Weaning toddler off bf but feeling sad

[mamasmissionimpossible]

I'm currently trying to wean my 2 year old dd off breastfeeding. I feel ready to stop, but I also feel really sad about losing that special relationship with bf her. I also feel a bit guilty that she could be having more immunity boosting if I carried on longer. Is it normal to feel so torn?

Can you cut down, instead of stopping? So make it a bedtime and/or morning only" thing? If you do that for a little while, it may be that she stops of her own accord and it will feel easier on you when she does?

And yes, ime, perfectly normal to feel so torn. You've done a very good thing for her, and for you, breastfeeding her to toddlerhood.

It's normal I'm sure

I'm (halfheartedly) weaning my 14 month old. Some days I hate feeding and others I love it but I will be sad when it's over.

You've done fab to get to two years, I'm sure your daughters already super immune

Sorry, I don't have any experience, but yes I should think it is VERY normal to feel so torn.

DS is 17mo and I'm starting to think about stopping sometime in the future, but then I seem to change my mind everyday.

Thanks. I am only feeding her once a day, which she keeps asking to do, but I do want to stop. I just feel guilty saying no or trying to distract her. I cannot sit down as she keeps wanting to feed.

It is very normal I think. I stopped nursing my 15mo DD just over 2 weeks ago as I was going away for 10 days for work. I had been looking forward to having my body back to myself but in the end I am heartbroken. I just don't feel like a real mummy anymore. I know that doesn't help but she doesn't seem to have noticed! And as it turns out I am 7 weeks pg so won't have my body back after all!

Oh titchywitch, I feel for you. Congratulations on the pg! I sobbed over dd putting her to bed tonight. I also feel heartbroken, even though I know I want to stop. I think it's also knowing she is growing up and not knowing if I will ever have another dc, which I feel about. I guess I just want to keep her my baby forever, which I know is ridiculous.

But she will be your baby forever, even though she will grow up! I am still my mum's baby and she was about the only person that seemed to understand how I felt about giving up breastfeeding.

She will always be my baby, true. I am concious that I don't want to hold her back from independence because I don't want to let go. I know she will still need me for a good few years yet.

DD thankfully self weaned a couple of days after her 2nd birthday. I was newly pregnant, with very sore boobs, and was in agony every time she fed, so I am sure I somehow coerced her into weaning.

She is now 2.6 and pointed at my boobs a couple of days ago saying, "Mummy's milk has all gone!". I am actually amazed she remembered as she has shown no sign of wanting any milk since she weaned.

We still have loads of cuddles and kisses though, so I do feel very close to her and don't feel as if any bond has been lost. I am just hoping I can do the same for DD2 who's due next month.

Good luck, and go at your (and your DD's) own pace.

Well my dd is 2.9 and she doesn't seem ready to stop yet so I am happy to continue,but I can see that when she and/or I want to stop it will be sad as it will be the end of me ever breastfeeding a baby (I am 46)and that will make me feel really sad. It was much easier to deal with DD1 stopping as I was 8m pregnant .

i like reading these topics and just wanted to tell someone my ds is only 9 weeks old but i am soooo chuffed he is bf well.... he is 15lb 3ozs now so its def filling him (10lb 11ozs at birth) hope i can keep bf for as long as you have. how do you feel about bf in public with an older baby/toddler..... i admit its taken a while for me to feel confident about doing it now!

Sparkly - I fed her in public up until 12 months and then just at home. That's what I felt comfotable with. Well done for bf your ds, it is an amazing feeling bf. It's why I feel sad stopping. I do feel great for doing it for so long and may treat myself to something nice next week for getting so far!

I think you are all amazing!!!