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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

203 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 05/08/2011 22:25

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 Blush (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?

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 06/08/2011 10:07

Poor old OP - she comes on here seeking help and advice and people just start a bun fight that's totally off the point!

Corriefan - you're right about the dummy but I'd argue niceguy's daughter being stopped from thumb-sucking must have been just as hard, if not harder. There's no such thing as putting a thumb back in its bra!

corriefan · 06/08/2011 10:11

I've never read a bf ff argument before as my kids are older but this title struck a chord because I went through it too, so I feel quite objective. The offensive comments started towards extended bf and one poster dared to turn one of the insults around to a non- bf equivalent to demonstrate how it was hurtful. Now there are a load of posters in uproar about that as if it was the initial unprovoked comment! I've also read imagined retorts as if bf are thinking evil thoughts about ff.

I as an ex bf could genuinely not give a second thought how others feed their kids, we're in a rich country with clean water, healthcare and a balanced diet. I bf cos it worked for me and my kids, if ff works for you great, I really wouldn't waste my time thinking negative thoughts about ff, how boring.

Stop imagining people oppose you and stop being offensive about extended bf, it's got fa to do with you!

faverolles · 06/08/2011 10:17

Sorry altinkum, I hadn't read all your post properly Blush

DirtyMartini · 06/08/2011 10:44

Shower of eejits on this thread.

OP: good luck, hope you can look past the ruck to find the helpful posts.

realslimshady · 06/08/2011 10:56

Hypocrites. Everywhere. So a FF can be disrespectful about bf and that's absolutely fine, but it gets turned the other way round then suddenly they don't like it? Grow up. If you're prepared to give, damn well be prepared to take it as well.

Anyway OP, I am finding this with my DD who suddenly wants to bf all the time, after cutting down to just morning and evening. She's younger so not as vocal, but still keeps really physically going for it. I've just been distracting, distracting, distracting with the hope she'll stop asking so much.

Just remember that you can be stronger than your 2 year old in a battle of wills, although it may not feel that way at the time. If you fight it for a bit then eventually give in you;re giving him mixed messages which will confuse him.

Good luck.

mum0ftw0 · 06/08/2011 10:56

"BimboNo5Sat 06-Aug-11 08:56:30
People always say it looks odd/lazy/common whatever for older children/toddlers to still have a bottle though..so why is it different?"

The difference is that extended bottle use can mess with mouth formation and the way the teeth grow if I remember rightly. And it may aswell be given from a sippy cup.

With breastmilk there is an advantage. Reducing the chance of childhood Leukimia is one in a massive list of benefits.
Infants who're breastfed until aged 2 suffer less illness and hospitalisations during their childhood.

Bunnyjo · 06/08/2011 11:04

Stepping aside from the BF vs FF argument and getting back to the OP's original question. I breastfed DD until she was 27mth and I weaned her, rather than her self-weaning - I had to as I was pregnant, with a baby I sadly mc, but feeding her was like passing glass through my nipples. I said things like 'Mummy's boobies are empty now, no more milk' or 'Mummy's boobies don't work anymore'... It took us both about a week to get over it, but she was perfectly fine after that. As other pp have suggested, maybe use plasters on your bra, or wrap a bandage round, to make a visual statement to your DS. If you want to merely reduce feeds, especially in public, there is nothing wrong with saying something like 'Not now, we can feed when we get home' and after a few days he will understand. Best of luck...

And fantastic post SoH. You have said everything I wanted to say on the bunfight, but far more eloquently.

flyingspaghettimonster · 06/08/2011 11:04

My 3rd child was just like this - at almost 2 he was feeding 30-40 times a day, asking for mummy milk all the time, preferring to bf rather than eat food. I changed our routines - going out as much as possible for a week so that there was never a good opportunity It was all too easy if we were in the house to forget we were weaning and end up feeding him by mistake! It actually took very little time to get him off the breast with this method. His Daddy put him to bed each night so he wouldn't want to feed to sleep. Good luck! I do miss the cuddles I used to get while feeding him :-(

mum0ftw0 · 06/08/2011 11:09

I breastfed DS1 untill 35 months.
It really is about saying no.
It's your choice, you don't want to start resenting it and feeling like you don't own your own body.

mum0ftw0 · 06/08/2011 11:11

When I need a break from my toddler breastfeeding (if he's having a rough day and wants to feed constant)
I have to give him to his daddy, because if he's with me, he'll want it.

WhoahThere · 06/08/2011 13:34

What does bitty mean?

SoupDragon · 06/08/2011 13:37

FGS. Don't any of you who are bleating on about "insulting FFs" know what parody means?

In about 1.5 hours there were 5 offensive posts about extended bf-ing out of 30 total posts. Then someone parodies one of the offensive comments and people suddenly get up in arms about that one post. Seriously get a grip.

Yes, of course anyone can click on a thread whether they breast fed, formula fed or fed on the tears of angels. If you have something helpful to say, great. However, if all you have to say is shitty little sarcastic or offensive comments then butt out.

No one actually cares whether you find the idea of a two year old breastfeeding disgusting or uncomfortable so keep that to yourselves when on a thread about someone who is doing just that and wants some support with one aspect of it.

bonkers20 · 06/08/2011 13:51

Bitty comes from a Little Britain sketch where a grown up son would ask his mother for "bitty" and she would oblige by BF him.

hairfullofsnakes · 06/08/2011 13:57

Well said soupdragon!

hairfullofsnakes · 06/08/2011 14:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

MissyMoo321 · 06/08/2011 14:23

This reply has been deleted

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RedHotPokers · 06/08/2011 14:24

flyingspaghettimonster Sat 06-Aug-11 11:04:36
''at almost 2 he was feeding 30-40 times a day''

Good grief - do you really mean 30 -40 or did you mean 3-4??

pigletmania · 06/08/2011 14:27

The op came on here to seek advice about stopping bf as she felt it was the right time, she did not ask for a whole bf vs ff debate. At the end of the day its up to HER, not what you feel that she should do. So please only offer advice that will be helpful to her not a slanging match.

pigletmania · 06/08/2011 14:29

Really I would have posted on the bf/ff thread as its more helpful

spiderpig8 · 06/08/2011 15:17

You have to go cold turkey ie stop at night too,and be strong.
A grown woman can restrain a 2 yr old without going for plastered up nipples.

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 06/08/2011 15:42

Hello. We're going to move this thread to Breast and bottle feeding topic now, as that's where it really should be.

ShowOfHands · 06/08/2011 15:53

Who is looking particularly beautiful today btw.

bonnieslilsister · 06/08/2011 16:40

I breastfed my children for years until oldest was nearly at school and we all used to laugh at "biddy" It is funny the thought of a grown man feeding. I would think women who bf until later would appreciate that after seeing the child's long body stretched out guzzling away. I know the biddy comments were not helpful but where is everyones sense of humour??

bonnieslilsister · 06/08/2011 16:41

bitty?

Mishy1234 · 06/08/2011 18:10

bonnieslilsister - I suppose it could be seen as amusing, but the fact is that it's used in a derogatory way towards extended bf. It implies that bf an older child is somehow disgusting, when in fact it's completely normal (as you obviously appreciate having done it yourself).

This whole thread has taken a very unfortunate turn, mostly due to some pretty awful comments by one particular poster during the first couple of pages. OP came on here for advice and instead has had her thread taken over by a complete load of bollocks.

OP, if you can please pick through all the crap and extract some of the really good advice given here. I do hope you get things sorted soon, if you stop or continue under more manageable terms.