 1 milk before bed. That’s plenty. I stuck to water in a bottle during the night if he woke. He soon stopped waking as he knew that’s all he was getting. It wasn’t easy for a few nights, but I persevered and it worked.

As a PP has suggested I’d try a breastfeeding charity or IBCLC for support if you need to make changes OP. Agree also worth thinking about why this behaviour change has happened and ruling out illness/issues like earache. Good luck!

PS Human nipples definitely predate dummies by quite a few millennia, your baby isn’t using you as a dummy 🤣

It's up to you OP, but personally I would go cold turkey at this point.