I am about to stop breastfeeding and I am feeling so unsure about the best way to do it. Sorry for this essay of a post but I need some advice and everyone I know stopped breastfeeding much earlier and don't seem to understand why I haven't already put DS on formula...

DS is 8.5 months and at this point is mostly on solids, he nurses at bed time, once in the night and some days once during the day. He's dropped the feeds by himself and seems happy with solids. I don't think he's hungry in the night any more but nurses for comfort.

I am going back to work in a couple of weeks and have decided that the upcoming Easter weekend (4 days off in the UK) is when we're stopping nursing all together. I am not planning on giving formula as DS so far has rejected all attempts and because I don't really see the point of putting him on formula at 9 months old. My doctor has advised that formula isn't really necessary, with plenty of dairy in his diet and a multivitamin there is no medical need for it.

So I guess I am looking for some advice on how to pull the plug on breastfeeding without replacing it with a bottle? Should I just go cold turkey and refuse all breastfeeding or cut down slowly? We only have 2-3 feeds left each day so not sure whether to start with the bedtime or middle of night feed? How did you deal with not breastfeeding in the night? Is CIO the only option or are there other ways of refusing nightly feeds?

Gaah, there are so many questions spinning in my mind and as DH does not have boobies he defers to whatever I think is best on this.

If anyone has been in the same situation I'd love to hear how you handled it!