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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Stopping breastfeeding cold turkey. Will it work? Did you?

27 replies

MrCabDriver · 04/03/2014 21:35

DD was 2 last week.

I'm so ready to stop now!

Have tried cutting down along the last 2 months but I always give in to her.

Today I picked her up from the childminders...came home did dinner etc and kept distracting her...bathed her then put her to bed. I said no "all gone" etc ... she cried loudly for about 2 minutes then stopped and took the bottle of milk (cows) I'd given her.... then fell asleep!!!!
This was amazing.

Was it a fluke night? Could she be ready too, for defeating so quickly?

I'd like to go cold turkey instead of cutting down to be honest...how can I prevent mastitis??

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 04/03/2014 21:39

I stopped feeding both my older dc on the same day. I just reached a cut off point. DS didn't notice, but DD was not impressed and we had a few temper tantrums but it passed after a couple of days.

I think you are supposed to try not to express, but I got sore so I hand expressed a bit in the bath. I think I took neurofen? How often are you feeding at the moment?

Smartiepants79 · 04/03/2014 21:41

I know it will work, if you stay strong and stick with it.
She may well ask again tomorrow and the next day and the next but if its what you want ...you can't give in.
Mine gave up at around 14months. We went cold turkey but we were only on 2 feeds a day and they had never been fed it sleep. It was my choice but neither of mine even noticed!
I got quite engorged but it eased after a couple of days. It may depend on how much she has been feeding.

NachoAddict · 04/03/2014 21:41

Ds is 19 months and it seems never ending. I tried cutting down but he didn't agree.

Good luck, please keep updating.

Smartiepants79 · 04/03/2014 21:42

I would express a little bit if it gets bad. It will probably mean it takes longer for the milk to stop coming but might be more comfy.

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 04/03/2014 21:47

We feed a lot more than twice a day!

I would say twice in the daytime (afternoon onwards)...1 before bed...and at least 2 in the night.

So roughly at least 5 times in any full day/night.

I think I will definitely stick to it. I've got this urge of strength this evening!!

I have tried a few times but like you Nacho she was never impressed and I kept giving in...tonight she just gave in really quickly! I'm hoping that she's remembering mummy seems to be saying no more often now!!
2 minutes of crying is nothing, trust me lol, she's thrown some killer tantrums for being refused before!

I've always fed to bed, I just lay next to her tonight. (that will be out next challenge, 1 step at a time).

I think the next hard bit will be refusing in the night, I've got her water beaker there ready.

I will definitely update.....

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 04/03/2014 21:50

good luck

I sent DH in with a cup of milk.

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 04/03/2014 21:52

Just me and her unfortunately!

I was going to ask my sister to come and stay for a few days, but I will go for it tonight......

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 04/03/2014 21:56

hang on in there - I am feeding a five month old baby atm and I am really looking forward to stopping. I don't think this one will get fed until they can ask for it, poor baby Grin

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 04/03/2014 21:58

Good luck. It's never worked for me, but that's because I'm a total wimp.

Sending you strength tonight!

HumphreyCobbler · 04/03/2014 22:01

I remember the moment I decided to stop last time. I had been feeding continuously for three and a half years, I tandem fed throughout my second pg and carried on feeding both. I had an epiphany at a garden party when I suddenly felt absolutely sure it was time to stop.

Don't get me wrong, it was great to do it. But also nice to stop.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 04/03/2014 22:03

I was only feeding once a day and went cold turkey about three weeks ago. First week was fine, second week dd was ridiculously clingy (including being awake at all hours). Now I'm back to feeding again...

(Dd is 19mo, btw).

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 04/03/2014 22:07

That's exactly it Humphrey ....I've just had enough. 2 years is enough!

Oh dear pasbeau :-(

Does it bother you or are you happy to go on for a bit more?

OP posts:
Original poster
MrCabDriver · 04/03/2014 23:25

Okay we had first wake up about 10:50pm.

Refused breast!
Whole process of getting her back to sleep took about 15 minutes, just over.

She cried for about 15 seconds, laid down and tried to go to sleep rolling around. Sat up crying again and lashed out at me!
Drunk some more of her water then picked up the empty bottle and asked for milk, I filled it up with some more cows milk, she cuddled the bottle then fell back asleep!

So far, so good.

OP posts:
ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 04/03/2014 23:32

Well done. Stay strong x

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 04/03/2014 23:46

Second waking. Tried to climb out of bed holding bottle of milk still.
I put her back into bed, she was half asleep. Didn't look for boob but whinged for about 10 seconds.

Straight back to sleep!

....still cuddling the bottle of milk Hmm

OP posts:
Paintyfingers · 04/03/2014 23:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 05/03/2014 13:45

Third waking was at 5 am.... I fed her Confused I was half asleep and we Co sleep!

She tried again at 6.30, I said no and she didn't mind just went back to sleep for a bit.

Picked her up from childminders, put her down for a nap, refused but she kicked up the biggest fuss! much more than in the night.

No painty I wouldn't do it if she was too distressed - I tried before and she was very distressed so I didn't continue. she's taking it all much better so far

OP posts:
NachoAddict · 05/03/2014 18:23

Sounds like

NachoAddict · 05/03/2014 18:25

Sounds like it is going well MrCab
I am really impressed with her settling so easy at night.

Good luck for night two!

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 05/03/2014 20:46

Hello!

Fell asleep on the sofa at 6 (long day).
Woke up after 7 and I took her to bed....threw a bit of a tantrum but didn't look for boob!
Fell asleep happily.

Woke up At 8:30, I went in there and she cried and asked for her water! She drunk it then lied back down to sleep....then within half a minute sat up tantrumming Confused
She hasn't looked for the boob at all...I'm guessing she's angry because I'm not offering it!
It's a moody/angry whinge ...With no tears!
But she's not even looking or trying to get the boob which is good!

She sat looking aimlessly for about 2 minutes then laid back in my arms and is now asleep.

This is going better than I thought :-)
(Jinx)

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 05/03/2014 22:19

Sounds like she will be fine if you keep it up.
She is doing great.

Original poster
MrCabDriver · 05/03/2014 22:20

She just woke up again, asked me for her water, drunk some and went back to sleep!

I'm so impressed :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
MrCabDriver · 06/03/2014 07:02

She woke up at 12 briefly when I got into bed but just went back to sleep.

Woke up again at 2 and just drunk her water. She lay awake for a little while.

Cuddles in to me but isn't even trying to get boob! (Always been a very frequent waker)

Woke up happy at 6:30 :-)

There's hope for you all!

OP posts:
MAC2402 · 06/03/2014 13:29

Hey everyone,

My DD turned one last week and I'm so ready to stop breast feeding...I've just had enough now! Problem I'm having is she has always been fed to sleep (unless in car or buggy) and I've no idea how to even begin with this. Anyone any tips?? Should I teach to self settle first and then stop? I don't see how I can stop otherwise, I maybe wrong?
All help gratefully received x

wokeupwithasmile · 06/03/2014 14:10

MrCabDriver could I ask please, how are your breasts? I am planning to stop in a couple of weeks while away from ds for one week and have now got the feeds down to 1-2 per day. However, I am worried about my body's reaction to the stopping. How are you?

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