How do I stop bf or convince me that I should carry on!

[BeachedWhale]

DD is 17 mths and still bf. She won't drink cows or formula milk. I have loved bf her but I am now really tired and I feel drained (literally!) and I feel that it is the right time to stop for me. She has a good feed first thing in the morning but I feel that the rest of the day it is more of a comfort thing than a nutritional need. I'm getting stressed when we go out and she constantly tugs at my top, sucks for about 5 seconds then leaves me with my boobs on show to all and sundry! All tips on weaning her gratefully received. I want to do what's best for her but I'm fed up now!

Hi Beached! Sounds like you might be happy feeding her in the morning, but not so much during the day? The only ideas I have for dropping those feeds are to have loads of ammunition in the form of snacks, e.g. rice cakes, oatcakes, bread, fruit, pieces of cheese, dried fruit etc. and see if your dd will take those instead of milk?

I fed my first dd till she was 2, but for the last 6-8 months it was only twice a day, morning and evening. She never asked when we were out and about and I felt totally happy with the setup. She then weaned of her own accord just as I got pregnant with my second dd. Dd2 is now 14 months and feeding 2-3 times a day. On the cows milk front - it's taken her a while (a couple of months) to show any interest but she does now take a cup of milk when at the childminders. So maybe keep offering cows milk and your dd may get interested.

Oh by the way, if you're after motivation to carry on it's very, very healthy for you - your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis all drop for every additional year that you breastfeed. Not to mention the breastmilk is still good for your little girl.

Not seeking to persuade you either way - I think women should feed for as long or as short as they're happy to.

Thanks Pidge. It is good to hear that they do eventually wean themselves off! I had hoped she would be losing interest by now. I will try the distraction technique. I just didn't want to go cold turkey with her. The morning feed is ok but it is the screeching and tugging at my top if she doesn't get her own way in public that is getting me down. Will give it a while longer then