I want my body back! Can anyone help with weaning tips?

[Violetroses]

I had hoped he'd lose interest, but my 11-month-old son is still headbutting my chest all day long! I know lots of mums continue breastfeeding for much longer, but he's biting frequently now with his sharp teeth (I suspect my supply has diminished) and I really want my body back.

I've got him down to three breastfeeds a day (6am, 2.30pm, 6.30pm) He eats well at mealtimes, but won't take milk in any other form. . He took a bottle of expressed milk once a day until he was 3 months old, but since then he's refused any bottle, cup or beaker, unless it contains water.

We've tried several types of formula and have this week managed to persuade him to take a couple of sips of fresh cows' milk at bedtime (after a feed when he's plainly still hungry). Nevertheless he's just screamed for 40 minutes demanding an 11am breastfeed, refusing all alternatives.

Any ideas?

Sorry can't help but I'm in exactly the same boat with a ten month old so know your pain (physcial and mental!!) so I'd be very interested in the replies. I'm getting a bit panicky now as am soon going back to work soon and will have to do occasional nights away.

Would you be happier if he was content with just the morning and evening feed and or do you want to stop completely?

Why not just let him have water to drink and give him his calcium intake in other forms ? It doesn't have to be milk.
I am sure your health visitor could recommend alternatives to milk.
If he screams to demand the breast - don't give in even if he refuses alternatives. Giving in to his 'demands' will just teavh him that screaming will be rewarded.

And,..yes,.. I know it is not easy but it won't last forever.

I stopped breastfeeding a few days ago (dd is 12mo). She won't drink cow's milk, so now she just has no milk at all to drink, just water. I'm hoping this is ok! She eats lots of yoghurt, milk in porridge/cheese sauce etc.

I cut the feeds down to just morning and evening for a while. But was feeling anxious, like the poster above, about going away overnight for work occasionally.

So my dp just started taking her downstairs in the mornings instead of bringing her for a feed. And he has settled her at night.

It has been absolutely fine, surprisingly.
She is still sleeping through the night (touch wood) and hasn't "asked" for milk at all.

Shush have you tried semiskimmed? It isn't recommended for under 2s but it was the only milk DS would take when he stopped bfing. He got used to semi then we moved him onto full fat. Could be worth a try.

Neither of my two would drink any for of milk and still don't. DS self weaned at 8.5 months and DD weaned at nearly 2 years as very pregnancy and very sore. Gave lots of milky foods - rice pudding etc.. Both fine.

My DD was like that at 11 months. By 12.5 months she lost interest.

He will suddenly find other things more interesting and be too busy for your boobs! Just take the chance when he suddenly starts having a quick feed then swinging around to get down or grab stuff, this is your chance to stop the feeds.

My DD took the bottle very easily though.

I stopped when dd was 11 months and I think I just cut down 1 feed at a time, first stopped during the day (distraction distraction distraction!!) then the morning feed went and lastly the evening feed

Dd is 5 now and I still sometimes miss it!!! But know totally what you mean about wanting your body back!!!

Also don't worry about not drinking milk dd never really drank milk from a cup, would occasionally take a bottle but she made it up for it as she loves yogurts, cheese etc!!!

Thanks so much! It didn't occur to me not to replace the breastfeeds with something else - despite my good intentions I've frequently let him feed to sleep, so didn't think he would sleep unless full of milk.

I feel much more hopeful now. Was fretting that he'd still be noisily trying to tear my top off in public for years to come!

Sorry JiltedJohnsJulie, didn't answer your question.

No, I'd be glad to drop the middle one first. Has been a big struggle to get down to one during the daytime, and this week found myself giving into 4 mini-feeds during the afternoon just so I could stop him screaming and have conversations with my three-year-old son. I posted today because he started the headbanging at 11am - was worried we were going backwards to the dark old days of feeding every hour and a half (last summer was verrry hard).

You are all right though - will not give in to off-schedule demands, and will supply him with copious quantities of cheese/yoghurt/cheese sauces/cereal all of which he adores.