Getting ready to stop breastfeeding but how do I soothe baby?!

[mumof2boysanddone]

I’d love to hear from anyone with an experience of this. I didn’t breastfeed my first child because he couldn’t latch. I am breastfeeding my second baby. He is 8 months old and I’m starting to feel ready to stop (also please no comments or judgement, this has been the hardest time of my life). I have struggled severely with post natal depression and postpartum rage. I am SO proud of myself for breastfeeding but honestly after these 8 months and a traumatic pregnancy and illness causing early labour I feel as though my body has done enough now. I am determined to go into 2026 and get my self feeling more like me again and so yeah long story short I’m thinking about starting to wean him off

very very long story short, the only thing that’s stopping me is he has no dummy or soother of any kind which is great in a lot of ways but once I’m no longer feeding I’m worried about how I’ll soothe him. We haven’t really started teething much yet and I’m worried how I will soothe him when we get to this and other things and wondered if anyone had stopped at this stage and had similar thoughts/problems?

any advice would be great however as I say please no comments about continuing or judgement.

Once the boob is no longer an option and he's taking a bottle he may reconsider a dummy. Or he'll find his thumb/fingers. Or he'll find something else to comfort him, lots of kids like a label for example. Or he'll be ok with a cuddle.

In short, he will be absolutely fine and an alternative method of comfort will make itself known.

I have a 10-month-old, second child, who was exclusively breastfed until a week ago. Like you, I didn’t breastfeed my first child, and I feel proud that I managed to do so with my second. My baby girl got her first tooth 10 days ago, right around when she turned 10 months, and she doesn’t use a dummy at all. I started introducing a bottle with milk around 9 months, when I felt ready to stop breastfeeding. Initially, she refused the bottle, but now she loves it; it just took time and patience. Gradually, I reduced daytime nursing while keeping the night feed for a month as she slowly accepted the bottle in the mornings. This week, I visited my parents with my husband, and with his help, especially at night, I stopped breastfeeding completely. We slept in separate rooms to avoid the temptation to nurse to soothe her. Currently, I soothe her by rocking and walking around the room. For teething, try some tethers and let your baby decide what works best. My girl sucks her fingers all day and is more settled now that she drinks from the bottle. I was worried I wouldn’t succeed, but it happened gradually and naturally. You can do this, just give yourself time and don’t pressure yourself. Big hugs 🤗