Want to stop BF-had enough!

[namewobble]

Hi all,

I've totally had enough of breastfeeding. DS is over 1. I really struggled in the early days (was bloody painful), but grew to love it, and we've had a good BF relationship. DS would still feed every two hours if he got the chance, and he does tend to bite. I have just had enough, I want my body back. I don't want to do it any more and it's effecting how I relate to him.

I really can't work out how to stop! He cosleeps mostly with DH and then we tag out at 4am, when DS wakes for a feed. Then feeds again at about 6.30. Three days a week I go to work, so he doesn't feed again until 6. His days with me, though, he's at me often! We're trying to introduce warm cows milk in a bottle for comfort. Does anyone else have any suggestions? I just can't find much between 'train your baby from day 1' and 'I breast-fed until my child was seven'

I need help too so hope it's ok if I placemark. my dd turns 2 in 10 days and she's always on the boob. she even says 'boob. Will try cold turkey then the lemon juice suggestion.

Be warned though, your boobs will
be tender for a little while after - good luck x

I thought we'd never stop!
Ds is 2.7 and we stopped only because I ended up away with dd for 2 nights in hospital and as he was ok at home with Dh it seemed a prime opportunity.
I was mainly just feeding at night but he'd also grab every chance at the weekend if he could. I was discouraging/distracting then by offering a toy/snack/let's go to the park! Etc so we were getting there gradually.
It's been 3 weeks and he's still fiddling with the boob at bedtime which is irritating but we are doing little steps. He only cried once when I said there's no milk left and we've done a cuddle into the boobs/dummy solution which he seems happy with other than the bedtime fiddling so it's all good.
I should say we've also done this during pretty constant illness so he's taken it rather well. I think it's worse for us - even though you are desperate for it to finish, it's still an emotional change!

@DianaPrincessOfThemyscira Say what? No, my child does NOT have additional needs. Quite frankly, I find that question to be ridiculous, as many children breastfeed for a long time.

To suggest that breastfeeding a 2.5 year old means he has "additional needs" is absurd.

Do you know I thought it was going to be really hard d weaning dd from the breast. She was such a sucky baby. But I handed her over to dh for a few nights, and no crying
at all. Surprised didn’t cover it.

@LordPickle I asked because you said he wasn’t fully weaned and I took that to mean ‘onto solids’ rather than ‘from the breast’ as you’d obviously already said you were having trouble stopping. If he’s eating well then I’d suggest just not giving in, much easier to implement if you’re working full time like I was!

@namewobble my DS3 was 14 months when I just stopped breastfeeding and also moved him into his own room. I was back at work full time and quite frankly I was exhausted from never getting a solid nights sleep as he was attached all night. He was only have a ‘proper’ feed in the evening by that time - everything else was just comfort feeding during the night.

I basically did controlled crying over the course of about three days. He was put in his cot, kiss and goodnight and then I left. Came back in five, then ten, then 15 etc mins. I sat outside the door. First night he cried for two hours. Second night 20 mins. Third night, he cracked and went to sleep straight away. He’s been fine ever since (he’s 7 now). I just stopped completely at that point, can’t say he didn’t still try and get at the boob for a while but I just made sure he didn’t get it!

I stopped bf at 6 months and was not night feeding at a all at that stage. They went straight to cup. Thought of bf any longer? Not a chance. Glad to get body back. There is no way I would have night fed at 6 months anyway. No need. In fact mothers putting horrible tasting food on nipples in effort to dissuade child from bf - bizarre

Oh it's still nice to find this thread. I'm at the same stage with my 11m old. I'm knackered and wanting to sleep train too.

I weaned my eldest at one year old. I told her there was no more milk in my boobies and during the day I would offer her a snack or drink or cuddle/story instead. She had a bottle to go to sleep for about six months after that. It took about three days of her asking and then it was done. But she has always been a very independent person, even as a baby/toddler, quite stoic and just gets on with things.

I tried with my youngest at around 14 months and she just wasn’t ready - very different character, much more emotional and a little more dependent in nature. I left it until she was eighteen months old and essentially went through the same process, told her there was no milk left and went cold turkey on it, offering snacks and drinks, or cuddles/story, instead, with a bottle for bedtime.

It's OK to say your done, he's had a who year of your milk which is a fantastic achievement!

Some little ones accept cold turkey quite happily, some are happier with a phasing out approach. I used the method of nudging in the sweet sleep book which worked well for us as I was just looking for less night feeds at the time but it did give us better balance during the day too. No reason you couldn't use it to wean completely.

Maybe give la leche league a call or drop into a meeting if you have one locally. They're more than happy to give tips on stopping and can help with anything that might crop up like engorgment/blocked ducts

First day off is going SO much better than expected. We've been out since 8am, kept really busy, and it's just been fine. Will check in with more later!

Even if he is upset, he won't remember it in a weeks time. Try not to worry too much.