Would really like to stop breastfeeding 14 month old

[theyoniwayisnorthwards]

I've had enough, DS2 is 14 months, still feeds all day and night and now he's biting me and it hurts. He wakes up at least twice a night and will not go back to sleep without my boob and wakes whenever I move away. He's never taken a dummy or bottle and I use the breast to get him to sleep and to
comfort. How do I stop while causing him the minimum amount of stress? I am exhausted and it's affecting my 3 year old and my work.

Anyone? All advice gratefully received!

I night weaned at about 15 months to try and improve sleep. It wasn't a horrendous as I thought it was going to be. She didn't like it at first but it only took her a couple of nights to work out what was going on. I got DH and DM to help initially, then when I went in, I didn't lift her out of the cot, just hugged her over the top of the bars, and offered water in case she was thirsty. Sometimes she had a drink; sometimes she didn't. Often she just laid down again when I went in and did 'shush-pat' til she went over again. She didn't actually sleep through consistently til 17 months.

I night weaned at 11 months, then just gradually dropped feeds in the day (offered food when he asked for boob), until there was just morning/night. My supply gradually went on its own then, and once he wasn't getting much, he gave up really. I cut out the night-time one easily once he needed cow's milk on top of what he got from me, then distracted him for the breakfast one. It feels good now.

My DS drinks from an open cup, or a cup with a straw, or a freeflow sippy cup. He never took a bottle or dummy either. The first night of night weaning was horrible. I did it while I wasn't working for a bit (school hols), and just picked him up and cuddled him when he woke up asking for milk. He screamed and screamed, real angry screaming, but I didn't give in and after what felt like an eternity, he fell asleep in my arms. The next waking there was less screaming, then less and less. In a week, he wasn't waking at all. You can't give in though - tank up on cow's milk/yoghurt before bed so not hungry at all, then offer NOTHING on waking, just cuddles, love and reassurance.