Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

DD losing interest in breastfeeding

11 replies

Turquoise2 · 08/09/2020 13:41

DD is 15.5 months and currently feeds once in the morning and once before bed, but she keeps shortening the feeds and losing interest. She starts asking for her dummy every 2 minutes so hardly drinks any milk.

She may be ready to wean but I'm not. I love breastfeeding and thinking that we will stop in the coming weeks breaks my heart.

I always imagined I'd breastfeed until she was at least 2. Feels awful to stop when she's still so little.

Any advice on how to keep it going for a few more months? Or how to come to terms with stopping?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

OverTheRainbow88 · 08/09/2020 13:52

15.5 months is a major achievement.

There’s not much you can do if she wants to stop.

I’ve just stopped as my son stared biting my nipple so tried to carry on for a week but each time he was done he would bite- was agony so stopped sooner than I had planned.

wishcaptainbarnaclewasmyboss · 08/09/2020 16:08

Please don't read this as being unsupportive or as suggesting that kids who EBF have issues of are behind in some way or not independent enough, as that is not what I mean....

I think that you need to accept that it may be that your child doesn't necessarily want this form of comfort/feeding any more rather than push it.

Perhaps try to reframe it in your mind - she is feeding well and more interested in food and she is choosing alternative means of physical closeness (sounds as if she likes cuddles on her own terms). It isn't a rejection of you, just perhaps evidence of an independent streak. Mine started earlier - just loved looking around rather than being squashed in my boob - tbh, I kind of got it! Try to appreciate the positives in it too - it is easier this way than trying to wean a child who is distressed to stop.

Autumnrose9 · 08/09/2020 16:11

My dd stopped feeding around then aswell. Was completely unexpected. She would just refuse it and that was it. I tried to offer it but she wasn't interested. So if she's the same its probably just time to stop the.

You have done amazing to do it for so long.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Families General parenting

Twizbe · 08/09/2020 16:11

My second self weaned at 17 months. I was prepared to keep going until around 2 but she had other ideas.

It was very hard as she is my last baby and I didn't want to stop.

It did help that it was her choice and she was the one refusing.

As it's gone, it's not been that bad. She still enjoys a mummy cuddle and my hair is her top comfort item.

AlexaShutUp · 08/09/2020 16:17

I bf until dd was nearly 3, so have no issues at all with extended breastfeeding. However, I do think you need to be guided by the child, and if she is ready to stop, then I think you should respect this.

I totally understand the sadness that you might feel, as it's the end of an era, but on the other hand, count yourself lucky that you don't have to persuade her (as I eventually did) that she is really big enough to stop because mummy wants her body back.

You've done an amazing job to feed her until she is ready to stop, and she is growing up exactly as she should. It's natural to mourn the end of the baby stage a bit, but you should also celebrate the new phase that she is now entering - it will be just as wonderful and exciting as the last, just a little different.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/09/2020 16:19

She may be ready to wean but I'm not. I love breastfeeding and thinking that we will stop in the coming weeks breaks my heart

It's really not fair on her. She clearly wants to stop/reduce. Stop forcing the issue.

SBTLove · 08/09/2020 16:33

Tbf this isn’t about you and what you want, it’s your DD that comes first, be glad she’s weaning herself and becoming a little bit independent of you.
I never understand this attitude from mums who seem to want their child forever reliant on them.

Dyrne · 08/09/2020 16:52

Stick an episode of Peppa pig on your phone and glue it to your boob?

In all seriousness, I agree with others that it sounds like DD is genuinely ready to move on and you’ll have to respect that and shouldn’t force it for your own feelings.

Is there anything you could do to replace that time with her so you don’t feel like you’re losing that closeness? Reading a special book together or doing another activity that is reserved just for the two of you!

Mama1980 · 08/09/2020 16:52

Have you read about nursing strike?
Your dd might be ready to wean, which is fine, equally it might be a nursing strike... worth considering.

qwertypie · 08/09/2020 16:59

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

She may be ready to wean but I'm not. I love breastfeeding and thinking that we will stop in the coming weeks breaks my heart

It's really not fair on her. She clearly wants to stop/reduce. Stop forcing the issue.

I don't think she's forcing the issue... Breastfeeding can be very emotional and a large part of the mother-child relationship. Clearly she wasn't expecting it to end so abruptly or soon.

I'd say take your daughter's lead. It could be that she's temporarily lost interest, or indeed that she's finished. Either way, it's a massive achievement

qwertypie · 08/09/2020 17:02

As for coming to terms with stopping (if that is the case), there are some lovely ways to commemorate the experience. Lots of ideas online, like breastmilk jewellery, or having a weaning celebration (if you're that way inclined )

Flip