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How to stop breastfeeding toddler

5 replies

NewBlueGoo · 22/07/2018 09:18

I have no issue with extended breastfeeding at all, but it's not what I had planned to do, and had just assumed (!) that around 12 months my DS would naturally lose interest. We struggled for months to get the hang of bf, and he always seemed pretty ambivalent about it until recently.

But he was ill around his first birthday, and wanted to nurse more then, and I was more than happy to comfort him for what I thought would be our final weeks of bf. Then he went into a tantrummy phase, and nursing was the only thing that would stop him screaming and throwing himself on the ground. So I was mainly relieved there was something that could quell the rages. And now he is 16 months, and it's suddenly all he wants to do when I am around, and I feel more constricted by nursing than I ever did when he was a newborn. He pulls at my top and starts fishing around in my bra with his hands, and if I say no or try to distract him he will try to hit me in the face. If I offer him milk in a bottle / cup he snatches it from me and throws it on the floor. (We firmly say no when he hits and throws, and put him down. He will then rolll on the floor and scream for AGES).

I have tried offering him the breast that no longer produces any milk, in the hope he'll give up, but he will happily suck away on that for half an hour, so I am still stuck unable to do anything else.

He is a very suck-happy child generally - we have been trying to wean him off his dummy for months with no success. He will not even take the dummy though if he thinks there's a chance of my boob.

He was a late crawler and still isn't walking, so I think some of the tantrums and comfort behaviour are because he's frustrated not to be moving more. Is there anything I can do but wait this out? It saddens me because he loves to read and play with DH but whenever I'm around he abandons anything he was doing and roars for my boobs. Also, he has a lot of very sharp teeth!

Any similar experiences? Any tips? Will I be breastfeeding him until he's 40??

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stompdino · 22/07/2018 18:41

Good question ... I am still feeding a 2 year old .. he understands No better or a distraction such as Tv works or a snack

I'm still doing 3/4 feeds a day.

I think 16 -20 months he was like a newborn again

Parney · 23/07/2018 12:51

Following for tips! DS was the same could have taken or left it up until he was sick just after his 1st birthday and since then he’s been obsessed. He’s 19 months now and if we’re out and about all day he’ll not look for milk. I’m trying ‘don’t offer, don’t refuse’ but honestly I need to be more consistent with this approach. Distracting works well, I’ve also got him some lovely ‘grown up’ type water bottles which he loves. I’ll cuddle him after he’s eaten a big meal as he always tries to get milk but will only stay on for a bit because he’s full and that seems to satisfy him and we can play/sing etc after without him thinking of milk if that makes sense! I also have an EBF 4 month old. I’m ready for Ds1 to stop but I don’t think he is and I want it to be a gentle process. You very well could be feeding him until he’s 40 Grin

NewBlueGoo · 23/07/2018 21:12

Oh man. Well at least I'm not alone in ambivalent toddler breastfeeding territory! All the other mums at nursery seem to have stopped around 12 months without issues, so it's always a bit embarrassing when I go to collect him and he goes 'aaarrrgh!' and dives at my bosom with his mouth open. Confused

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NewBlueGoo · 23/07/2018 21:17

And well done, Parney for managing to feed a 4 month old and a 19 month old!

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Mumsbrunette · 28/10/2021 20:56

@NewBlueGoo Hiya, I know it’s an old thread, but I’m just looking for some tips and hope hehe! Trying to think how will I wean off my 15months old.. he is quite obsessed atm. Wondering how was your journey with your Ds.

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