Need to stop BF and not sure how - pls help!

5 replies

Fourleaf · 04/01/2011 17:51

DS is 14 months, and I am going away in just under 3 months for 2 days for work. He currently BFs before he sleeps (BFs to sleep usually) and either once in the night (yawn) or in the morning. I would be happy to continue but I really have to go away for these 48 hours at then end of March, so he must be weaned by then! He will take milk from a sippy cup during the day, but is still very keen on BFing at bedtime and when he wakes.

How did others wean their older babies? How long did it take? I would love to hear any tips/advice/experiences, as I am finding the whole thing a bit worrying at the moment. TIA! :)

OP posts:

belgo · 04/01/2011 17:55

You don't necessarily have to stop bfing. It;s good he can drink from a cup, he'll be fine without you.

Just take a breast pump with you to stop you getting uncomfortable and you can bf him again when you get back home.

thisisyesterday · 04/01/2011 17:58

agree, if you don't want to wean him then don't he will be absolutely fine for 2 days without you

if you DO really feel like you're ready to stop anyway though then I would do it gradually. cut out one feed at a time. just offer milk in a cup instead, and lots of cuddles

dizzeelizzee · 04/01/2011 18:01

I agree with the replies above. Im a breastfeeding support worker, my professional advice would be that you dont NEED to stop breastfeeding.

If you want to, that is a different story.

But if not and he will take your EBM from a cup, I dont see the problem!

RubbaDuckie · 04/01/2011 18:15

Hi - im in the process now. Ill let you know how it goes... I was also bf'ing morning and night, and sometimes (mostly) once in the night as well.

I began by stopping the middle of the night feed a few weeks ago, and just spent the 2hrs or whatever was required to get my 14m old back to sleep without feeding (rocking, singing, looking out of the window). She still wakes but has stopped demanding the feed now.

Then I stopped the morning ... but im only on day 2. I thought this would be easy but she got quite upset so I had to take her away from my bed (where I would normally BF her) and take her downstairs to have 'tea' ... which she took. Once she had something inside her she was fine.

I wasn't sure if I should cut out am and pm at once (just looking for advice when I saw your post) - but tonight, I gave her a beaker of milk after her bath, and during her story - which she took. I still bf her after as well ... but thought that it might get her gradually used to it and she might even cut it out herself (wishful thinking!).

I have been told that one method is just to leave the house and let someone else give an evening bottle/beaker and settle for at least 5 days on the trot- but my 15m has always been really tricky so no one else has ever tried putting her to bed. So my rational is, if I get her used to the beaker ... then if I need to do the above, she will at least be used to the idea!? Im dreading it though and just hoping its not too hard!

Hope that helps

Original poster

Fourleaf · 05/01/2011 17:34

Thanks for the replies. I think I would be happy to continue but also happy to stop - by then he will be nearly 17 months which is around the time I thought I would stop. My DH is also pretty keen on me stopping as he thinks DS will then be less distressed at me going away if this makes sense? It does seem that he would v. much miss the BF if he was used to having it and then suddenly I wasn't there.

I think I will try to stop over the next few months and see how DS reacts - it's good to see your experience RubbaDuckie - do keep us posted! I am planning on cutting the bedtime feed first I think, as he often misses the nightime feed anyway and the morning feed doesn't seem so important to him. Or maybe that's the wrong way around? Is there any detailed guide for stopping BF? Or is it just a follow your own instincts kind of thing?

OP posts:

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