Need help to stop breastfeeding

[pink4me]

Hi, Im currently b/feeding my 2 and a half year old little girl and Im ready to stop... only problem is that she is not.

She is very very much attached to b/feeding and can some days be relentless in her wanting it which leads to crying and screaming which breaks my heart as I know its such a comfort for her. I just feel very overwhelmed some days with 4 other kids who also need me. She goes to daycare 1 day a week with no problem and has also slept over grandparents for over 24hrs with no problem. The problem is when she sees me.

I cant sit anywhere in the house as she sees that as being an invitation to climb on me for a feed.

It doesnt seem to be tapering off, the opposite actually. When we go out she is groping and pulling at my clothes to get my boobs out!! I know she loves them and I have enjoyed feeding until now... I really would like to stop but dont know how. Cold turkey? Im worried she will be inconsolable if I do this :crying: this would break my heart as Im not good at letting her crying "mama mama..." I feel like im neglecting her.

Any help please please please!!!

[Me]

at 2 1/2 how do you think she'd grasp the concept if you spoke to her about it, rather than just denying her access. If you think it will be hard on her to stop altogether, maybe pop up a little chart and give her a limit of how many she can have a day. Say if it's 3 a day have 3 little boxes then cross them out when she's had a feed. At the end of the 3 boxes, that's it, that's her limit for the day. Do you think this will work for her? I know at 2 1/2 kids are all at such different stages so whilst this may work for 1 child, it may not work for another.

Hopefully someone else will come along with some other ideas for you as well. I suppose with all parenting consistancy is going to be the key. Best of luck.

[SuperGranny]

hi , i would think maybe start with only feeding her at home not when you are out. then maybe you could try only at night time not through the day, that sort of thing to gradually ease out of feeding her. I would not like to have a screaming child either. I think if you just make some changes like that it will be smoother for her. Also, dont offer the breast at anytime let her ask for it. At that age she should be able to be consoled with yes I will feed you but later, ok. cheers , Marie.

[BabelFish]

:yeah:

That's how my friend's Mum did it (yes my friend is 33 now but she remembers!!)

Her mother would never actually deny her a feed but would, instead, put it off. `Of course darling you can have a feed but could Mummy have her cup of tea first?' or if they were out `Yes darling but not until we get home' and then would gradually distract her that way.

Not so easy if your DD gets so upset but if she's fine elsewhere then I think it can be done.

Perhaps you could devise some kind of reward chart for her if she is good about it? Not food or toys or anything (because she needs to learn that she has to do what Mummy says and not expect material rewards) but something else she likes, like a cuddle or a story.

She's so young to try to understand what is happening. Perhaps not cold turkey but a gradual elimination may be the thing. :hugs: