How do i stop breast feed??

Donna - posted on 02/23/2011

You don't have to wean but if you choose to it is best to start taking away feedings gradually and change up the routine. Wait to take away bed time feedings and nap times until the end. Try not to sit in special nursing spots at normal nursing times that you are cutting out and try the distraction method. If he is distracted he may not notice the change in nursing routine too much. Maybe try to add something new to the routine, something new and special to do instead of nursing like cuddle time while reading or something like that.

Carly - posted on 02/22/2011

I agree wtih Hannah, sounds like he likes the comfort, not necessarily the milk. Have you tried giving him pumped milk? You can give him pumped milk to get him off the actual breast and free yourself up, while still giving him "the good stuff" LOL
It might also be that he's also getting a little dose of the relaxing hormones that are released with the let down, thats probably whats helping to knock him out.

It can't hurt to talk to your pediatrician about it. You definitely don't want to get into bad sleep habits (says the woman still rocking her 2 year old, trust me on this).

If you think weaning is whats best for you and him, then do what you think is right. When I weaned (at 6 months, to formula- due to having to take medication and colic issues) I started offering bottles with pumped milk a couple times a day in between breastfeedings. Then once he got used to the bottles and I had to start on the medicine, I started giving him pumped milk from my freezer supply, then slowly mixing in formula (at first, like 6 oz milk to 1 oz formula, then increase the ratio bit by bit) until he got used to the taste. I still pumped (and had to discard, man that sucked to toss it out) and then gradually pumped less and less until I didn't need to anymore, so I wasn't in any pain. It worked great for both of us and surprisingly, his colic disappeared completely once he was off the breast. Totally opposite of the norm.

But ask your pediatrician what they recommend and decide what works for you.

Hannah - posted on 02/22/2011

Sounds like he is nursing mostly out of comfort rather than out of need for food. You may want to introduce a new comfort item, such as a blankie. that way you can slowly start to transition. :) And I really commend you for breastfeeding this long! Awesome job!!

Corilee - posted on 02/22/2011

i wasn't planning on stopping till he was one and he has 8 teeth now so he eats anything ill give him but he wants to do it himself i still have problems with him trying to fall asleep without nursing and most the time he will cry and cry for it and then only nurse for a couple min and then be done

Hannah - posted on 02/21/2011

I would suggest contact your pediatrician for advice as weaning off of breastmilk will impact your child's dietary needs and choices.

Some children will wean themselves naturally, while others it is a long drawn out process, and there is everything inbetween. much like potty training.

You may also want to speak to La Leche League - although the crux of their weaning advice is "don't offer don't refuse" meaning, do not offer your child the breast (out of site out of mind) but if your child wants the breast, do not refuse. This goes to the root of child trust and attachment. your child breastfeeds not just for nutrition but also for love and comfort and closeness. you will need to supplement those behaviors in other ways to your child was you withdraw breastfeeding. if you stop cold turkey, it would be very distressing for your child, imagine if your partner suddenly said, "I still love you but I won't kiss you any more. this is for your own good though." doesn't many any sense does it? well your child will be just as confused.

anyway - step one, talk with your pediatrician.

Rachael - posted on 02/21/2011

first off know you do NOT have to wean at 1 year. That said, if you WANT to wean start by making sure to introduce TONS of solids. allow him to have plenty of skin-to skin contact even when not nursing and help introduce him to other ways to comfort himself (not a paci please!!!) You can start by cutting back wither 1 sesion at a time (cut one back a week) or just shorten the duration of all the feedings. If you go slowly it shouldn't be traumatic for either of you. It also helps your body to slow milk production a little at a time and you won't have to deal with engorgement. Good Luck! message me if you have any questions. =)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 02/21/2011

Since he's still less than a year you may want to wait to start the process until May. If not, you will need to offer formula unless your child's pediatrician has said otherwise. They need breast milk or formula to be their primary source of nutrition until one year. You definitely want to wean slowly so that it's easier on both of you. Slowly drop the feeds that he's least intersted in. Usually morning and night are the last to go. My daughter wasn't really into solids until about 14 months. By 17 months, when her first set of molars came in, she started eating absolutely everything. His interest in solids will increase as he gets older and you should be able to wean him off by 18 months just fine. My daughter is still nursing so I don't have personal experience, but here are some great tips:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weani...

Corilee - posted on 02/21/2011

ya he will drink out of a sippy and a cup to some days are good he will only nurse a couple times a day but then there is some days when its like the whole day all he wants to do is nurse

Bonnie - posted on 02/21/2011

Yeah I use to warm my boys whole milk for the first little while too. Mainly because they had been used to it being room temperature or a little warmer.

Tasha - posted on 02/21/2011

My girls also weined about 6 months. Does he take a sippy cup? I always had to warm my girls milk when they started on cows milk then as a few months went by I would make it a little cooler till they would take it cold. Good luck. Hope it helps.

Bonnie - posted on 02/21/2011

The way I did it is I kept the morning and bedtime feeds around for a while and slowly stopped the feeds during the day and replaced them with solids and a bit of whole milk. Then when my boys got used to it, I removed the morning feed. I kept the bedtime feed around for a little longer because that was the one that soothed them the most. It is not something that can happen overnight, but in the end, it worked out great.

Stacy - posted on 02/21/2011

first advise would be talk to your obgyn about it. personally thats what i did. i weined at 6 months so it was probably easier becuase we weined and introduced solids at the same time but gradual is key. but sometimes if they dont get what they want they throw a tantrum. my son threw a bit of a fit but we just stuck our ground and he got over it....you can also check with the hospital you delivered at to see if they have a lactation speialist available to speak. they are experts. :-)