In a perfect world I would nurse my baby once a day (in the morning) until 18-24 months, but lately she wants to nurse all the time. It's burning me out (I'm home with her so when I say all the time, I really mean it...she asks for it upwards of 15x times a day) and making me resent nursing, and worry about leaving her.
A month ago it felt like it was gradually reducing naturally, we were down to nursing only after wakings (3x a day). Then she got sick (she's better now) and it ramped up again. The older she gets, the bigger the tantrums when I say no.
She's a great with eating solids, drinks milk from a straw-cup, but will not take a bottle under any circumstance. If i offer her milk instead of the boob she swats it away and cries. She pats my chest, tugs at my shirt and says "nur nur" and cries if I don't give in. So far the only thing that works is offering her a small snack (a cracker etc) and that distracts her.
A big issue for me is that I occasionally need to travel for work and I don't want that to be traumatic for her, guilt-ridden for me, and a nightmare for whoever is caring for her.
I guess my question is, has anyone else gone through this? Did you cut them off cold turkey? Is it possible to keep that one feed but cut the others? Help!! I need tips, advice, anything. I'm so lost and frustrated.