I want to continue co-sleeping but give up breastfeeding ~ HOW?

[BenRoo]

My DS has just turned 2yo.
We have had a wonderfully trying time of breastfeeding
And now I am ready to give it up, 2yo is my final deadline. (I have had several)
BUT i don't want to give up co-sleeping! I love him snuggling up to me and luckily so does DH.
What currently happens is this:
DS wakes up anywhere between 12-3am (on a good night) and comes into our bed. He wips out my boob and suckles a couple of times until waking. Unfortunately this can sometimes mean a tug of war/kick in the ribs/pull of my hair/wailing out loudly if i subconciously try to stop him.
Nighttime harmony is no more!

So my question is....how do i stop breastfeeding but continue to co-sleep?
Has anyone accomplished this and have they got any tips on how i should approach it?

Offer sippy cup of water and usual cuddles. Wear a highnecked swimming costume plus polo neck.

Be prepared that he might not be ready to give up that easily!

The boobs need to be completely un-accessible! Wear something that he cannot get into at all.

Maybe switch sides with OH? So when baby goes to get in, dad is there instead, who may be able to settle him with a cup of water and a cuddle?

Ooo good idea about DHs side! Digging out my swimsuits as I type.

I did this. I just made sure I wore a full bra with no access to bed and had to remember to take up the sippy cup when I went to bed.

If I remember right it only took 2 or 3 nights before they stopped asking.
Did it twice once with a 2 year old and once with a 14 monther.

Nice to hear it was successful for you missnevermind
I hope it is me too.
1st night last night. He came in at 1.30, sussed out I was on DHs side straight away and climbed in with me. I offered sippy cup of water. After a little bit of tossing and turning he cuddled upto DH and didn't bother me much other than wanting to 'hold it's (my nipple), something I softly tried to discourage!
He hasn't asked for any this morning and usually doesn't until 'middle of the night', so were almost into 48hrs without a feed
Now....how do I sort out my rock boobies?!?!

Glad the co-sleeping suggestions seem to be working out for you! In regard to rock boobies, you could try hand expressing a little, just to ease the pressure.

Certain foods, such as sage, foods containing aspartame (artificial sweetener), caffiene and chocolate are all anti-lactogenic (inhibit milk supply) and its worth thinking about eating some or all of them if you want your supply to drop - brilliant excuse to eat chocolate too!

Express a little to relieve pressure on your porn-star boobies. Just enough to make you comfortable though, about 1 oz a side.

I have successfully night-weaned DD1 (finally, at 4yo ) and she still sleeps with us. I just keep a bottle of water handy and be ready for cuddles. It's take a few nights but it was pretty painless. If you set down rules and stick to them then it shouldn't take too long. I said no milk until morning and stuck to it apart from once when she was really upset. You be the judge of whether or no you need to break the rules on occasion.

Spoonpaws, I've heard of sage but never heard of caffeine, aspartame or chocolate (god knows I eat enough of that!) affecting milk supply- have you got any links to back it up?

I was in exactly the same situation as you a year ago, - DS turned 2 and I reached burnout - and we managed it - we're still co-sleeping. Weaning was so much easier than I expected it to be. He was such a boob monster! I actually think it was much harder emotionally for me than him.

It sounds like you're already over the hump. The first two days were the hardest for us. We managed it by me sleeping in the spare room for a few nights. (We live in a hot country so there was no way I was sleeping in clothes). He'd wake and cry for me a little bit but DH was able to console him. We also started giving him 'hot honey milk' in the mornings, and it's still his first demand of the day. Warm, sweet milk is very comforting!

For about a full week I avoided any situation which would suggest a feed. When we'd come back in from somewhere, I made sure I didn't flop on the sofa as I knew he'd be all over me.

My milk supply took about a week to go down. I found warm showers really helped. Also, ibuprofin when they got really sore.

I made sure he didn't see my naked boobs for about 2 weeks.

He still loves my boobs and will hold them at night sometimes - normally when he's had some sort of change in his little life. The twisting and incessant holding stopped at the same time as he weaned, thank god! Now it's more of a cuddle, then he'll roll over when he's comforted enough. I'm fine with it - I'm pretty sure he won't be doing it when he's 12. He might even be sleeping in his own bed all night by then!

DS is now in his own cot next to the bed but we managed to continue to co-sleep after night-weaning (I'd have continued to co-sleep but DC2 was due and our bed isn't big enough for 4!) - I used Dr Jay Gordon's night-weaning advice here I thoroughly recommend it. Good luck!

My bed isn't big enough for 4 either but somehow they manage to squeeze in most nights.

We did it the other night when DS was screeching - DD and I were fine but DH was squashed against the chest of drawers and every time DS rolled over he cried out because there wasn't enough space and poor DH got punched in the face. I think we'll wait until both children are a bit older to try that again :)

Pornstar boobies.... Pmsll!!
I heard today that I'll probably be more randy during all this as my hormones will be all over the place again did they ever settle
I am actually feeling very positive and clever for even gettin this far and take my hat off to anyone that has gone on further than me. = emotional hormone surge??
I found a video from about a year ago of my DS giggling whilst on the boob, total tear jerking moment but I'm so glad I've got it for memories.
Typically,my DS has had a high temp and has got a chesty cough today,is it just me or does this always happen when your trying something new/trying to change something???
I usually pop him on the boob if he's terribly poorly
I'm off to munch some chocolate medicinally...of course.

P.s my DH always gets kicked or punched in the face in bed.
Serves him right for 'sleeping through' so often

Update:
My DS slept 7.30-6.30!!!
I slept erratically...naturally. and woke several times between 4 & 6.30 wondering whether to check him.
He came through to us with a high temp and awful bubbly cough but still only asking to 'hold it'. bless him!
No nursery today off to the doctors for us.
Will see what tonight brings....

Yay!! That sounds like the start of things to come. The first night my LO slept through 7pm-7am, I woke about 8 times and when I did sleep, it was with one ear open.

I hope he's feeling better today, and you get some more sleep tonight!

Fingers crossed for tonight.
Although doc says its a chest infection