How to give up breastfeeding at 14 months?

[1t6y9o]

I have no idea how to go about this! He is very breast attached and feeds on demand, not much at night now thankfully. He used to have a bottle of formula before bed but he seemed to have a mild reaction to dairy so we've avoided it since.

How do I stop in the gentlest way possible? Do I swap for bottles at this age or skip bottles altogether? He won't drink much milk from a cup. I'm not even sure what kind of milk to offer.

How do I phase it out?

I wouldn't give bottles or worry too much about upping his milk if he's getting plenty of calcium from other sources and drinks other fluids.

I'd probably try to go down to 2 or 3 feeds during the day if you're ok with your nights (morning,nap, evening or mornings and evening). Or night wean first if you think that cutting day feeds might mean he feeds more overnight.

For me, DD cut down on daytime feeds at this age because of nursery, work, etc and then I tackled overnight at 17 months. She did it quite naturally but I mainly used distraction if I wanted her to wait for a feed. But what suits you will probably depend on your circumstances.

My DS is the same age. I stopped daytime feeds when he turned one by offering a snack and whole cow's milk in a sippy cup. Drop one feed at a time. I tried to be out of the house at feed times as he was much happier not to be breastfed if out than at home. Goodness knows how to stop feeding at night though. I'm quite desperate to stop but he still insists on waking for a feed a couple of times a night and is inconsolable without...

Dr Jay Gordon method for night weaning is very gentle. Then I discouraged 'snack' type feeds, and it dropped off by itself after that. The last feeds to go were before her nap (replaced by a walk in the carrier) and before bed (replaced by a long cuddle)

Thanks for the ideas.

I just feel a bit stuck as I'm thinking if I reduce day time milk he'll want it at night!

I'm going to have a go at offering milk in a cup and/or snacks at times he'd usually breastfeed and stick to our attempts to night wean (doing it the Jay Gordon way!)