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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

I want to stop BF

15 replies

SparklyGothKat · 04/05/2009 09:01

Ds2 is 19 months and I have had enough now. He keeps demanding milk and wakes at night for a feed which last 3 hours on and off.... I need sleep....... How do I stop now? He is older and knows what he wants, do I just stop cold turkey?

OP posts:
mawbroon · 04/05/2009 09:18

Do you want to stop completely? Or would you be happy cutting down to a more manageable number of feeds?

How Weaning Happens is a LLL book which is quite useful.

I wouldn't suggest cold turkey tbh. Your ds will probably be distraught, and you could end up with blocked ducts or mastitis, as well as crashing hormones which could make you feel very miserable.

hercules1 · 04/05/2009 09:20

Personally I'd go for cold turkey. Wear inaccessible tops, tell him there is no more milk and be firm. The crying will last a couple of nights and then you'll be done. Hard but worth it.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 04/05/2009 09:28

I was down to 2 feeds a day, one in morning and one at night, but its creped back up recently, he is refusing to have the cow milk, demanding Bfs instead. He only feeds on one side, has done since he was tiny.

OP posts:
BeehiveBaby · 04/05/2009 09:37

I would go for cold turkey too...done it twice with a toddler and I absolutely believe it is kindest and advoids getting back to square one every time they have a cold or it's a hot day (but each time those things happened post weaning, I regretted weaning bitterly so bear that in mind).

Schedule the most insane week of activities and fun outings, suppliemnted with his favourite meals and loads of healthy snacks and it will be over in 3-4 days. I will warn you, you will get 'blue' and DS will forget about BFing quicker than you. DD1 bumped her head 10days after day 1 of weaning and I offered her the breast in a panic and she didn't have a clue what to do with it .

IF it may be a blip in your BFing relationship, do look for support to cut feeds from LLL.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 04/05/2009 09:46

it was easier to stop with my older ones (stopped at 6,9 and 2 months with them) never thought I would feed Ds2 this long, but after the battle to keep BF with him, I didn't want to give up quickly so ended up BF him till now, but I am shattered now and now he actaully demands it, with 'booboo' and pulling on my clothes, it hard to say no but he needs to know he ca't have it whenever

OP posts:
bambipie · 04/05/2009 10:34

I found that DH had to play a big part in dropping the last few feeds - if I wasn't there she didn't miss it!

goingnowherefast · 04/05/2009 11:52

I wouldn't try and cut it down to 2 feeds a day or something - tell him only morning and evening. bfing is a relationship and if you don't want to wean but don't want to be a permanent milk machine, there should be ways you can enable this to happen at 19 months.

Personally though if you do want to wean I'd still try and do it gradually in case of blocked ducts.

goingnowherefast · 04/05/2009 11:52

sorry that was supposed to read I WOULD try and cut it down...

moondog · 04/05/2009 12:42

Ah, Sparkly, I remember all yuor threads. God, you did a fantastic job didn't you?
Just send your dh to him at night.
I b/fed my dd for 30 mths but stopped getting up at night at 12 months. With a f/t job and a dh abroad,it was essential we both got some uninterrupted sleep.

slim22 · 04/05/2009 12:53

Had to stop night feeds with DD 12 months as she would just happily cuddle up and suckle all night if she had her way.
Not compatible with me going back to work.
I BF twice during the day but just go in give her a bottle and leave the room at night. She now goes back to sleep without too much fuss on her own. But it took about 2 months and help from DH.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 04/05/2009 16:55

problem I have atm, is Dh's knees are playing up badly and he can't get upstairs at all. so I am doing everything and its easier to BF him, but I am sooooo tired

OP posts:
belgo · 04/05/2009 16:57

Well done for bfing so long! I remember the problems you had when he was born.

I went cold turkey when dd2 was 19 months. Dh looked after her for three nights, she cried those nights, but after that she was fine. I cried for a few weeks though; I found it very hard to stop, and very upsetting.

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 04/05/2009 17:32

have managed to refuse his feeds during the day today, but we have been out at the farm, its easier if we are busy as he is busy.. but god knows what he will be like tomorrow

OP posts:
mawbroon · 05/05/2009 08:01

How did it go overnight?

Original poster
SparklyGothKat · 05/05/2009 09:49

ok, he slept all night, and had a feed this morning, but thats it till this evening

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