How to get an 18mth old baby to stop breastfeeding?

Question

My son just turned 18mths and I have been breastfeeding him since he was born. I had planned to continue until he lost the urge to suckle which I read would be around 2-3 yrs old. I could have lived with that but recently my nipples have begun to hurt either because he's suckling harder or perhaps there's just less milk now, I don't know but I want him to stop!

I can basically distract him during the day but at nite he needs me to breastfeed him to fall asleep and during the nite to stay asleep. Last nite I tried regular milk and a formula that I put in his cereal every morning together in a bottle but he refused it.
We were up until 12mn trying to get him to drink it. I even gave my husband a similar bottle so that my son will see him drinking from it and mimic him. Didn't work! He cried and cried until I gave in.
Please help...

1. The bottle worked before. He used to drink from it since he was abt 6mths old whenever we were driving and he couldn't get the breast.

2. His father is very involved! He was the one who ended up putting him to sleep last nite when I was at my wits end.

3. He doesn't bite! He did it when he was 4 mths old, I pulled out and told him he couldn't have it anymore and he never bit me again!

He has his sippy cup which he uses and he drinks from regular cups and glasses, from straws and even directly out of a bottle. He just won't quit the breast!

Answer 1

A friend of mine rubbed lemon on her nipples right before her daughter's expected nursing time. When her daughter asked for 'nursey,' my friend said, 'I think nursey's gone bad — it seems sour.' Her daughter said, 'No, it's not bad,' so my friend said, 'Okay, try it, but don't say I didn't warn you!' Her daughter started to nurse but pulled away instantly, saying, 'Yucky. Nursey's gone sour. I don't want anymore nursey.' She tried to nurse a couple of times after that, but my friend made sure she kept lemons nearby and kept repeating the trick until her daughter gave up. Seemed to work wonders without any trauma at all!

Have consistency and patience, and a lot of it, too. I had to wean my 17-month-old son, who breastfed only at night, when I found out I was pregnant. The first night, when my son started crying and looking for 'nini,' my husband gave him a sippy cup of cows' milk and told him, 'Mommy's nini has a booboo. You just have to take this.' My son refused the first few times but eventually got the message that nini wasn't available that night. He took a few gulps from the sippy cup and went back to sleep. In the morning he tried to lift my shirt up but I said to him, 'There's no more nini, I'll just hold you instead or give you lots of hugs.' It may be hard at first, but it'll be over before you know it.

If you nurse in a certain chair, you might consider getting rid of it or hiding it while you wean your son. Also, start doing things that make him a "big boy". It is amazing how much the "big boy/big girl" psychology works. Also, if he is co-sleeping, you might want to consider wearing a sports bra in bed so that there is no "easy access" to the breast. The sports bra will also help reduce the amount of milk produced.
I hope that some of these suggestions help and good luck!!

Answer 2

Forget about bottles. He can easily drink from a cup at his age. Be sure he's eating a variety of solids to ensure he's getting the nutrients he needs. Then work on eliminating one nursing session at a time.
Contact La Leche League, they will have lots of tips for you from women who have been where you are.
If you think the nursing is primarily for comfort rather than nutrition, try some new ways of offering comfort - this is a good time to get the father more involved with his son. Read books to him, give him a blankie or stuffed animal to hold. Rock him in a rocking chair, sing to him. Basically you want to create a warm, nurturing bond that makes him feel secure but that does not include nursing.

Answer 3

I nursed my daughter for 18 months, only because I couldn't find the nerve to quit. When I finally did, I told her that she was a big girl and it was only for babies. She comprehended that so well! She quit that night; I think because she knew I was serious...no more! Try giving him something big boy that he can only have when he gives up the breast. Bribe...you betcha! GL!

Answer 4

Yeah, has he started biting you too? That's what eventually made me stop when my daughter was 18 months.
I started by introducing story time at night. I would breastfeed her while reading a story, then after a few nights, fed, then gave her a story whilst she was cuddled up to me, and this stopped her from going to sleep whilst feeding.
Then, about a week after making the decision to stop, I actually stopped.
I have to admit though, that it did still get me depressed- I was so sad that I wasn't breastfeeding anymore.

Answer 5

This is a situation where contacting your local La Leche League would be useful. They may be able to identify what is happening with you nipples- so that he can continue to nurse. They might have some suggestions also in weaning.

Answer 6

My dr. suggested just sticking it out. It usually takes about 3 really bad days...but then they give in. Its usually a rough couple days, but it does work, I promise! My son was the hardest to break and it took 2 days that were bad, but the second day wasnt as bad as the first! Good luck!

Answer 7

introduce him to a sippy-cup. give him water, juice, something other than breast milk. sippy cups are the key to weaning, and DONT give in if he insists on breast feeding

Answer 8

you have to buy plug in bottles and make sure the nipples are most like yours it will take time but make sure you are consistent with trying to make them drink out of the bottles