DS is 12 months old, I feel it is time to stop - help please!

[georgiemama]

I have nothing against extended feeding, but I have had enough. And I say that not in a resentful way, I have loved feeding him, I feel so proud of feeding him for over a year (when he was three weeks old I was crying for the formula but perservered, thanks to wonderful DH) but for various reasons I want to stop.

He is down to a bit in the morning, sometimes a bit at bed time but usually has a cup. Supply is dwindling but obviously whenever he decides he wants some (is teething at the mo and all he seems to want is boob) it goes back up again.

Anyone else dealt with these final few weeks (at any stage) and how did you finally wean them off it?

thanks

No easy solution - but the best one I've come across is to wear clothes that mean you can't feed him! A leotard-type body if you wear trousers (means delving into your knickers to unpopper your top!) and a dress that you'd have to hoik up over your bum to gain access to the boobs.

Unlikely to do either in public or when in a rush .

And stand up all the time for a few days, esp never sit anywhere that's associated with feeding.

And go out a lot.

Good luck - you've done great!

Hi

dd is 9months old and still bf.

I have never tired this and it does sound a little cruel. But I read some where that you can have some olive oil in a container and sock it with garlic. Take the garlic out after a few hours (i think) then put the oil on your nipple.

When your ds wants some milk he will think you smell and give up after a few days.. lol

Not sure if everyone else will want to stay away from you to but worth a try!!

If you try this one let us know how it goes as I'm interested to find out....

Sorry but really ewww . Don't do the garlic thing that's just horrible. poor mite.

To cut down I suggest you get in some favourite snacks (grapes, breadsticks, dried blueberries, anything your ds likes) and don't sit in usual bf places.

If he asks, offer him snack or drink.

Morning and night are tricky and for a while (a few weeks) I had to get up stupid early with my dd to give her breakfast instead of milk. But she settled down to sleeping later soon enouhg.

The evening one is sad to lose but I did with dd by changing end of routine. So instead of sitting down and having a milk feed and cuddle I stood and carried her around while singing lullaby.

Great advice from Slur.

Also you have to somehow dissociate BF from comforting.
Carrying his favorite comfort toy at all times worked for us. Let him have something to chew on.

PS: I have to add this in view of the recent flurry of crap discussions on BF......I feel so that anyone should start an advice thread like you did in your first paragraph!

Good Luck!

thanks for the responses ladies, I would try the garlic thing but at the mo garlic bread is his favourite food so he would chow down even more!

The clocks going forward is not helping, nor is the fact he is teething, but then there's alwasys something isn't there? Get over one hurdle and another appears.

Not really sure what you mean sim by the PS, why does my opening paragraph make you sad? Should I not be stopping? Should I not be proud of having BF for a year? Confused emoticon, if only there was one.

Oh I just mean that BF has just become such a hot topic. We have to thread so carefully on this website when we chose to stop BF or mix feed or -God forbid- Not BF at all.

You sound almost apologetic about your decision when you obviously did your very best and seem to have a valid reason to stop..
But, hey, that's probably just me reading too much into it because of the other very judgemental recent posts on BF. Sorry!

We just have to learn to skim the threads to keep the excellent advice that always comes along.

Take care.

oh I know what you mean, I usually stay away from the BF/FF threads because people get (understandably) upset sometimes! There's some corkers on the topic today!!

Thanks

xx