How to wean unwilling nursling ?

[OhDearNigel]

DD is 2.5 and I always intended to do natural term breastfeeding with her. But I cannot go on. On my days off she badgers for boobie all the time, she feeds for ages before she goes to bed, she refuses to go to sleep for me so (I am sure of it !) she can get more boobie in. She wakes in the night wanting boobie and will feed for half an hour, then wakes up at 5ish when she commences feeding for at least another hour. This necessitates multiple changes of side which is a pain in the bum.

It's fair to say that her obsession with boobie is driving me absolutely crazy. I had imagined that by this age she would have dropped to maybe one feed in the early morning and a bedtime feed. I spend two nights a week away from home working and on those nights she goes to sleep for DH like a dream and sleeps in her own bedroom until he wakes her up about 7:15am.

I really, really want to wean her for my own sanity/sleep but I cannot do it to her because I know how much it will distress her. Is there any kind way of doing it or am I just going to have to roll with it and hope that this stage, too, shall pass ?

You could try putting limits on her feeding if you are finding it overwhelming. Offering drinks or snakes instead, another method could be to keep a busy as possible on your days with her so she doesn't have the opportunity as often. Could your DH do all nights for a while if possible to give you a break?

Breastfeeding can be as changing a any other aspect of parenting at times. But it does pass and you are still giving lots of great comfort and boosting her immune system.

I would call it a day tbh, you have done her and her immune system the world of good but there is no way I would cope with what you have described, that would drive me round the twist!!!

My guess is you will have to first cut down, put some firm limits on how long she can feed for, decide on when you are comfortable with feeding her ie maybe first thing in the morning and last thing at night and stick to it. Then gradually decrease and eventually stop. Distraction will be your saviour!! She will have tantrums but if it saves your sanity well worth it!!! Good luck