How to stop breastfeeding a toddler?

[PumpkinWitch]

My DS is going to be 3 in May. He still breastfeeds to sleep. I was going to wean him before lockdown but I think he needed the comfort. I really want to stop before he is 3 as it feels that he is too big now.

I have tried don’t offer don’t refuse but I never offer now and he still has milk every night and often in the morning when he wakes up.

Please help. If I had a partner I would get them to put him to bed but I am a single mum.

@swinglowsweetchariot12

Has anyone dried up their milk artificially? I've heard of using Sudafed or sage tea. My little toddler is boob obsessed and I've tried all the gentle ways but I'm done breastfeeding

The old remedy (not sure remedy is the right word) was a good dose of Epsom Salts, never fancied trying it myself. Bit like a dose of castor oil to get labour going, I mean I was fed up waiting when mine were overdue but I never felt like taking castor oil.

There are old wives tales for everything, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.

@FelicityBob

Someone I know put marmite on her nips which worked immediately

Lol DD (12mo) loves marmite!

Have you tried explaining to him that boob/milk is for downstairs? And you will Give him cuddles in bed?

Or offering a cup of milk in bed, like a big boy?

My dd was just over 2 and I wanted to stop bf as I was pg with ds. I did a countdown really gently and over a few weeks until we were down to one boob at night. Then one day we stopped. If she tried again it actually didn't taste nice and she was sad. I think I bought her a reward / big girl present- oh I remember!!! I gave her a bottle and then she refused to give that up until she was7!!! She still talks about her bottle now and she's nearly 14- don't do that then!
Seriously just gradual and gentle and stop.

There's a book called Nursies When The Sun Shines that several of my friends have used to night-wean their toddlers, and swear by. Think it's on amazon. Might be worth a look.

I've recently night weaned my DS who will be 3 this week.

The night time wakes were the ones that bugged me the most. He was waking for a dozy feed x4 a night and I was getting tired.

I bought a gro clock and set it to a time that was acceptable. Then fed him 'when the sun came up' this has worked really well so far.

I've also noticed he doesn't nurse for anywhere near as long as he used to. Maybe because of night weaning or possibly age/maturity?

I would also like to stop but I was hoping that once the weather gets warmer and we're out of lockdown, distraction will be easier. It's so hard at the moment, as there really isn't anything for toddlers to do.

I like the suggestion of a biscuit first thing instead of milk. He'd love that.

I have also heard the feeding to sleep sessions are the hardest to break. Some great advice on here

There is some brilliant advice on here (apart from putting marmite on my nipples ). I did feed him last night at bedtime but I didn’t feed him to sleep and I managed to distract him when he came into my bed in the morning and we got up and had a cuddle on the sofa.