I dont want to keep avoiding dd

[DCS]

I feel like i spend most of the day avoiding her. She is 2.5. I still breastfeed her. Antly time im sat down she wants feeding, if she sees me she wants feeding. I was doing the dishes and she was hanging around my legs shouting, i want mummy, over and over again. I want to sit down anf play with her, do a puzzle or read a book. Everytime im near her she wants feeding. I do t think she even has much milk now. Its just a comfort thing.
I dont mind feeding her, i like that we can sut down together and have a cuddle, but i dont want to be doing it all day. I have no real intention of stopping the bedtime feeds till she self weans. But id deffinately like to reduce the day ones.
So, how do i spend more time playing with her without her attached to me?

 

[LeannieB]

Hi my little boy is 27 months and is exactly the same. As soon as I sit down he is on my lap asking for Milk. Follows me everywhere as well. Shouts me from downstairs if I go upstairs. It's Def a comfort thing for him. He sleeps in our bed at night and still wakes up in the night. I had to spend a night away from him in November as my eldest was in hospital having his appendix out and he slept fine without me. He is also fine if I'm not there and will play happily but as soon as I'm back he is asking for it. X

 

[LeannieB]

I am the same in that I would like to cut back on it in the day but I'm happy to carry on at night

 

[DCS]

Im so glad its not just my kids. I remember ds being very similar. I was out this morning with ds, we got home and within about 5 minutes she was screaming " i need you mummy" over and over while i was holding her. She doesnt care if im sat having a wee, or if im drinking a cup of tea she just cries and screams at me. She sleeps in her own bed nost days now. About once a month she will come in to our bed early in the night. She generaly sleeps well, from about 6.30 to 5.30 in her own bed and comes in for a feed till ds wakes at 6. If i let her she would probably spend all day feeding.

 

[LeannieB]

My little boy would be the same in that he probably spend all day feeding if he could. He is not so bad if we are out as he is distracted so doesn't ask for it. I have no idea how I'm going to start cutting back in the day. I never actually intended to breastfeed for this long x

 

[AngelUK]

I am not in the same situation but why not just tell her, it is not feeding time now and tell her when it is/will be feeding time? So she screams and shouts, that is ok, she is disappointed she cannot have that feed and that is understandable. Offer a cuddle instead (she obviously craves connection with you) and tell her you understand her disappointment but remain firm. This BF relationship is about 2 ppl not just her. It might not be easy at first but nothing is with kids lol, consistency and sticking to your guns will see a change in 3 to 4 days, which is usually how long it takes for kids that age to get used to a new routine. Good luck.

 

[SarahBear]

I had to establish clear limits with my daughter as she got older and stick firmly to them. It can be hard at first, but if you stick firmly to it, things calm down. I don't remember when the limits started, but I do know that at one point it was limited to once upon waking up in the morning, once after nap time, and once before bed. These were clear cut routine time frames that she could grasp.

 

[cat_reversing]

It's hard to make changes when lo still really wants it but it has to work for both of you. I started to dread it and realised we needed to make changes, decide on what you want is key then stick to it. Offer cuddles instead during the day, only feed at a particular time, then cut down one feed at a time.

 

[DCS]

Thanks. Iv been trying to work on it with her. Suggesting we maybe build a lego house and if she still wants it after that she can. Usually she forgets. Iv also started telling her i need her to be finished because i need to do xyz if she doesnt come off after a few minutes i will say i need you to be off by the time i count to 5 and by the time i get to two she is off and cheering because she " winned" i think we are getting there. Although i have noticed she wants to nap the lasy few days so maybe the reason the feeding had started to feel never ending is because she was teething/ poorly.