Any new ideas for stopping breastfeeding!!! I know I am too late but she is too attached to it! :((

Aleksandra - posted on 09/17/2010

Hi ladies,
My girl is 29 months old and we just stopped breastfeeding 3 weeks ago. I felt it was time since she was two but she was so upset about it and she would breastfeed only to get to sleep (both during day and night and during night) and it was not a big problem for me, so I continued.

Now, I started giving her kids chew-able vitamins and told her I need to take a pill and that the doctor told me how my milk will not be good for her (I did need an antibiotic and the pharmacist did say it is not recommended 2-3 days to breastfeed) so, that is what I said.
She did whine and demand but I was talking gently and giving her a lot of cuddles and wearing really tight bras so she could not get to it.
She asks from time to time still but I keep telling her how big girl she is and she does not need that cos cow is giving her her breast milk.
Oh yeah, and she did want to get her nails polished and I said after she stops breastfeeding I will paint her nails and was mentioning it to her often, so she felt special when we did paint them.
With all that, it each child is different and if they are really upset and you do not mind - continue, but if it is not working for you try to be as gentle and considerate.
I did feel sad and feeling a loss and was not able to explain it cos I wanted to stop but still I feel lost a precious connection we shared.
Good luck to all trying to wean off their kids, it is tough and not enough information is out there to guide us.
p.s. I did put paprika powder on my nipple so she would be turned off- it did not work she did cry, but in the end asked for seasoned nipple ;) (I never tried anything like that again, my friend did suggest ground pepper, but I think we should be reasonable and that was out of the question)

Ali - posted on 09/14/2010

I thought it was going to be more difficult for my son than it was because he has a brother 15 mo younger that breastfeeds several times a day. We started having his daddy put him to bed at night by reading to him. He wasn't happy about not getting boob, but after 2 nights he stopped asking for it. I still fed him before his daytime nap ofr another week, then I told him that he didn't really need it and that mommy would read him a story just like daddy did. It took a couple of days,but he's fine now. He even sees his brother being fed and doesn't ask for it any more.

Ali - posted on 09/14/2010

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Tanika - posted on 05/27/2010

I'M IN THE SAME BOAT!MY DAUGHTER IS ALSO 2 YRS OLD.SORRY I DON'T HAVE ANY ADVICE,I'M ALSO IN NEED OF AN ADVICE.SHE WON'T LET GO!YES ESPECIALY AT NIGHT.CRY, CRY, CRY!WHEN SHE CAN'T HAVE IT.

Carmen - posted on 05/23/2010

sounds like my situation, too :) i have a two year old boy and he is not anywhere near stopping...my husband thinks he should...and i think he could at least learn how to get to sleep without feeding, plus no night time feeds would be awesome for my sleep :)
but i have tried so often to distract him during the day, pat him to sleep or drive him to sleep in the car...with not much success. my japanese friend drew a face on either breast and told her son that there are people living now who are asleep and don't want to be disturbed...and it worked for her! another japanese friend had wasabi(!) put on her breasts by her mother and it instantly worked..no surprise here :)
that's certainly creative, haven't tried both of them myself though...

Kimberly - posted on 04/24/2010

I weaned my 2 year old by slowly dropping feedings and offering other things instead...cups of milk or water, a special toy or snuggly item, or even a non-nursing snuggle with me. But I can't seem to get him to drop his LAST feed! LOL! He nurses once a day before his nap. I guess it's okay, but since I also have a 4 month old nursling, I'm sorta ready to let my eldest be totally weaned. Good luck to you!

Joanne - posted on 04/22/2010

Sounds just like my situation!My little boy will turn two in a couple of days and he too shows no sign of giving it up! I don't mind a couple of times during the day,but would really love to stop the night feeding too!When he wakes in the night his first word is 'boo' and he will nuzzle against me until he gets it! My friend put coffee on her boobs when she wanted to stop and this seemed to work for her daughter.Sorry I haven't got any more ideas...just know you're not alone and they will grow out of it....eventually!!

Charlotte - posted on 04/22/2010

Slowly weaning her off is the best way. For the feeds, try getting a breast pump and just replace 1 feed buy a bottle of breast milk to begin with. Then when you think she's ready, replace 2 feeds by bottles. For my 3, I used AVANT bottles and teets as I'm told they are the closest thing to a breast! lol As for going to sleep try giving her a t-shirt or other item of clothing that you've worn for a few nights in a row so that it smells of you. You can also find specially shaped dummies these days that don't deform the palate or try and get her to suck her thumb. I was told by several pediatricians and child-psychiatrists that thumb-sucking is better than a dummy. I hope that helps, good luck!