how can I stop breastfeeding all the time?

Question

I have a 4 mth old that is hardly ever off the breast. Wouldn't be a problem cause I am a stay at home mom. But I have a 2 1/2 that needs his mother as well and I can't do ANYTHING with/for him cause his brothers always nursing!!! I would like to give a bottle of formula to ease up on the need to feed all the time but he gets one taste of the milk and screams for me. He refuses any milk other then my own.How can I change this? How can I get him to give my breast a rest so I can care for my other kid?? ALso how can I get his binkie to stay IN his mouth?

bty I do pump but its hard to find time to pump since he is always feeding...he is getting enough milk he just got checked at the doc. he basicly uses me as a binkie..I don't hardly ever offer him the binkie..just when I try he sucks for a little and it falls out his mouth.

Answer 1

Try easing him onto formula. Start with 2 ounces formula and 4 ounces breast milk then gradually increase the formula.

As for the binky. (you are right, sounds like he is using you as a binky and you may have painful problems later on if you don't get him on one.) try holding him close to you like you are nursing and stick the binky in his mouth and hold it there. He should eventually take it. We use the NUK binky's. They are the only ones my kids would take.

Don't let people on here pressure you into not using formula. They are ignorant. (I don't know how they know that formula is disgusting. Are they tasting their own breast milk too?)

Answer 2

I understand completely I have three children three and under and breastfed all of them. The baby is probably not taking the bottle because lots of breastfeed babies do not like the feeling of the nipple. My suggestion is make sure you are drinking lots of water a 1/2 ounce for ever pound you weight. Then get a good pregnancy tea and drink this a couple times a day. Lastly I would think about when he is nursing for example how many times does he get up at night verses the day. If he is sleeping all night long he is probably needing more during the day. I would nurse about every three hours for twenty minutes but would be able to answer your question better if I was able to ask you about his scedual. He could also just like to use your breast as a pacifier which is very common in breastfed children. I would not suggest pumping at all, this take more time then needed and you are going to most likely fight him to take the bottle.

Answer 3

As you said, he is using you as a binkie. As much as babies need food, sleep, and diaper changes, babies also naturally need comfort (some more than others), and breastfeeding is very comforting for them. Try wearing your baby. By this I mean, buy/make a sling or wrap (check out www.attachedtobaby.com). This will comfort him, and he may even sleep the entire time you wear him.

You can definitely also breastfeed him while you wear him and chase around your toddler. If you get the right type of carrier (a wrap or native style sling), you won't have to worry about your back hurting.

If you are on a budget, you can go to the fabric store's or even walmart's dollar bin and buy 4 yards (5 if you are tall/heavy set) of cheap fabric that you can use to wrap the baby around you. To make a sling, you can take a bedsheet and loop it around you and knot it at your shoulder.

Answer 4

I had a similar problem with the youngest daughter,all she wanted to do was breastfeed,and I felt bad sometimes for my eldest daughter sometimes,especially when she would come to me and say quick quick come and look.and I would have to say to her,in just a minute,and by the time I would go with her to look what she was so excited about she would either have had forgotten or was upset.But you have to remember even if you were bottle feeding your baby,you would still have similar problems as I mentioned,because when a baby is hungry a baby is hungry,If you can get a sling,a certain type of sling.Where I come from the call it an Indian sling.it straps over your shoulder and the baby lies side ways and you can walk around the house breastfeeding,so you can still play with your older child,do dishes,cook,because both hands are free.I can't help you with the dummy,as none of my 3 children had one.They refused them.I don't know if it has some thing to do with breastfeeding or not,as I have met alot of women who have breastfeed their children and all their babies refused one too.I hope it all works out for you.

Answer 5

My daughter nursed frequently -- often for 45 minutes, with a 15 minute break, then another 45 minutes. A sling was invaluable in letting me have freedom of movement and my hands available. Try a sling without padded rails -- those can make it very hard to nurse. A Maya Wrap works great for nursing.

Regarding the PP who mentioned formula -- yes, it does taste disgusting. I've tasted both formula and my own breastmilk. Breastmilk tastes like a melted vanilla milkshake. Formula tastes like crap.

Answer 6

Try pumping instead, after all "Breast is best" (and your smart baby obviously prefers it). It's probably not that he's always hungry, he just wants to be close to you. Do you have a sling? You could "wear" your baby, that way you'd give him what he wants (closeness to his mommy) and what your 2 1/2 yr-old needs at the same time (Free hands!)

Answer 7

Try going to your local wic agency...they will loan you a medela double breat pump. It expresses milk quickly, and since it is a double pump, you can express from both breasts. Thats awesome that you are still breastfeeding, I wasnt able to. I found that the "nuk" pacifiers work best with my son, something about the nipple shape is similiar to a mom's. Good luck!

Answer 8

With the binky you might have to try a couple of different kind to see what he likes best, but you just need to help him keep it in his mouth so he can get use to it.

Answer 9

Have you tried doing breast compressions while you are nursing? This may help him get to the fatty, filling hindmilk faster and make him more satisfied.

Have you tried wearing him in a sling? It makes caring for older siblings so much easier!

Answer 10

I agree with trying the sling. It helped me a ton. My favorites are at hotslings.com. This made my son content because he was close to me, but also allowed me to move around and get things done.

As far as a pacifier- try (if you haven't already!) one that is entirely silicone. But absolutely try different kinds until you find one he likes.