Stopping breastfeeding cold turkey

[Glassofredandapackofcrisps]

Posting for traffic aibu to think I can do this without totally traumatising my dd? She's 2 (birthday last week) totally boob obsessed eats drinks well enough but every opportunity she is on me pulling my top off. She goes to nursery one day a week and another day with my mum and is fine but all through the night she wants to feed. I'm exhausted and actually can't stand bf anymore. I'm a single mum so no dp to hand over to in the night. We're going on holiday next week for a week with my mother(who she does settle for by settle I mean stop crying not go back to sleep . My mother is 65 and I feel bad about her being up all hours with my child but this has to stop and this will be my best chance. So any tips or advice will be very gratefully received

I bf dd until she was 22 months. I was 19 weeks pregnant and felt I needed to stop before the new baby came.

I fed her to sleep but then refused any feeds until morning time. I told her there was no milk left at night. She did cry and was angry. Woke up 3 times each night and shouted. Just spoke calmly to her and kept repeating the same message. There was no milk at night. It took about 2 weeks for this to settle down and dd started sleeping through.

At this point I went cold turkey during the day. Same message, milk was all gone. She asked about twice for milk then never asked again. Even when the new baby arrived.

I am still amazed. Dd was a total boob monster.

SHE won’t Be traumatised don’t worry. I stopped cold turkey with two of mine and after one awful night and one mediocre night it was fine. I had completely stopped any day feeding by then and even bedtime was no longer feeding in the room. Then just wore a high neck top, offered water (which got thrown at my head) and shushed/patted etc etc until went back to sleep. Ds1 was worse he took forever to calm down but only one night. Ds2 calmed quicker but woke for a few more nights after. I ref think cold turkey is the best way and just think about getting through 3 nights as that’s been the most it’s will take.: good luck!

Hi op.

My dc6 was boob obsessed. Fed her until 22 months and decided enough was enough and my boobs were ankle warmers and had an overnight hen do

I fed all mine and gave up overnight with each one. Yes it’s daisy thr cow for 48 hours but it dries up.

Some of mine took to bottles but others not and straight to cups.

Go for it . To add had blocked duct with ds3 while feeding not with giving up.

My boobs and myself had an overnight hen do clearly not just my boobs

Dc6 isn’t traumatised btw she’s 19 in Australia and having a ball

I'm still feeding my 2yo but I night weaned him about 6 months ago. At first he increased feeds in the day but now he knows he just gets boob at naptime and to go to sleep at night. He has learnt, slowly, to self settle. I did get punched and kicked a lot at first though and some hysterical outbursts during the night if I refused to feed, but it was worth it in the end and I'm happy to give him the feeds he has now for the foreseeable.

I stopped cold turkey at 16 months when the little beast bit me!!

After a night or two it was fine - I just gave cuddles and water instead and she had formula or cow milk during the day.

I would recommend making sure you express just enough to stop your breasts from getting sore whilst allowing the supply to decrease - I used to squeeze a bit out in the shower, for example, until it stopped. I was worried that going totally cold turkey would lead to mastitis or something. It worked for me; others may have a different idea.

Agree with NameChange30 that going cold turkey at night works. I stopped feeding mine around 18 months at night. We had a few dreadful nights but I started on a friday so I could have help from DH for the first two and a lie in! After the first few nights she was happy just to cuddle and go back to sleep. I continued to feed when she first woke up in the mirning and when she went to bed at night until she was two.

My DD took a bottle when I wasn't there (expressed milk before one and cows milk after) which helped me then drop the other feeds gradually while still making sure she had milk. Of course a cup will do the same job I just think the teat offered comfort and made the transition easier

She’s two and you’ve done amazing already, honestly I stopped both of mine at 2 cold turkey and they’re absolutely fine! No trauma caused and cuddles became the new thing. Don’t worry! Just be kind to her and yourself. I went with “all gone!” And cuddled instead. Snuggles really close and eventually they got it

If it helps though maybe try only doing it when going to sleep, then cut out completely

Just thought I'd add- prepare for potential mood swings for yourself. When I weaned DD1 I had some huge hormonal come downs.

filou87 they don't even remember it.

Putting vinegar on your breasts is a horrible way to end breastfeeding - your child would associate breastfeeding with comfort, nourishment etc since the day they've been born - to end it by putting vinegar on your breasts is not nice at all. I would not recommend this.

OP - weaning cold turkey is not advisable. You put yourself at risk of mastitis and also the sudden hormone drop in stopping bf could make your mood very very low. If your DC is breastfeeding a lot at the moment then that is what they feel they need and they would be very distressed by weaning cold turkey. You can try gentle weaning methods - there's one by Dr Jay Gordon.

@coconutpie I totally agree. It's completely unnecessary.

@lulu2016 we don't remember much of our childhood, does that mean as parents we shouldn't bother to make any efforts or be kind to our children because they don't remember it?

@milliegeobotandyou - exactly!!

That's a bit dramatic! I had already tried all other methods previously and they didn't work for me. The only way was to get her to dislike my boob, it worked for me, might not work for others. Plus I only did It the once. My Dd is perfectly fine and doesn't scream and run when she sees my boobs now so I have hardly tainted her breastfeeding experience.

Years ago women used a tincture of wormwood, which is very bitter.

When dc5 was 22 months and still feeding 3 times a day and through the night, I decided that enough was enough.

We had one last feed in the cinema watching a film that she loved. I kissed her head at the end, knowing it would be the very last time I ever fed a baby. (I am getting teary just remembering it)

She struggled for 3 days. I struggled for a little longer. It really affected my mood.

She is now 5 and tells me I am ridiculous to suggest that she ever fed from my breast! Don't be silly mummy! She still falls asleep in bed with us with her hand on my neck like she did when she used to feed.

happy2bhomely

Your second paragraph made me well up a wee bit