If you breastfed into toddlerhood...

[DressingGownQueen]

When did you stop and why?

DS stopped naturally at the age of 2 when I became pregnant again. This may be a bit of a drastic way to stop for some people!

stopped at 18m because I couldn't cope with full time work and 3-5 night feeds anymore.

23mo - it was already down to night-time feeds only by then (had been from about 20mo) and it was just starting to feel slightly uncomfortable for me because DS was pulling a bit more - he stopped pretty easily over 3 nights (asked 3x the first night, 2x the next and only once the last night and then never again) so I think it was a mutual decision really!

DS self weaned at 2.3, giving up night feeds last (!). DD looks like going the same way tbh.

Thanks all I am just trying to work out of my reasons (can't sit down without my top being pulled at, can't sleep without dd biting and pulling on my nipple, still feeding 3/4 times a night, can't stay at her dads overnight) are 'valid' enough to stop.

I always thought that having got this far I would let her self wean but I want to sleep in peace!

TBH, if you've had enough of it, then try and get her off it. A friend of mine has just weaned her 2.3yo - he still asks for "boo" but she had absolutely had enough of it - she is much better now she is getting more sleep in the night (she was starting to be really run down). Start with stopping in the daytime, then the night feeds, then the last one (for me) was the bedtime one.

DS had his last feed on his 2nd birthday. He'd only been on one quick feed (first thing) for a while. Some days if I was out early he wouldn't have any and not be remotely bothered by it.

The day after I just said "big boy now, no mummy milk" and he just shrugged and went to play, and hasn't asked since. So it was my choice but he wasn't bothered (if he had been I would've continued) - it seems like it was the right time.

We still have our morning snuggles in bed :)

Thanks thumb She has already pretty much stopped during the day (is nearly 22 months) so it is just night time we have to contend with really. She still feeds to sleep though, that may be difficult..

stopped 2 months ago at 2.5. We were down to one feed and tbh I just wanted my body back. Dd was fine about it but will look at them whistfully when I am dressing.

DGQ - yes, DS did, that was the one that bothered me - but he was actually pretty much ready to stop. As I said, it just felt uncomfortable, almost irritable, iykwim - from his POV as well as mine. Do you co-sleep with her as well? I did and so it went from feed-to-sleep to cuddle-to-sleep without much drama.
(Mind you, you'd be well advised to NOT get into that routine - my DS still won't self-settle - rod-for-own-back situation, no good if your DD has to go elsewhere overnight. :()

Ds cut down gradually until he only had one before his nap. That stopped along with his nap at a bit over two. Easy.

Dd was still feeding about 8 times a day at two and I had to stop for my own health reasons. I went cold turkey. It was very stressful (although not quite as bad as I expected) and painful but I managed it. Although, a year later if she sees my breasts bare she will still ask if she can 'drink like a baby'.

Thumb - yes I co sleep too. More through neccesity than anything because the room that should be her room is damp. Her dad would co sleep with her too and would happily cuddle, rock and pat her to sleep but I would rather try to avoid it thanks for the advice

Had to stop DS at 23 months as it suddenly became painful. Then realized I was pregnant with DD! It was great because he then started to sleep through and I managed to get some sleep for 8 months till she arrived. She's now 16 months and wakes up 1-2x a night. Both children I went back to work at 6 months. V knackering.

With DS I was getting ill every week and lost so much weight I was looking bad.

With DS it took a few nights but less traumatic than I thought it'd be. Kept saying 'no you're a big boy now'. He had a dummy though so we kept that going till he was three and gave that up naturally.

My dd was 16 months and I was only feeding during the night but it was getting to the point that I felt it was time to stop. I then had to go cold turkey due to a family crisis. I was absolutely beside myself with exhaustion after a couple of days of dealing with the aftermath. Dh insisted I needed a good nights sleep, I felt sad and guilty but knew it was the right thing to do for my own health. I went to bed, put ear plugs in and slept for 12 hours. Dh slept with her in another room and said she really did not make much of a fuss, I think because I wasn't there. Dh did the same for a couple of nights and it just broke the cycle. She did pat my boobs a couple of times during the day and I just said mummy's milk has gone now and distracted her.
Could your dd stay with your dh overnight. Just to help you break the cycle?

Oh just remembered something else that might help - my friend told her DS that her "boos were broken" and couldn't be mended - if you have troubles persuading your DD, that might help (obviously using your own word for your boobs/milk) :)

Quick - that is a good idea I don't have a dh but maybe I could get my mum or something to come and help out for a few days. Or I could pack her of to her dads for a night and see how it goes

Thumb that is a good idea too. I am not sure dd would grasp the concept of it yet but it is something to bear in mind.

I would love to let her self wean but I am just exhausted. I am a full time student as well so I am really starting to suffer with the very broken sleep

Oh I do feel for you, I can remember that feeling of not being able to focus properly on anything because you are so tired.

I think asking your Mum is a good idea, I hope you get something sorted soon.

Even if you can't bf her at night, you don't have to give up bfing her at other times (if you don't want to stop bfing totally that is).

Kellymom.com has some good info on how to night wean here.

I night weaned DD1 at 12m (so I could get pg - little did I know that I already was!) and she carried on bfing until she self weaned at 3.6y.

Last feed day before his second birthday. I was just 12 weeks pregnant with dc2 (due in June) and he had sort of self-weaned a good bit, I just decided 12 weeks would be a cut off as a) I was finding it really hard going and sore in the context of a stressful pregnancy, threatened miscarriage several times through first trimester etc and b) I don't want to tandem feed and wanted to put some time between giving up and new baby beginning bfing. He asked a few times over the next few weeks, but not very urgenty... sort of absent-mindedly, and I just told him he was a big boy and it was for babies and he seemed happy enough with it. I do miss it though... and he will feel me up sometimes and comment on it etc.

ds1 self-weaned at 15m when I was 3m pregnant with ds2.
ds2 was weaned at 24m when I felt that I'd had enough
dd still going at 15m, will continue until 24m I think.

I can't remember exactly when I night weaned but for me it was either that or end up stopping BF altogether as I was exhausted. I'm glad I did, as we carried on with our snuggly morning feed for quite a while and we enjoyed it so much more after a good night's sleep :)

I stopped a couple of weeks ago, ds is 16m. I had been thinking of stopping around then anyway, and a bout of sinusitis and going back on anti-depressants made me realise it was the right time. I do miss it though :)