Tips on weaning off breastfeeding

[curlyrebel]

I have a 1yo who still wants to be bf several times during the day and at night. He eats solids well.
When he was younger he used to take a bottle (formula when DH or other family looked after him) but as an older baby refused to take it.
My breasts are obviously a lovely warm place for him as he shows no signs of reducing feeds!

I bf my DD till she was just over 1yo. I decided then I'd had enough and she accepted full fat cows milk from a bottle. As she drank more of that she stopped needing my milk and it was that easy. But this doesn't work with my DS who doesn't like bottles. He will drink milk from a cup but it's just a few sips. Perhaps a beaker will help.

I would really like at the least to cut down on the number of feeds, from several times a day to maybe a couple. Is there anything that has worked for you?

Bump. Anyone?

My DS didn't want to give up breast feeding either, even though he was eating and drinking and was 2! I know a lot of people don't like it but I put some of that clear stuff that you put on fingernails to stop you biting them. It tastes rank. After 3 attempts he didn't try again.

Like I say, lots of people think it's cruel but it worked for me. And believe me, I had tried everything Good luck!

Introduce nursing manners

Distraction

Don't offer, don't refuse

Set place for BF e.g. bedroom- it becomes too much of a faff to stop playing that way

Time limits

A second vote for setting a place. Also a time if possible. I cut down daytime first by only feeding in bed, then evening with distraction then night and finally morning (aged 2.5!) .

Yoghurt is a good replacement if he won’t take milk

I went cold turkey when my DD was 1. I took her out to the woods all day and it was distraction distraction delay. Re claim your boobs so your DS understands they are part of you, not him.

Thanks everyone. Those are some useful tips. Setting a place for bf isn't something I've thought of before. And he does like yoghurt - hadn't thought of using it as a supplement. I can give him more of that. Will try out more distraction too.

@Debinaround if I'm still bf in a year's time I'll have to give that a go as well