How do I stop breastfeeding my 16 month old?

[coveredinsnot]

Hi all,
I've been breastfeeding my 16 month old mainly in the evenings before bed (this is how he usually falls asleep) since he was born, and now this is the only feed I regularly do, apart from a morning feed most days (~75% of the time). I could drop the morning feed fairly easily I think, but I'm really stalling about dropping the evening feed for several reasons:

• I enjoy it
• he enjoys it
• it's part of the routine we've always had
• I can't imagine how on earth I'll get him to sleep without breastfeeding
• finishing breastfeeding completely will feel like the end of an era, and while I know saying this will probably elicit a lot of 'get over it, he's not a baby' and 'this sounds like you're breastfeeding more for your sake than his' kind of comments, which I think do hold a nugget of truth, but I would also pre-emptively say that it takes two to tango, and breastfeeding is a relationship, not a one way street so I'm happy that there's something in it for me also.
• I'm attracted by theories of attachment which suggest that extended breastfeeding is a good idea
• WHO suggest breastfeeding until 2 years, so if I stop will I be depriving him?
• if swine flu really takes off this winter, perhaps it would be helpful to ds's immune system to still be breastfeeding (not sure of the science behind this statement!)

My reasons for wanting to stop are:

• people think I'm a bit weird for still breastfeeding
• I'd quite like to go out and have a decent binge drink!
• I think sometimes a break, having a night off, just being away is sooo appealing, and this is impossible while I'm still breastfeeding.

Is anyone else in a similar pickle?
Has anyone worked through this before, and if so, how did it go?

I stopped when dd was 18m - wanted to continue for the same reasons you do but it became clear I wouldn't conceive unless I stopped.

I handed bath/bed time over to DH who gave DD milk in a cup. The first night the novelty got us through it but after that it was hard.

I found this article by Jay Gordon as mentioned below helpful - really it's about sleep but I used it to break the feed-to-sleep thing

Well, tonight I was out at bedtime, and guess what!? He went to sleep no problems after having a bottle (he has done this before, but with more of a struggle and when I've been home). So, I was all decided to keep on going, and now I'm thinking, maybe I should just quit now, if he's found it so easy!!

It was weird as I left this morning when he was asleep, and came back when he was asleep - the first day I've not spoken to him all day. It's really weird.

same boat my 16 month ds is total bf monster 10 times a day/night

when people comment i tell them 'thats what your supposed to do' and then add 'oh for gods sake,' to make them feel ashamed

lol Kalo, thats what I say, but wish my 11 month old would not feed like a newborn and not eat, I keep hearing aren't they meant to be on 3 milk feeds a day? I say not if they don't eat or drink anthing else, or she would starve. It gets a bit overwhelming though.

same here jennylee, but I have a very good weaning book that says milk is still very important and will make up about half of his calorie intake btween 12 months and 2 years