Tips on how to stop breastfeeding 18mo during the day?

[strawberrycheesecake1989]

Hi, I’ve been posting quite a bit recently about my boob-crazy 18mo… wondering if anyone has any tips or can share how they stopped the day feeds?

When we’re out and about he constantly wants ‘boo’… Im tired of always having to wear something that is breastfeeding friendly and to be honest he’s getting quite big and I’m starting to get a bit self conscious… I knows he’s still relatively young but I have started to notice people stare even though I do it discretely.

Today on a packed train he kept asking for ‘boo’ and when I said no he just had a total meltdown.

Is that just the way to go about it? Say no and eventually they stop asking?

He still has a long morning feed and a load more during the night but that’s another story!

Thanks x

No advice but following as I’m in the same position with 16 m/o. People have advised the ‘don’t offer, don’t refuse’ approach but that doesn’t help as my LO wants it ALL THE TIME

Do you want to stop?

Following too. 16 month old and I'm ready to stop. Don't see how it's possible at all right now. 🤣

@MonkeyPuddle

Not entirely, I don’t mind morning and before bed. But the sheer frequency is pushing me towards developing a breastfeeding aversion

With my DD I started offering to a schedule. Unless she’s hurt herself / is really unable to calm down I say “we’ll have boobie after tea / at bedtime” or whenever the next time I don’t mind feeding is. Then I offer a cuddle and a drink/snack in that order.
I’ve found linking when it will next be available to something she understands (eg when we get home / after tea) works much better than later or in x minutes because she doesn’t understand time.

@RosieLee2019 @onesies 😂 oh dear! Glad Im not alone !!

@SamanthaVimes

With my DD I started offering to a schedule. Unless she’s hurt herself / is really unable to calm down I say “we’ll have boobie after tea / at bedtime” or whenever the next time I don’t mind feeding is. Then I offer a cuddle and a drink/snack in that order. I’ve found linking when it will next be available to something she understands (eg when we get home / after tea) works much better than later or in x minutes because she doesn’t understand time.

That’s really useful thank you

I think if you say no and ride out a few tantrums, he will accept the new rules. 18mo is an age when they start to understand boundaries a little more, and while he might be furious with you, after a while if you are consistent he will accept that he only feeds in the morning. You can support him in the frustration, talk about it’s hard when mum says no, offer cuddles. But it really is ok to say no.

It’s really hard, remember that BF is a two way relationship, you are an equal partner in that. I think that @SamanthaVimes has really useful advice. I used really simple phrases with DD ‘milk at lunch/bedtime’ and then distract distract distract.

Toddler boob monsters are hard work!

My first wasn't bothered about not being breastfed any more. My younger two were aggressive boob monsters. I cut one feed at a time. If they wanted a feed when it wasn't time I would stand up so they couldn't get it, offer a snack, offer a distraction (in different combinations as long as it distracted them). I also did like pp said and would say something like you can have milk after lunch etc.

Also if you can have someone to have him for a couple of hours and he's not distressed it helped me mentally to be strong, like he's fine going a couple of hours without a feed I'm not being unfair.