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Original poster

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

51 replies

mcrlover · 13/09/2026 18:11

My 14 month old daughter is using my breasts almost like a human pacifier. Its just started a week ago - all night she will "breast feed" (I barely make any milk), and will cry until screaming if I take her off the boob. Weirdly, this only starts from midnight - at bedtime, she goes to sleep breastfeeding and I then take her off and transfer her to her cot.

She has no cuddly toy, no dummy, and doesn't take milk bottles. Any advice please about how to break this pattern? I'm so exhausted because of course it wakes me up the whole night!

I can't bear the thought of experimenting in the middle of the night with different approaches, but is that the only way?

OP posts:
VanGoghsSunflower · 13/09/2026 18:33

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.

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