Advice on stopping breastfeeding

[ForkieForkie]

Have BF DS2 for a year now. Its been lovely but I need to stop. I am soooo... tired.

Any advice on how to manage the transition would be really welcome. Currently feeds in the morning, once in the afternoon and then at bedtime (plus once, twice, half the bloody night!). Often he will be too distracted to drink much or at all during the day.

He feeds to get to sleep and wakes up often several times a night. I would like to make this as easy for him as possible. Its going to be a big change but I would really like DH to be able to share the settling him during the night.

He has never had a bottle, refused. But can happily drink water so presumably could drink milk from a cup (though has refused so far).

I am also low on iron and calcium so I'm guessing my milk might not be that great anyway.

So how do I make is simple. Do I just stop feeding him maybe during the night for a week? Then stop the bedtime feed for a week before stopping day feeds? He is likely to unimpressed poor love. Is this too drastic? Also if he gets plenty of dairy does he need much milk?

I was in slightly different situation in that went back to work so had stopped feeding when I was working (expressed once a day for few weeks) but carried on on my non-working days. But like you I hit the point where I was desperate to drop night feeds. I agreed a two week period with my DH where he would get up in the night when DS woke and I would stay away. So then DS had no choice. DH offered bottle of water only. I stuck my head under the pillow to stop myself giving in and getting up! Took only two nights for DS to stop waking for feed. I then found that with my nights no longer spent feeding I was happy to carry on other feeds for another four months, at which point we gradually dropped afternoon feed them morning then evening feeds with no issues.

Thanks Ali. Half tried last night. Hadn't made a plan, was just tired. Fed him but stopped him after 20 mins when it was a comfort thing and tried putting him down. 3 hours in all! Tried handing over to DH half way but DS was hysterical about that. Settled when given back to me but took another hour and half to get to sleep.

So it looks like it might be me doing it but I'll stick to it and hope its not 3 hrs tonight.

You're right. If I can sort nights I can maybe stick with daytime feeds.

I dropped a feed every week with my first, but every two weeks with my second which was much easier in every respect.

I think the morning or afternoon feeds are easier to drop because you can distract. A bedtime feed is comforting and relaxing and they resist it more.
One trick is to leave before bedtime and leave DH to do it. If you are not around it's less hysterical all round.
Overnight, I found it easier to refuse to feed. Offered a bottle but after an ounce or two it was refused. It takes a few nights but eventually they settle for another form of comfort rather than your boob.

Good luck!