How do I stop breastfeeding 7 month old?

[Moonshine160]

I desperately want to stop BFing my 7 month old DS. I don’t want any comments or advice about continuing to breastfeed and how it’ll get easier please, my mind is made up. I do feel the pressure I’ve put on myself to continue has not helped with my PND and I just want to stop now but I don’t know how.

DS has been sort of combi fed since he was 2 months old, he’s had the occasional bottle of expressed milk or formula with no issue. I got into a routine of him having one small bottle per day, then illness, teething etc happened and I solely breastfed him for a couple of weeks. Then when me or DH tried him with a bottle again he refused. I’ve been persisting over the last few days with offering him a bottle but he’ll only have about an ounce and then refuse it. He starts nuzzling at my chest because he wants breastfeeding instead so I let him because I get worried he’ll be hungry and I’m stuck in this cycle.

How do I stop and switch to formula? Would going cold turkey help and expressing a bit to prevent mastitis? I feel like I’m being cruel to DS by stopping but I want to for my own mental health.

He starts nuzzling at my chest because he wants breastfeeding instead so I let him because I get worried he’ll be hungry and I’m stuck in this cycle.

How is he with DH?

@MrsTerryPratchett DH has more luck with him accepting a bottle but he is working long hours at the moment so isn’t often around. He did try yesterday though and DS only took just over 1oz before refusing to have any more and this was the bedtime feed when he would usually have a long breastfeed. So I ended up breastfeeding him. I’m not sure if I’m giving in too soon but I hate the thought of him being too hungry

That's probably going to be the main hurdle. Why would I eat broccoli when there's chocolate? He's going to need to be a bit hungry to eat. And probably unsettled at night during the first wee while as well.

Is there going to be any break in DH's work schedule or anyone else who can help?

Is he eating solids too?

@MrsTerryPratchett nights are horrendous anyway so I can deal with that part! I will keep trying the bottle even when he’s getting hungry instead of giving up too soon. I feel like I’m stuck in a tricky situation because it’s not like he won’t accept the bottle, he will, he just hardly drinks any of the milk.

@CucumberCool yes he is having solids, a mixture of purée and finger food. He doesn’t seem to swallow much of it yet but we’re getting there

I was going to say that he's not going to starve and he will be fine if you are persistent with the bottle.

I have been wondering about how to wean my little one (she older) and have thought about a horrible taste on the boob to help break the comfort factor.... Don't know what though!

I think drop one breast feed a day. And keep the last night one going for a bit. He won't starve and will just have to take the bottle.

Have you tried him with a sippy or an open cup? My bottle refusing son got on really well with them. Maybe don't introduce them at night when he's tired.

I really wouldn't recommend going cold turkey. Drop one feed every two or three days to let your body catch up. Keep offering bottles - if he'll only accept 1 oz then offer more often

I would have a read of the advice on Kellymom.

https://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning-techniques/

Can your DH take a couple of days off around a long weekend and do all the feeds for a few days, while you're out of the house? That would expedite the process!

Hi OP, I too stopped around this age, and for similar reasons. I would aim for one feed to be bottle only, mid morning or when he wakes up from his nap. Then get him into the habit of accepting a bottle fully again each day. Then you can work on dropping more feeds, I did it slowly, probably about one a week.

I had a lot of success with the NUK soft spout sippy cups with my two, who were serial bottle refusers but accepted that one around 8 months.

I would choose one feed and drop that and do not let him bfeed- insist on the bottle. A day time feed would be best. We did this with both of ours. Once he is doing that, gradually replace the other feeds with a bottle. Do bedtime and overnight last. Both of mine were bottle refusers so I feel your pain!!

Can you give an update on how you got on? I'm in the same position now, mentally and physically drained and something has got to give so hoping a move to bottles will help, DD won't even take a bottle so I'm probably in an even worse position