I need help weaning my 3yo son - it's time

[RoRoMommy]

Hello everyone.

I am very proud to have carried on breastfeeding my lovely 3 1/2 yo son this long. But my GP has said that my very low ferritin levels and Vitamin D levels are in part down to breastfeeding, and that I need to stop. Besides that (and before responding that you think my GP is crap), I feel that he's ready, and I'm ready, to stop.

So what I am after, please, are suggestions on how to soften the transition from breastfeeding to not breastfeeding anymore. Is a gradual approach better, or should we go cold turkey? I had hoped to continue until he said he was ready to stop, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

Also, and this is probably going to sound a little dramatic, is he going to hate me for telling him that he has to stop?

Thanks in advance.

lol well i was going to suggest a supplement if it's just that ferritin and vit D levels are low!

but if you want to stop as well then you should.
i would do a gradual stop myself. maybe just decide to do morning and evening and nothing during the day.

does he still feed at night? if so then i would night wean first, and then cut out daytime feeds

i would use distraction. have some very, very, very busy days for a while so that he doesn't think about it.
if he asks, just say "not right now, let's just do X" and then hope he forgets

Thanks yesterday - honestly, the levels are so low apparently supplements alone will take months to reverse the effects (I'll be taking them as well) and GP thinks a belts and braces approach is necessary. Thanks though!

So - he breastfeeds mostly at night. He sleeps with me and we bf during story time then cuddles to bed. He wakes up around 3am for a bf and then bf almost continuously from 5-7am. Mightily protests if I say no. Have usually been so tired I just give in.

Otherwise he has some bf when I get home from work, but that's it. Not much otherwise.

I guess if I can tackle night weaning then I'm home free

ahh ok. i know people who have told their toddlers that "milkies" or whatever you call it, is sleeping in the night, biut will be there in the morning.

do you ahve a partner/husband who could help at night?

Unfortunately my husband and I split in February and are getting a divorce. My mum lives with me, and she could help - or, at least, the threat of having to sleep with Nana instead of mummy if he doesn't stop trying to get to the "titos" (seriously!) might do the trick.

I know he's going to be very upset at first, but my guess (hope?) is that this will subside with time.

bump