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Need advise on stopping breastfeeding my 24 month old son, who certainly doesnt want to stop!

Michelle - posted on 02/12/2010 ( 2 moms have responded )

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I am a mom of two brilliant boys and have breastfed them both, I had no trouble with my first son when the time came to stop breastfeeding at 21 months. My second son had his 2nd birthday last week and I now want to stop breastfeeding.
The problem is he has very different ideas, he is most certainly not ready, but I feel that enough is enough. We have massive tantrums throughout the day if I refuse the breast and at night we spend most of the night awake with him screeming the house down until I give in. I still have a good milk supply, and he will take cows milk from a cup, but I think it is about comfort, that I am his dummy.
I did ask my doctor for help or advise but he just looked at me with disgust at the fact I was still breastfeeding him at this age, and gave me no help at all. Any advise????

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Rachelle - posted on 02/12/2010

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I feel your pain. I too had a similar problem with my 2 older sons. First of all....tell the doc with disgust, to kiss your booty! sorry, that really urks me! How dare they be so judgemental....especially a doc! Anyway, one thing at a time.You are torturing the both of you trying to do both at once. Day time is MUCH easier since you can substitute food for nursing....so be sure to have the things he really likes to eat. Especially before nap times. Also, try to keep him in a setting where he is least like to want to nurse. Like maybe a playground? I was in SoCal when I was going through this, so that was pretty easy. We packed picnic lunches and headed to the playground. Once you've made your decision to quit day (or night), you MUST NOT give in. When you give in after he's been screaming, you're essentially saying, "good crying! here you go!". Which increases the likelihood that he'll scream even harder and longer the next time. Before you start weaning, you must decide to be the stronger one! No matter what.....or you'll be in this phase forever! The other thing that really helped....especially for nighttime nursing....I traded nursing for nice bedtime music along with rocking and/or walking. The first Nora Jones CD is a good one. Still not as good as nursing, but if you don't give in, he'll soon understand that the music means sleepy time, AND no nursing. Try not to stress too much or let others get to you. You're stressed enough as it is. You've done and are doing a wonderful thing for your boys..better to go too long, than not long enough (in my opinion)....there are bigger problems you could have.....they won't nurse forever....so just try to be patient and steadfast. Oh ya, one more thing...maybe the other parent can be around more? Maybe when the other parent, or grandma, or aunty, or another good mommy friend, etc... can be there for a whole day, you can be gone? Maybe trade kids with another mom? Remember that it's all about their connection with you, which makes it hard to leave them too....I know. Try to think logically, not emotionally, and take small steps. GOOD LUCK!

Danielle - posted on 02/12/2010

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maybe tru for another few weeks and try to prepare him with something to replace it. take him to the toy store and let him pick out a special sleep toy for when he no longer wants to breast feed, build it up so he is really excited about up and justy make sure he knows the rules before it is time to say no.

or there could be a milk fairy who comes and stops you making milk, but he gets a reward for being really good about it.



just some ideas to help prepare him, good luck

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