So how the heck do I stop breastfeeding?

[Woodlands]

DS is about to turn two and it feels like time to stop. My DH really wants me to stop too. DS isn't as much of a milk monster as many toddlers - he has feeds first thing in the morning, at bedtime and sometimes one in the day too if he wakes up cranky from his nap, or if he hurts himself or whatever. Normally he's OKish at bedtime and first thing if I'm not there (though I've never actually left him overnight), though when I was out last night apparently he whinged for me for over an hour before settling down to sleep.

I just don't quite know how to stop. I guess I should cut out one feed at a time. We've recently cut the pre-nap feed (he'll now only nap in the pushchair or car). So maybe the morning feed should go next. However I just know if I'm around he'll cry and whinge and tantrum for milk, and it will be nigh on impossible to get out of the house on time. Plus we like snuggling up in bed in the mornings and not having to jump straight up. Maybe we could replace BFing with a cup of milk in our bed with CBeebies on the TV.

However I suspect I'll really just have to stop altogether - he won't like being able to feed sometimes but not others. It just scares me a bit! Plus we are going on holiday in a couple of weeks. I had planned to stop before we went, but I think I should probably wait until after that now so he's not too unsettled about being away from home.

Sorry this has got long! Any advice?

watching with interest. I can't figure out how to get DD to stop and she just seems to feed every few minutes. I hurt now because she feeds so much. Worse than having a newborn!

Welldone for breastfeeding until 2 years old. You given your ds a brilliant start in life. I fed ds until 33 months and dd until 22 months.

Its not unknown for toddlers to wean while they are on holiday as there are so many lovely things to do.

Dropping the greeds gradually is better for you and your lo. With my children I limited breastfeeding to before nap times and on waking in the morning after 18 months.

As far as the tantrums about demanding breastfeeding you just have to be strong and let him scream. Its no different to refusing to give a toddler a biscuit.

I took a don't offer don't refuse approach. I found it helped to look at the routine. Ie. if you sit in a particular chair after lunch and your child is used to having a feed in that chair then you might have to go out to the park instead.

Its as hard for the mother as your child as you have find different ways of connecting to your child. Ie. you hug them when they are hurt, you read a story when they are bored and its hard that sometimes you just have to get up for breakfast in the morning.

Thanks. I have been kind of trying to do don't offer, don't refuse but it's hard as he just always has those bedtime and morning feeds. I guess if I change the routine a bit then he might still ask, but there's a chance he won't.

I guess it's true that it's no different to refusing a biscuit! That's a helpful way to look at it.

I'd drop one feed at a time. For me the morning one was the last to go. But I would cut out the daytime ones and replace with some other source of comfort/distraction, then take out either the morning or evening one, then the other one. And put something in its place (e.g. special story at night, video etc) so it's a change in the routine rather than something just being lost IYSWIM. Cutting down gradually should be better for you too.