Shopping breastfeeding.

[Ridneck]

It's time. My wee guy is 3 in 4 weeks. He only feeds at bedtime and if he gets up through the night. Yep, still doesn't sleep through.

I think I'm done but currently if he wakes he's back down and I can't face majorly disturbed nights.

I'd like to do it as gently as possible. He's pretty switched on and refuses to read any of the weaning books I've purchased to ready him for the change.

What did you do? Tell me all your experiences please.

I stopped a few weeks ago with my 27 month old. I first went down to only feeding from one side so there was less available, did that for 1-2weeks (with a plaster over the other nipple saying it was “ouch” - was right for the comms skills of my 2 year old), then put a plaster over the other. For me, I needed to make it physically unavailable so it wasn’t visibly an option, as he wouldn’t have understood / accepted much else I don’t think. Had oat milk in a cup instead (CMPA so milk hasn’t been a habitual part of his diet until now). He’s asked one or two times since, but it’s actually been a pretty easy transition.

When I stopped with my eldest it was harder as he was still feeding overnight so much (21 months). He had a banana and water available in the night time to satiate hunger and thirst, and after a week went to just water (CMPA too, and didn’t like replacement milks).

Both of them ignored any weaning books (my eldest would close them and say “no” whenever I tried to read them), and nights were hardest - I’d tried night weaning before with my eldest and managed it as long as I accepted a 5am wake up time, then he got Covid so we were back to feeding round the clock. They’ve both always been really keen on bf-ing.

Weaning has been the worst part of my breastfeeding experience, but I either had to or was ready to stop, so was motivated enough to push on through. Good luck!

(also - hot showers to express any excess to guard against mastitis, and sage tea to reduce supply helped me after stopping)

Thanks for sharing your experience. I definitely need to do it. I'm frustrated. A 5 o'clock start isn't filling me with joy but needs must.

I stopped bfing my son a couple of months after he turned 3. I was expecting it to be terrible as he had always fed loads.

We made a sticker chart together and decided if he could go for a week without milk he could have a toy that he wanted (jelly cat octopus). We talked about him being a big boy etc in the run up. It was so much easier than I was expecting it to be and he really bought into the sticker chart.

Good luck! Fingers crossed it goes just as smoothly for you.

Oh, I do hope so! Sticker chart and a toy is a shout. I want it to be a gentle and trauma free as possible!

What routines did you bring in rather than feeding to sleep?

I went cold turkey with both at 2yrs and the other at 22M. I explained to my eldest that I was taking medicine that would make his tummy poorly. With my youngest I decided at 4am the bar was closed and refused to let her feed. She was very frustrated and bit me several times but I held firm. She still likes to be cuddled like she is feeding and ducks her thumb.

with both I did not have a bath with them for a little while and wore a bra to bed to avoid latching . I found they slept better because they were not waking to feed.

I did have to stop feeding my second so I could take the strong stuff. My eldest was more understanding that he could not feed and other than asking a couple of times did not look back

I stopped over the summer when my son was 3.5. He’s still bloody banging on about it. I did it when we were on holiday so out of routine and I told him in advance but he is still very sad about the loss. So sad that after 3 weeks I caved and let him see if there was any there but it had gone thankfully! He’s still complaining, but I can’t tell you how incredible I feel getting my body back. My boobs are glorious now, droopy as anything but all soft and squishy.

I have just stopped friend my final baby, I’m pretty sad about it still!
like you he had just turned 3 so felt it was time.
my two others were three also when they stopped. I have been breastfeeding pretty much constantly in the past 10 year so it has felt like a bit deal stopping!
with all of them I stopped on their birthdays because of the distraction on the day.
in the build up to the day I would say you’re a big boy on your birthday, no more milk etc.
Then replace the bedtime/wake up feed with milk in a cup and distraction for the other feeds. Always been very smooth transitions and always more painful for me. A few hormonal days and sadness and full boobs. I stopped 2 weeks ago now and I am feeling normal ish. He has started to sleep through every night now too (so far) where previously he was up 2/3 times a night.
good luck!

We did me lying with him and singing songs until he fell asleep. He was a terrible sleeper before and after bfing though.