Tips on how to stop 15 month baby from breastfeeding

[Ducky5867]

For various reasons I will stop breastfeeding my Dd in a couple of weeks. Decision made and happy with it, but Dd won't be.

She currently feeds first thing in morning, bedtime and whenever she wakes in the night - on average twice a night.

Dd happily takes cows milk from cup ( but prefers breast milk), DH will be the one putting Dd to bed and seeing to her at night until my milk dries up and she can't smell it anymore. Her night feeds are long up to an hour at a time.

Although I know it's the right thing to do to stop, I also know Dd will be crying for milk etc (which makes me feel terrible) so any tips to make this change smoother for her so she is less upset?

Also when she wakes at night should DH offer her cows milk or just water? Trying to stop her night waking at same time!

Thanks

well done for breastfeeding until now

I had to stop bf my DD very suddenly when she was 16 months, as I was hospitalised (my DS was threatening to arrive prematurely!)

so it was very much cold turkey for her, with me not even in the house for two weeks...DH stepped up and when I got out of hospital, she was sleeping through and not asking for milk etc.

of course, I am not advocating that you take a two week holiday (unless you want to!), but just to say that it will really depend on your DH taking over for a week or so at night. Your milk will not actually completely dry up (it can take months...) but your DD will stop associating you with night-time and hopefully, make the transition to sleeping through smoothly.

Good luck

Watching with interest as I'm hoping to do something similar...

Hello, I've recently night-weaned my 15mo ds, it took 2 or 3 nights for him to accept it, and about 3 weeks for him to start sleeping through. I just offer water and a cuddle/rock/back strokes.

The morning feed I stopped with my dd using a special new cup with dilute juice around this age. Just make sure it's already there when she gets up.

Bedtime feeds are more difficult ime, it depends how much of a part of the routine it is. I think you (or rather dh!) Will need to be tough and offer cow's milk. Perhapsyou could be out of the house at bedtime for a few nights?

Good luck

Get your DH to offer water at night. So that in the first week. Then second week, drop the morning feed by distraction (get her straight up - don't go anywhere near your usual feeding place). Bedtime feeds might take longer - usually the last to go. I dropped those by introducing milk before the bf and over time I tried skipping the bf then one day ds trotted into his bed without asking.

Many thanks all - most helpful. I am not home the first night I stop feeding her - which is planned on purpose - so that should help.

Tante - I like the idea of a two week holiday - but no such luck ! :)