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How do I stop BF 15mo DS???

3 replies

kleeen · 15/01/2013 04:16

I hate to say it, but I'm really starting to hate BFing. I feel like he's chewing on my boob, and it gives me the creeps. But DS loves it, and would have it all day everyday if it were up to him. I don't know how to stop without seriously upsetting him. But I'm starting to really resent it, and get annoyed with him for wanting it.

I work full time, so in the week, I feed him in the mornings and evenings. Usually its immediately when I get home from work, and then once or twice before bed. I then feed him until sleepy before bed. He sleeps until 6am, at which point I will feed him to get another hour or so of sleep. And then he cries in the morning until I feed him again. On the weekends its much more frequent, unless we are out and about and very busy. If he asks for it, and I refuse or try and distract, he goes into full tantrum mode.

I've established a "nursing chair" in his room, which when we're home is the only place where I nurse him. I try to say "do you want to nurse in the nursing chair?" to reinforce the chair's importance. When I've tried to say that we can't nurse when we're out and about because there's no nursing chair, he still screams and cries and shouts for a LOOOONG time.

He's allergic to dairy, so we currently have him drinking soy milk. He's not on a set schedule with the soy milk, so I know this is probably step one to getting him filled up with something besides breastmilk. He eats ok, some days more than others.

I just don't know if I should go cold turkey? Stop coming home before bedtime for a week? at least cut out those feedings? How can I do it so he doesn't think I hate him???

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
sanam2010 · 15/01/2013 09:33

Hi there, i was in the exact situation last year and was wondering the same - none of the gentle methods seemed to work. DD was also a bottle refuser and allergic to dairy and I was working ft. I got pregnant so at some point I just couldn't do it anymore.

One day at work, I just realised I couldn't and didn't want to do it anymore and decided that morning had been the last time and I would just go cold turkey that evening upon coming home. I had hesitated for months because like you, I had expected her to be miserable and traumatised for at least two weeks, if not longer. The good thing was i was 100% convinced i couldn't do it anymore - my supply was down because of the pregnancy and I wasn't gaining weight so I thought in the interest of DC2 I want to stop.

That evening, I just wore a bra and shirt when bringing her to bed to make sure there's absolutely no access :-). I also took a bottle of milk with us. When she wanted to nurse, I said "all gone" and "there's no milk, sorry". She cried and screamed for about 20-30min while I cuddled her and explained the milk was gone unfortunately, then she fell asleep. The next morning, she cried for about 5min while I explained the same, them we got up and played and she was fine during the day. The next evening, she was just about to cry when I said "shall we read books together?" And she said yes and then i read her stories for about 30min and she fell asleep in my arms. The next morning, she didn't even ask. And that was it!

If i had known how easy it was, I would have done it much sooner (DD was 19 months old). I think 15 months is the perfect time. Your son will be fine. It took
A few weeks but slowly DD started eating cheese and then got into the habit of eating a big bowl of cereal with soy milk every morning. Now at 2 she is actually fine even with cow's milk and suddenly insists on drinking it from a bottle!

When i feed DD2 now DD1 just laughs, points at my breasts and says "I don't like it!" And laughs.

Good luck! It's hard but children adapt very very fast. Just be firm. If you're convinced you want to stop, he will sense it and give up tantrums in a matter of days.

Arithmeticulous · 15/01/2013 09:53

I've had a persistent bfer - to the point of ripping my clothes off Hmm - and I got in a right tizz about stopping. In the end he got a vomiting bug, I didn't offer for about 3 days (he'd chucked all over me whilst feeding at the start) and he forgot - I offered when he was a little better and he - the screeching if not constantly feeding child - looked at me as if I were mad

So from full on meltdown and clothes ripping to not wanting took 3 days.

There is hope for you yet Grin

JiltedJohnsJulie · 16/01/2013 13:46

Really don't on this one sorry. If you ask for the thread to be moved to he breast and bottle section, you might get a few more responses though.

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