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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

How did you get your toddler to stop bfing?

13 replies

dinny · 31/01/2006 21:56

is there an any easy way? don't want ds to be upset but I would really really like him to stop now...well, maybe a morning/evening feed instead of snacking all day.

is the feeding-in-one-place-only a good one?

OP posts:

nulnulcat · 31/01/2006 22:05

i just stopped she was nearly six months it was difficult as she didnt take to bottles very well and if i tried to feed her she would refuse and then cry i would leak she would smell milk and it made it worse in the end i just got partner/ other people to give her the bottle she had dropped night feeds it took a couple of weeks but i think hunger won in the end, she was also on solids by then so not that many feeds to drop

Original poster

dinny · 31/01/2006 22:10

Nulnulcat, sounds so stressful for you and dd. were you going back to work?

ds is older, so am hoping it won't be as traumatic.

OP posts:

nulnulcat · 31/01/2006 22:22

was going back to work but the decision to stop was more to do with i was fed up with the size of my chest! wanted to go back to the old me it was a bit stressful at first and i was tempted to just feed her myself but in the end she was more content on bottles she had a good appetite and it was getting to a point i couldnt keep up! most o f my friends just made the decision to stop and did it i just thought if i kept one feed it would be to confusing for her she kicked the bottle habit at 10 months with a lot less stress

hunkermunker · 31/01/2006 23:58

Dinny, have you read the La Leche League book about weaning from bfeeding - cannot for the life of me remember what it's called... I have it - I'll try to remember to bring it with me when I come into work and you can borrow it.

Hattie05 · 01/02/2006 00:04

How old is your lo dinny?

My dd did this. From sort of 8mths on, she just had a two feeds a day, but then at some point prob about 15mths ish she started trying to feed at every opportunity and all through the night - she slept in our bed.
I very gradually managed to wean her off by avoiding close cuddles, avoiding the usual places and times that she fed. And talked to her about it, whenever she did feed i'd say you're a grown up girl now and don't need that. Eventually she got the message, and it became a bit of a game, she'd go to feed and i'd laugh and say you don't need that (in a nice way) and she'd find that funny enough to distract her away from it. By the time she was two i think it was a case of feeds had got so infrequent that my milk dried up, so she had no choice.
She wasn't bothered at all and certainly helped get better night sleeps for us all!

ScummyMummy · 01/02/2006 00:13

How often does he feed atm or is it on demand? I think cutting one feed every two days until you're down to morning/evening/none might work. You could concentrate on distracting him/playing/giving him other drink and food as you cut down.

If you don't have a fixed routine I'd start by writing down each time you feed him tomorrow.

Then resolve not to feed him more times than this.

Then establish set(ish) times for each feed, especially his 1st morning and last evening feeds.

Then start to cut out feeds beginning with the one after the 1st morning feed.

I'd also invest in a snazzy beaker if he hasn't got a good one already- get him to help choose if possible- and give him that to drink out of as you cut breastfeeds.

Do you think some plan like that could work? The other option is cold turkey but that might be physically and/or emotionally harder for you both, depending on his current feeding patterns. Good luck, dinny.

sazhig · 01/02/2006 00:22

"How weaning happens" from LLL is supposed to very good.

hunkermunker · 01/02/2006 00:26

That's the book I meant! Thanks!

Original poster

dinny · 01/02/2006 19:39

oh, thanks everyone. I have a feeling I may have started a thread about this before - can't remember (doh)

ds is 17 months nearly and feeds on demand all day and loads at night. he's such an addict - starts laughing and clapping with delight just before he suctions his mouth on.
I just feel worn out atm and still so kind of post-natal...

OP posts:

ScummyMummy · 01/02/2006 19:49

Oh sweetie. Have you any spare dosh? Aloha posted about a baby trainer on this thread. Sounded like she worked wonders. Might be worth investigating if things are getting tough? If not, maybe have a chat with your HV or GP?

Original poster

dinny · 01/02/2006 19:52

ah, was wondering about how Aloha got on re baby sleeping!

lol re HV - just started thread about my new one! will see what she's like.....

OP posts:

ScummyMummy · 01/02/2006 19:57

Why don't you do a shout out for aloha and see if you can nick her baby trainer? Maybe she does discounts for recommended patrons?!

NotQuiteCockney · 01/02/2006 20:02

I like the "feeding in one place only" scheme. DS2 started being a mad snacker at about a year, complete with funny bf positions, and rather annoying behaviour. I didn't like saying "no" all the time, but I also didn't like having my top pulled up all the time. So I stopped feeding in public.

He feeds first thing in the morning, before his nap, sometimes after his nap, and last thing at night. DH can put him down for his nap with no problem, so he'd probably go down ok at night, too.

You can carry on for ages with just occassional feeds this way, at least in my experience.

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