to put tape over my nipples to stop 2 year old DS from BFing?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

DS2 has just turned two and I am still BFing him. I have loved this experience and I also BF DS1 for 14 months. However, I am now starting to want my boobs back! DS2 constantly asks for 'more boobie MORE BOOBIE' and seems to want to feed even more now that he ever did (apart from when he was a newborn). He paws at me and pulls my top down and screams 'BOOOOOOOBIES' when we are public (I wish I had called them something else now LOL).

I still do like feeding him at night and when he wakes up but I feel it's time to stop now. He obviously loves it though and I feel bad about stopping it if he still likes it. I have tried saying no to wind it down but he just shouts even more for it. So I am seriously thinking about taping them up or bandaging them and telling him they have run out of milk.

Would that make me a terrible mum? Any tips to cut down / stop BFing?

JEEZ - I see this thread has, overnight, gone from a perfectly logical question from the OP, to being swamped by the BiB stalwarts.

Don't argue about BF/FF on this thread - you are doing the OP a massive disservice all of you.

Rita - Are FFers banned from clicking a thread with BFing in the title?
The longest I breastfed for was 15 months and I was intrested in seeing peoples methods of weaning toddler off the breast. Is that a crime? Then I saw that comment, thats the only reason I posted.

I really wonder how people come to answer threads in this manner. Do you spot it in Active, go "Ooh, that's DISGUSTING! I'll go and leave a drive-by there!"?

Cos that's what it looks like.

Actually bimbo, I have seen so many threads that don't mention any of those things you mentioned, but they still turn sour when a certain couple of posters come on and make ignorant, offensive comments about breastfeeding.
Has it ever occured to anyone that actually, feeding formula is the norm in this country, why is it ok for formula feeders to get extremely defensive about their choice, yet bfers can't say anything because they risk being called breastfeeding Nazis, breastapo, and other delightful terms.
This thread is a good example. The op has had some brilliant advice, but some really offensive comments thrown in. It only turned nasty when someone offered a flipside of fabby's post.

I clicked on this thread to give advice which I did and as far as I am concerned it was good advice.

Wow Rita maybe some people like formula fed one child and breast fed another like ya know...

I stand by my point, its the bf zealots who make the divide so big. They can bandy about offensive comments, will never challenge a fellow zealot for doing so and will always make and excuse yet will stamp their feet and have a paddy if someone dares do the same about bf.

Bimbo - read the thread again - who bandied about offensive comments? The only offensive comment about ff was offered as a flipside of another offensive post.

Blimy op, after reading the previous posts. You do what YOU feel is right, you have done so well bf for 2 years, thats more than I or some mums on here have done, yes its fine to want your body back. Good idea with the plasters, tell your ds that mummys boobies don't work anymore eventually he will 'forget' about it, offer up other drinks.

ilike I'll be watching this thread with interest (apart from all the usual nonsense about extended bf'ing being weird or 'not sitting right' with people. I'm not remotely interested in how these people want to feed their children. Quite why having teeth and being able to walk should exclude a child from receiving its mother's milk is beyond me.) My DD is 20 months and showing no signs of losing interest in bf. I do it less and less in public (so all of you who find it so very offensive can relax. I don't get my 'norks' out and let DD 'hang off them' in public . I really enjoy the bedtime feed too, that'll be the hardest to give up. Have you thought about keeping that one on for a while? Maybe that would help - because then you can tell DS that boobies are just for bedtime. It's so difficult isn't it? I really hope that DD will wean herself, nice and calmly, and about 2 years old

But thats pathetic fave and really does the other side no favours at all, its like well a vile comment is fine if someone else said it first. Childish and does not make you look the better and more reasoned poster and I can assure you most people reading the thread wont think so either.

Well I said fruit shoot because I was informed by MissyMoo and others that toddlers don't have bottles - so I was trying to think of an equivalent comment. Again, I was mirroring FabbyChic's previous comment.

For what it's worth, I am an extended breastfeeder but also feed my child absolute crap on occasion and her water beaker is often extremely grubby (who even cares, defensive much?) I wasn't having a go at all formula feeders - just the ones making bitty type comments on this thread.

I think Fabby's post was just plain thick and narrow minded where as the flip side was just nasty.

Both should'nt of been said, both were wrong.

The toddler with the grubby bottle comment wasn't a true reflection of that poster's feelings. They were using hyperbole to express why the sentiment of 'ewww don't want to see a toddler hanging from a boob' statement was ridiculous. It was highlighting an attitude by reflecting it back. The difference being that the first was a genuine opinion about bfing, the second an attempt to illustrate how hurtful/ridiculous the first statement was. But don't let me detract from the bunfight now.

It was almost inevitable that this would descend into bf vs ff when it's posted in bloody aibu. I will say though that it's funny how a personal decision such as whether to and how long to bf is so rife with arguments based solely upon opinion of what other people choose to do. Because I can understand people getting het up about controlled crying or smacking where there is evidence to suggest that such behaviours are detrimental to the emotional and physical health of a child. But where bfing is concerned, what we actually know about it tells us that feeding a toddler is a physiological norm, it has myriad benefits and is not detrimental to the health and wellbeing of a child, quite the opposite in fact. But the arguments always centre around 'it makes me feel...' or 'it's just not right' and there's absolutely no reasoning for this whatsoever. And really, so what if you feel a bit squicked out by it? Doesn't make it wrong and doesn't mean that anybody should have to adjust their non-damaging choices just to appease your arbitrary sense of what's right. Of course it's fine not to like something, to not want to do it for yourself but when it's a non damaging, physiological norm that you yourself do not have to do, then I can't understand the desire to tell another woman that she should desist.

OP, I agree with the sensible suggestions on here. It is okay to introduce nursing manners. 2yo is a funny age for bfing because they're going through a lot anyway in terms of independence and separation anxiety. They're trying to find their way in the world and it's daunting. BFing reassures them and is a delightful constant. But they can know it's there and available at a time suitable to you. I talked to dd at about 2.4 and explained that bf needed to be a bedtime only thing and it wasn't so much saying 'no' but saying 'not now'. I talked to her in moments of calm, whilst cuddling and enjoying each other and there was no feeling of taking something away or refusal to comfort her. We just adjusted part of the relationship to suit the age she was at the time.

No, but all I'm trying to point out is that threads like this don't do any favours for those making offensive posts about bf, but somehow that's seen as fair game.
Making any offensive post is crap and childish, but yet again, it's ok to make offensive comments about breastfeeding, yet not about ffing.
I just find it confusing. Feed your baby how you choose, if you ff, a small minority disagree, bf and a larger minority disagree. Neither is ok, but why is it worse that one person made a shitty comment about ff, yet there had already been several about bfing.

So "bitty" isn't a derogatory stereotype aimed at breastfeeders?

Gosh all you lot saying it's weird, you're human, baby/toddler is human, whyever not feed them in the most natural way for as long as you can?

I would love to still be breastfeeding (DD now 13 months).

I am amazed at the lengths you are having to go to to stop, though - going to sleep in 3 swimming costumes? Polo necks and plasters? Poor you :)

Ahhh ShowofHands. I think I love you :)

duchesse - I got that.

BF topics especially extended bf always bring alot of 'interesting' opinions out especially in aibu. TBH I found more support in cyber space than in RL, including with HCP, so sadly nothing on this thread is shocking.