Ready To Quit!!

My DD is 2.5, 3 in June, and is still breastfed. I love the bond, but I'm just ready to stop. It's a constant battle with her, everytime I sit the hell down she's pulling at my shirt asking for boob. Sleeping is a nightmare, and I'm so sick of being attacked in my sleep. I know this may sound horrible to some of you, but I've had enough. It's even starting to make me feel really uncomfortable at times.

How did you wean your baby/babies? I know child led is best, but I also know that continuing to nurse her when I don't want to isn't good, either.

Help? Advice?

I understand. I think if you reach a point where you are no longer benefiting from the breast feeding relationship, then it's probably time to wean.
I haven't crossed this road yet, but I hope you get some good advice.
Good luck!

dont feel bad! You do what you feel is right!

Don't feel guilty mamma!

When my daughter was 19 months I felt just like you do now.

I did 2 things:
-got her out of my bed. It's easier to wean that way and found that we both started to sleep better.
-would distract her when she would go to nurse "ooh, lets get a snack!" Or "lets play a game!". This way, she didn't feel rejected, but I got what I wanted, lol

The best way to do it gently is stop at night first. Sounds like she's realy attached and it would probably be traumatising to stop all at once.
Get a bed time routine going (if you don't already have one). Start off with pjs, then nursing, then brush her teeth, then read books in bed.
Make sure you stress throughout the day that tonight after she brushes her teeth she can't nurse again until morning. While you're nursing her at night stress that its the last time until morning. Etc etc.
Get her a cup of water to keep next to her bed.

It worked for my son and he was just as attached as your daughter is.
After you finish the nighttime weaning, its a lot easier to work on day time. Give her a limit. I set my son to once in the morning and once at night.
After we did that for a few weeks he started to lose interest. He was more and more distracted and started going full days without even asking. Then I got pregnant and my milk dried up.

And make sure if you tell her something, stick to it! She is old enough that she will realize very quickly that asking over and over or throwing a fit just isn't going to work and she will have to accept that she can't nurse at night anymore. If she wakes up and asks, remind her that she can have some in the morning and if she just goes back to sleep for a litttle longer it will be time again.

Quoting pilot Jess:" Don't feel guilty mamma! When my daughter was 19 months I felt just like you do now. I did 2 things: ... [snip!] ... go to nurse "ooh, lets get a snack!" Or "lets play a game!". This way, she didn't feel rejected, but I got what I wanted, lol"

That's what I'm most concerned about, her feeling rejected or traumatized. I feel selfish for wanting to stop, kwim?

Quoting Will☮Creedence:" The best way to do it gently is stop at night first. Sounds like she's realy attached and it would probably ... [snip!] ... He was more and more distracted and started going full days without even asking. Then I got pregnant and my milk dried up."

Most definitely. She would camp out if I'd let her. I even nursed her through 8 months of pregnancy. When I started to have contractions when she nursed, I explained to her that it hurt, and I thought she was weaned. Well, when the baby came home, she regressed big time. Went back into diapers and started nursing 24/7. I guess that's why I feel so much guilt  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Altheda+3:</b>" That's what I'm most concerned about, her feeling rejected or traumatized. I feel selfish for wanting to stop, kwim?"</blockquote>




You are NOT selfish! You've gone much longer than most, be proud!

And don't beat yourself up. I did at first too, but in the end weaning was good for both of us. I got my sanity back (she wanted to nurse. ALL the time) and she gained independence and since she wasn't a little baby anymore, we had more time for meaningful interaction with playing, learning, etc.

It's a good thing, mamma. It's time to grow.


Good luck  

Quoting pilot Jess:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Altheda+3:</b>" That's what I'm most concerned about, her feeling ... [snip!] ... more time for meaningful interaction with playing, learning, etc. It's a good thing, mamma. It's time to grow. Good luck  "