I see / hear this often: I am so glad I was able to breastfeed my baby but now I am ready to stop OR I am just done it was hard, I did it because I know it was best for my baby but I am so done with all of it! I JUST WANT MY BODY BACK. That is fair mom.
They say all good (or not so good ) things must come to an end. Breastfeeding is the same. It can be all encompassing for moms, constant demands of food, soreness, possibly you had mastitis, or cracked nipples.
So how do I go about getting this child to stop?
Well lets break feeding down to day time and night time feeds.
In general what works best is to taper off feeds. dropping off a feed or increasing the time between feeds.
Some daytime strategies include:
Don't offer, Don't refuse. this is best used as a supplement to other things. The object being for example the child usually feeds immediately on rising. You don't offer to feed immediately. You do other things to distract like getting into the rest of the days routine without offering to stop and feed. Say get the child dressed, maybe offer finger foods and bottle or cup liquids before stopping to breastfeed. This delays a feed (increasing time between feeds) and creates a change in routine. This may take a while, humans are creatures of habit. It will most likely be met with resistance. If the child is distressed and not distractible and insistent in feeding, attempt to delay but feed if necessary. Maybe this feed you feed for a shorter time and go then back to breakfast or play.
Location If there is a location "nursing chair or area" avoid sitting there. Stand more often. Avoid going to that area at the usual time.
Anticipate sessions and create distractions or delays. Move to a favored non nursing location or activity and delay the start of nursing.
Change the amount of time spent at the breast, if old enough sing a song then stop at the end of the song.
Night time weaning and napping weaning is a bit more of a challenge. Any sleep training program that advocates letting them cry it out can undermine the positives you have set in place with nursing. You have spent months teaching your little one that they can depend on you. Hysterical crying babies have a tendency to drive the whole household over the edge.
One solution again depends on someone other than you doing the part of the sleep routine that preps for breastfeeding if at all possible. Up to and including giving a bottle or cup. Offer drinks, hugs snacks or reading to settle things down. If that fails and the child is still resistant offer the breast with a time limit again "I will sing this song then it's time to stop nursing and sleep."
Try allowing head resting on your chest while reading but make getting to the nipple very difficult.
Move the child into their own room, of course this will also meet some resistance so do this before eliminating the bedtime feed.
Shorten nursing sessions. again use something with a definite end, a song that is familiar.
If age is appropriate, talk to your child about the advantages to them of not breastfeeding. More autonomy and less dependence on having mom to feed.
To be sure weaning is difficult, a trying time for mom and child. Sometimes for the whole house. But most, if not all of us have been through it. Keep your wits and sense of humor about you. Just think how many adults do you know that have not successfully traveled this road.
It is appropriate to reach out to a lactation consultant for assistance.
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