How do I STOP breastfeeding my 12 month old?

[OPeaches]

DD will be 1 in a week. She's currently BF at 5:30 (when I get in from work), 7pm, when she wakes at 2am and when she gets up for teh day at 5:30 a.m. (little ratbag).

When she wants fed she points at my chest and says 'that, that' (or, her baby version of 'that' anyway). If I refuse and try to soothe her or distract her in any other way she becomes increasingly upset until I give in and feed her.

I've got to the point where I just want to stop breastfeeding. I'm not even sure why, I just feel it's time to stop. Is there a trauma-free way to stop or do we have to go through the upset and crying? I'm no good at any kind of cry-it-out, I just can't do it.

I got mean, I was pregnant with twins and couldn't continue to BF. Alternatives were offered and that was that.

I would continue the distractions and keep persisting and good luck.

Thanks. I'm a push-over though, I'll be feeding her forever if I don't toughen up.

O'Peaches, I'm the same. Considering stopping bf my 18 month old and dreading it because I know he loves it but I can't do crying baba either...

Good luck!

try to skip a couple of the feeds first, maybe cut it down to just the morning and last thing before bed for a while before you stop altogether.

just say quite clearly thats its all gone when she asks at other times and offer an alternative; water, cow milk, formula whatever you think is best (i just went with water).

do you have a partner that can go to her in the night when she wakes and offer water/cow milk and cuddles? if she can smell the breastmilk on you then she will want it, but another person might get a less upset reaction...

its not easy to stop! my DS was 20 months when we finally stopped and my DD 15 months, they both just accepted the all gone reason (as my supply was very small by then anyway due to cutting down gradually to just a night time feed) and after about a week no longer asked for it.

Good luck!