need tips on how you can stop breast feeding

Carly - posted on 06/21/2009

At two they are getting smart if the biting is the only reason you want to stop tell her if you bite mommy then you can't have any more milk. As long as you are consistant and end the nursing when she bites you it should work. Or maybe the biting is her telling you she is finished nursing and ready to wean.

Marilyn - posted on 06/21/2009

thanks forthe reply.....and i decided to continue but ill try the things evryone had replied......

Erika - posted on 06/20/2009

I'm just going to respond about the biting. She's old enough you can teach her not to bite. Each time she bites, stick your finger in to save your poor nipple, say OUCH! and gently take her off and sit her beside you a foot or two away for a few moments and tell her she can continue to nurse if she stops biting. I actually did this with my 8 month old when he was 7 months. . . I'm guessing it would work with an older child. I do know at 2 nursing is a HUGE comfort for her. . . more than getting food. She wants that closeness. If you can teach her not to bite, you can both continue to enjoy the closeness. With my 7 now 8 month old, it did take almost 4 weeks and being consistent is so hard. . . but it was not traumatic, there was almost no crying involved and he only bites now (clenches down) when he falls asleep. You still have to slip that finger in to save yourself!!!! Good luck. I'm sure there are other methods to stop the biting. Yelling explatives doesn't work as well : ) I tried that first! Ha ha.

Kathy - posted on 06/20/2009

My little guys only 19 months and he's only bit me a few times but not very hard... the very first time he did i pretended i was crying and said "ouch... booo hooo you hurt mommy..." he then made a sad face .... i told him be gentle with mommy.... it really hasn't happened lately... but i would continue to do the sad face and pretend to cry... good luck :)

Jocelyn - posted on 06/20/2009

the trick i used with my son when he would bite me is to squish him into my boob so he couldn't breath (and would have to let go) i think that combined with lots of repeating yourself ("ow, that hurts mommy") should help to get her to stop biting. if she won't, you can always pump so she can continue to get the nutrients, while saving your nipples. i've also heard that biting a lot can be a sign that the babe is ready to wean (my son weaned at 21 months, but without biting, so i'm not too sure about that...)

Vanessa - posted on 06/19/2009

If you want to continue, then continue. I'm breastfeeding a 3 year old and believe in child led weaning....there are many benefits to both mother and child in continuing to breastfeed. Sounds like you are getting pressure from others to wean. Your breastfeeding relationship with your daughter is no one elses business but your own.....its something sacred between mother and child.


You must sort out the biting issue though. At 2 years of age she is well old enough to understand that biting hurts you.


So say things to her like....."i like it when you nurse (or whatever you call it) gentley." as you are allowing her to latch. If she bites, calmly, but firmly say "Ouch! That hurts me, i don't like being hurt." and close your bra and the feeding session ends there. You can explain that you are not willing to feed her if she bites and i bet she will still want to continue without the biting. So every time she bites, say the same thing and take her off and close your bra. Give her a cuddle and tell her you want to breastfeed her but you only like it when she feeds gentley. i am sure it will pass and you can happily continue to breastfeed. i have encountered a few issues like this, but with love and communication we have over come them all and are still happily breastfeeding at nearly 4 years old. By the way.....we are at t he point where most family and friends think she weaned a year or more ago as we only breastfeed at home now.


its not up to "others" when your daughter weans.......its up to your daughter!


hope this helps :)

Bobbi - posted on 06/19/2009

I'm a mom of 7, nursed all until about the age of 2 (+ or --) and am still enjoying the benefits w/ my 22. month old. At that age they can understand mommy's feelings and I let them know it hurt and said, (w/ a strained, painful expresssion on my face) "They have boo-boos!" I would then lift my shirt to show them the 'boo-boos' and have a Band-aid across them. They get the point and w/ consistency, you'll get relief. Reading is a good alternative. Avoid the familiar nursing spots, create a new routine.

I chose to wean that way when I got pregnant w/ the next child, but don't feel the need to conform to others' expectations. If you can endure those bites and discourage the continuance of them, keep going. Make up YOUR mind and then be consistent, even through the whines and cries. You'll both make it, I promise.

Johnny - posted on 06/19/2009

Nothing wrong with continuing to breastfeed, but if you'd really like to quit, that's good too :) One of my friends had the same problem with biting when her bub was about the same age and she just one day decided to tell her that "her boobies were broken and wouldn't make any more milk." Her daughter just kissed them bye-bye and let it go. She asked a couple more times, and my friend just said, "sorry, still broken" and that was the end of it. I couldn't believe it, but it worked like a charm. No trauma (except maybe for mommy ;))

Jovanne - posted on 06/19/2009

I tried to get my daughter to like whole milk for a few months. She preferred nursing over whole milk for a long time! I finally tried cookies where she would dry her mouth out and whole milk tasted great with them. Before that, I got her down to nursing when she woke up and when she went to sleep. After liking whole milk, I just tried to get her to forget to ask to nurse. For instance, keep her so busy all afternoon until she fell asleep cuddling. In the morning, give her breakfast first thing. If she starting asking to nurse, I would rush to get her a drink (whole milk, juice, water). I also tried explaining to her that the whole milk is just like my milk.



I always hear of many women nursing until 3 or 4 years old. There's definitely nothing wrong with continuing to breastfeed. Make sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about her nutrient intake. I had to wean her because I was getting sick often and feeling so drained (and trying to finish school). Good luck!