Stopping breastfeeding 2yo help!!

[Mbarts89]

My second baby (26 months) is obsessed with feeding, I know it’s mainly a comfort thing as he’s very tactile and loves a cuddle. BUT I just can’t do it anymore. Sleep has become a major issue, I’m exhausted and generally tapped out (I’ve been pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 5 years).

With my first baby I managed a very gentle and beautiful transition to stopping feeding which luckily he was very receptive to (he was 18months, I was 6 months pregnant). My second baby is full of energy, a real firecracker, very loud and strong, and just so determined, so I just don’t know how to go about stopping. Has anyone else managed a gentle weaning process with a similar personality baby?

other than going cold turkey I don’t know what to do, and I don’t want to cause him any distress. I definitely want to stop as I just can’t physically or mentally manage it anymore, and I feel like carrying on will just make me more uncomfortable and potentially damage our connection.

thanks so much for any advice I really need help!!!

Check out Emma Pickett on Instagram, she has a lot on weaning toddlers.

I went on holiday for a week. He was 3 1/2 and I was sick to death of it.

Not much help I know.

I think you'll just have to bite the bullet though. It's not like you can give it to Santa like dummies.

I personally would look at some gentle night weaning first. We started by moving our similar matured DC into their own room which cut down the night feeds quite dramatically. Then I would try some gentle night weaning.

We had alrwsdy dropped the first feed in the morning by DH giving them breakfast instead.

Have you looked at any books for your LO like Milkies in the Morning?

If you want whatever you do to be gentle, it won’t be immediate - so for now, get a good magnesium supplement. It sounds like you’ve got an aversion and it’ll really help.

Totally feel you. Mine is 16 months and I am DONE. But with Christmas we have fucking visitors from now until mid February and I don't feel I can do this with a house full of different relatives every 2 weeks.

I literally have to pinch myself constantly to get through a BF session, I suddenly hate it so much.

I think don't offer, don't refuse method won't work at this age.

I read a post from someone who put plasters on their nipples and told their toddler they're broken and they accepted that! Give it a go?

Are you still feeding on demand? I went to a schedule of set times before I went back to work, and then dropped them one at a time. Distracted with food, games, a human other than me until the habit was broken. And always offered food ahead of nursing so she was less inclined to nurse. The pre-bed time one was the last to go, but looking back I think that might have been a mistake, if I was doing it again I would probably leave the post breakfast one until last as it's the easiest to distract from with the day ahead. Don't know if any of this will help, but wishing you all the best with it. And in case it helps if you are feeling bad, I always remember watching an orangutan at the zoo unlatch her boisterous toddler to get some personal space! I felt her pain that day. BF is natural but obviously so is having enough!