Weaning off bf

[curlyrebel]

My dd is just over a year now and I'm ready to stop bf her. The problem is she isn't! I was hoping to stop at 6 months as she moved onto solids. Even though she has a big appetite for food, she continued to want my milk quite often so that didn't happen.

She has been accepting formula from me once a day usually and when I leave her with my dh or other family for the day she will also accept formula from them. So it's most likely a comfort thing for her to bf. In recent days she's been getting upset when I've tried to give her a bottle and I've had to give in. Even shortly after having formula she will still want a bf. I know you're meant to do this gradually but I don't think that's going to work. I don't want to upset her but I also am so over bf. Oh I've also tried giving her full fat milk and she didn't take to it.

Has anyone got any tips from their personal experience they can share? Has anyone been through similar and come out the other side ok?

Ha sounds like my DD!!

I just carried on and when she was ready she just stopped. Like stopped dead.

I was so over it the last 3/4 months but it better off I guess because it was just so easy to stop as she was done.

With my first, we did it over a bank holiday weekend - took 3 nights of my husband giving her cups while I cried listening to her cry. Not great. After 3 nights of no night feeds she dropped the days. I was sore though.

Best of luck to you - I do know the feeling .

My first stopped at around 1 year. Just one day, no more.

Same with second.

Third... He's. Just. Not. Stopping. He's 2 now. I've given up. He'll stop eventually. I hope...

Thank you both. Good to know that some babies just stop around this age. I don't think mine is anywhere near ready so it looks like a few days of tears is the only option! I really don't want to be bf for another year...

Definitely wean now if you want to: it's easier now than later. I'd keep pumping and gradually drop feeds, or you may end up ill with mastitis.

Suggestions: distraction in the daytime. Tv, make some low sugar biscuits or something she loves, toddler crisps. Bedtime: took me 4 days to night wean, but there was a lot of crying. This will be the hardest, but explain what's happening in advance (no more milk at bedtime) and offer a beaker of water or bottle, whatever you're happy with. It may be better if your DP (if you have one) does this. Stick to your guns, though, they are determined little things! I also offered massage and music to try to soothe, but mine were older.

My DT fed til 3 and showed no signs of stopping by themselves, although I know some babies do.

Good luck!

Thanks KalaLaka. Those are good suggestions. I might try the massage and music at naptime as that's when she's most likely to seek me out. It might relax her enough to sleep. Offering her food does help a bit but she will still want my milk after. She's definitely a determined little one! I do need to get my DH to help a bit more with this, particularly at night.