Stopping breastfeeding help! - baby takes bottle no problem

[Mosshead348]

Hello,

Everything I read is advice when stopping breastfeeding and baby won’t take bottle. We have no problem with baby taking bottle as she has been combi fed since day 1 due to low supply.

She gets most of her feed from bottles but still breastfeeds about 4 times a day for comfort more than anything else.

Shes 3 months and I’m ready to stop breastfeeding but no idea how to as she wants the boob for comfort over nutrition and I feel so guilty taking that away from her/don’t know how to.

She won’t take dummy I guess I am a human dummy instead

TIA

xx

Wear a top where she can’t get at you, then be strong!

Cut down one feed at a time for several days to a week. Do the daytime ones first, then bedtime, then overnight. If you have a partner, draft them into doing the bedtime and overnights especially.

Because she is little, you can’t explain it to her, so she will be distressed. You just have to persevere. There isn’t really an easy way except through it.

Not all babies take dummy even if they aren’t breastfed, so I wouldn’t worry about that. You will still be the source of comfort though. You will still be up cuddling and rocking back to sleep during the night. One thing to consider is if it’s easier to do that and bf, or if it’s easier to go make a bottle, feed and rock and settle back to sleep. (I’ve done both as one of mine was bottle fed and one was breastfed, and bedtime and nights with the bf one were definitely easier). There are lots of reasons for being done though and yours may have nothing to do with easier nights.

Is there any specific reason you want to stop? Could you not still continue and even cut down to just 1-2 a day so you have the option. Eg iIf the wee one is unwell breast milk counts as a clear fluid and could be reassuring for you both. And she’d also still get the immunity protection etc.

It’s so normal to feel torn, that comfort feeding stage can feel like you’re her whole world. You’ve already done such a loving thing by feeding her however you could.

You could try gradually reducing those comfort feeds, one at a time, while offering a different form of comfort rocking, singing, or gentle touch. Sometimes it helps to keep one or two feeds for a while until you both adjust.

And please don’t feel guilty, comfort isn’t only about the breast, it’s about you. She’ll still find that same safety with your cuddles and voice x