Tips on weaning a 32 month old off breast please

[Sandrine1982]

Hi mamas

I wanted to breastfeed for about year. But after that, there was always an excuse to put off weaning. She went to nursery, so I didn't want to stop then, she was teething, didn't want to stop then, we moved house, she changed nursery .... there was never a good time to wean as she uses the breast for comfort and cuddles rather than milk. She's otherwise quite independent and sleeps relatively well.

I wouldn't mind continuing for a bit longer, but I think my body has had enough. I've lost a ton of weight, my immunity is non existent, and recently I've been off work for almost a month due to a chest infection, followed by covid, followed by norovirus.

My body can't take it anymore.

So I'm looking for tips to get DD off the boob!!

The main sessions she does is when she comes back from nursery, and in the morning when she wakes up. The morning one is especially tricky .... when I refused once or twice she went absolutely ballistic !!

Has anyone been in a similar boat?

My 1st was 22 months when she stopped. Id just given birth and she said the colostrum was disgusting. That was that.

with my 2nd he was 3 and i was so desperate i considered having a third child.

so im not sure im much help…

As per PP, mine only stopped when the next baby came along...! It's a drastic measure though!

I'm currently still feeding my youngest, at 23 months, and am trying to figure out how we'll soon stop. So I'm no help to you, but I offer solidarity :) I'm not having more babies this time!

In exactly the same boat here so can't help but desperate for suggestions also! 31 month old boy. Am genuinely thinking the only way he will stop is if I have another baby...apparently this worked for my mum with one of my brothers...she told him she had to keep the milk for new baby and he accepted it. That was that. I'm not sure it would even work for mine though, he is SO wilfull 😖

Aww glad to hear I'm not alone. People tell me I have to stop for the sake of my health, but it's easier said than done!
Agreed that having another baby is a drastic measure. We are struggling with one so decided not have another, ever. No no no no no! :-D

ps: just wondering if there is anything (safe) to put on my breasts that she will find "yucky"?

I used to put some bitter leaf juice (a plant from nigeria) before but I've run out so I'm wondering if there's anything else more practical that I can buy in a shop or a pharmacy

If you’ve a partner, I’d be sending her off for a special breakfast and to go out and pick a big girls cup.

Also explaining you’ve been poorly so there isn’t much left and she can have her big girl cup and a cuddle. At this age there are lots of things they may go ballistic at but you wouldn’t just give in if you’d explained what was happening.

Put lemon juice on your boobs works a treat, will need to be doing this to my youngest in the summer

Hi. My mum was like this apparently. My nan fashioned a little spider out of black wool and placed it on her boob. When my mum saw it, she ran a mile! Worked a treat.... though i'ts a bit harsh imo!!!

DD did not want to stop either. It was very very hard. Eventually we reached a kind of agreement that she could hold the nippless for comfort while she fell asleep, but not drink 🤷‍♀️

Also someone on internet told me to tell her that milk is just for little babies. This was bad advice: it made DD much more upset and I eventually worked out she thought I was now feeding some other baby 🤦‍♀️

Tell her she isn't having milk from you anymore? 32 months (?) is almost 3 years old, that's old enough to understand the words no, finished, all gone. Doesn't need to be a big emotional transition.

Good ideas all around. I will try lemon juice for sure. No idea about spiders, she's actually not afraid of those and she'd want to play with it :)
We've tried explaining to her that milk is for little babies. She will just say she's a little baby!
I get the feeling that she wants to be a big girl only when it's convenient for her.
Potty training didn't work either last time we tried, but that's another story 🙈

Agree with getting her a special big girls cup and having dad take her aside for a bit of time. She’s old enough to understand that the milk has all run out.
If she tantrums then deal with it, she’s old enough to get it and remember who’s in charge!
Putting bitter stuff on boobs really isn’t necessary.

Put plasters over your nipples and tell her the milk's gone now.

Will she drink cow's milk? To wean my second child at around two I ritualised drinking cow's milk - went out and she chose a special mug for herself, warmed up the milk with a bit of vanilla, had a cuddle and a new story while she drank it. Tried to replace the comfort and ritual of the boob basically. She was on board for the mug and the milk etc and excited by that, so worked, just took a few days. Dunno, just an idea - people talk about how hard it is to breastfeed but I never realised how hard it would be to stop!!

Oh and did all that at the same time she would normally have the boob, so it was a clear replacement not addition!!

Perfume so she can't smell it. Letter from Father Christmas saying if she drinks from a big girl cup after nursery he will make a special summer trip to deliver x.