How to stop breastfeedlng? 16 month baby

[Yumchips]

I'm scared to stop breast feeling as I don't know how to go about it. Baby is very attached to breast feeding and demands it quite a lot. Distraction only works for a short while and then she remembers again. Any advice?

Reduce the feeds one by one (night feed is the last one to go).

High necked tops so she can’t see or get at your boobs.

She is using it for comfort and being cuddled is just as comforting she just needs a bit of time to clock that. Just do it stage by stage by once you’ve started don’t go backwards.

Do YOU want to stop breastfeeding? Or are you doing it because you feel like you should?

Well the OP is an adult, and if she’s asking how to stop, I think we should assume.. that she wants to stop.

Lots of people feel pressured to do it by their partners, social expectations. I gave up earlier than I would have liked so it's a reasonable question

Agree with @VanillaImpulse !
Stop when you're ready, don't feel pressured.
@Yumchips my little one self-weaned by gentle encouragement over a long period of time by reducing feeds to just nap and bed times and preempting them asking for a feed by throwing food or snacks to them. Then just fed bedtimes, then shorter and shorter timed feeds, then 'count to 5 and off' feeds. That was when little one started to say they are still small so they need it and 'friend says I'm small'. We talked a lot about when it's time to stop etc. Eventually a small tweak to our bed time routine and baby never asked again. So whilst I wanted to stop, I didn't know our last feed would be our last. We talked a lot about how I've always got cuddles and will never run out of them.

Good luck.

I'm definitely ready to stop. I feel like I've done my time feeding her, she's 16 months now. I did 18 with the last but she self weaned. I can't be bothered to wait around for this one to do it. She has allergies and I've had to change my diet significantly and frankly enough is enough now - I want to eat what I like!

Sounds like you’ve really done a great job and made a lot of sacrifices! I agree that gradual reduction is easiest but if you’re starting to get really fed up you can probably move through the process quite quickly. First cut out any night feeds and cut day feeds down to first thing in the morning, nap time and bedtime. Then next week nap time and bedtime and the week after substitute in a cup of milk and a cuddle at bedtime. Good luck!

I'm struggling with stopping the night feeding. I keep giving in because I'm half asleep. Husband has the flu at the moment so just waiting for him to get better and take over nights. Baby is 16 months and breastfeeding way too much. She is so so persistent and loves it - come day or night! I feel a bit lost today about how to move on as it feels like a losing battle. Just posting to update this thread really.

I needed to cut down to morning and evening feeds only in readiness to go back to work.

I bought her a special cup and gradually replaced day breastfeeds with 'milk in a cup!' (how exciting) and snacks, just a cracker or something.

Can't help with night feeds I'm afraid.

I had to wean quickly as I went from loving it, to having serious aversion to it (to the point that I wanted to push the kid away from me). I was pregnant and suddenly it hurt like the early days again and I was just done!! And if I’m honest, though it wasn’t ideal (had planned to self wean/at the very least fade feeds gradually). It wasn’t anywhere near as distressing my my little one as I had thought it would be.

Basically did as the poster above suggested - made myself far less available. Bra. Sports bra. High necked top (worn at night). Fleece jumper rather than a dressing gown! Explained that it was “finished” and offered alternative food or milk or comfort instead. There was some protest but it faded quickly (within days). At night I offered a bottle of water (she liked them for comfort, a cup of milk, or her favorite teddy and explained “mummy’s milk is finished”). Infuriatingly we’d a few bad nights of protest (eg going back asleep if she woke) but overall her sleep improved quickly and she woke less! Which motivated me to stay going.

I know lots of people will say (and possibly rightly so) that it wasn’t gentle for her..but it was what I needed at the time. And I found that actually giving me back the bodily space I needed (had been feeling very touched out) meant I was enjoying play time and her company more.

Stop when ready. My son is nearly 18 months and only feeds once in a day now

I moved on with Mil for a week and left dh to it.

Great tips thanks very much! She just feeds for comfort sometimes but today she had about 5/6 good feeds during the day. Which is probably not awful but it doesn't feel like we're moving away from breastfeeding - I think it's supposed to be just once or twice by now. Anyways, I think I will do the high necked clothing to limit access. Husband taking over nights shortly so fingers crossed for that!

How did you get on, @Yumchips ?
I'm debating weaning my 16 month old but feel a bit disappointed so I'm not sure I really am ready. Bit confusing!