Warning long post: Is it bad that I'm to the point where I just want to stop breastfeeding? I've…

My oldest hated nursing with the cover on also . She would get to hot

I did it five years I always went to the car but that’s me I wouldn’t do it in a public place but even if he goes bottle it’s better then nothin don’t be like me lmao

Honestly my daughter at the age hated nursing under the cover and couldn't nurse in new environments like a restaurant. It was just too over stimulating with the new smells and noises and led to her getting frustrated fast.

Men will be men. Sounds like they were just trying to help.

It's ultimately up to you if you want to stop but don't feel guilty about it. Fed is best.

No judgement from me what you choose, just sharing my experience with you.

With my oldest, I could nurse him anywhere as long as there wasn’t a cover on him. He hated being hot, but he loved nursing. So I learned to cover up as much of my boob as possible, but kept him uncovered.

My youngest was too distracted by everything and if I wanted him to eat, I had to nurse him privately. Even at home. It was so much easier to bottle feed him when I was out, and then breastfeed him at home. And it was annoying to nurse him privately at home but he was such a fast eater it ultimately didn’t matter.

Going anywhere with a baby that young is difficult. Sadly, as mom, we often times have to be the "sacrificial lamb" of the family. Your baby, body, choice but I hope knowing you're not alone will help you continue on a little longer if you are determined to. With my first I had to pump exclusively for her first two months and then she only nursed for two months and I was back to exclusively pumping again for 3 months until I finally chose to simply stop. We had extenuating health and family situations in that case so between worrying about baby, working as a flight attendant, dealing with hospitalization and other stressful abnormal situations I couldn't keep going... But when I stopped I knew it was the right thing to do and that I didn't have any other choice.

With baby #2 I nursed her until twenty months. My goals were incremental and there were times around 4 months because she was so particular about how I had to hold her to nurse her and how distracted she had become bc of her new found awareness that I almost quit. Then she went through a "breastcott",(hope that makes you laugh) and wouldn't nurse but she never took a bottle so I had a screaming, hungry, upset baby and a very desperate, worn down, forlorn mommy. Then, she decided she wanted to eat after all and the feedings grew quicker going down from 30+ minutes to 15 or less. I learned when she was hungry versus when she simply wanted comfort(bc them it would be an all day marathon) and it became much easier because for comfort I could throw her in the carrier and still get things done while providing for her emotionally. It became less strenuous and I got back to it being that amazing bonding experience it's touted to be. But the frequency grew again and even though she turned one and I went back to work she needed me so much that I was worn down. Thankfully right after going back to work I was back off for two months and she got to nurse full time then back to work I went, at this point she was a year and a few months. I chose not to pump and had to deal with the pains while awhile and then a baby latched on when home and she wouldn't go to sleep or cuddle without nursing. Then I had an issue with my uniforms and was concerned for her so I force weaned her for a few reasons. Physically she was hurting me at that point bc I had days without nursing her to come home to a needy, now, toddler. Two months after weaning her Covid started and I have stuck to keeping her weened. I will tell you, neither of us was ready for the sudden stop but it was so needed for my physical and mental health. That was January, March I got "grounded" and have been home since. If I had never weened her we would still be nursing but at what cost? There are days I am sad but I know it was the best. She still begs sometimes but I stick to no. Your baby is small and it will get easier but if it doesn't and you know that you're sacrificing too much of yourself to continue being healthy, then you and only you can make the decision... 4 months is great. If you can get to 6 it will be even better because then baby will start experiencing food and he will start needing less milk... When she was small I would excuse myself wherever I was and find somewhere private to nurse her, the car became my personal life saver and a place of comfort for me. I had everything in there that I needed. A blanket, pillow, book. My phone in hand. I would take that time as my own. I stoped thinking of it as time I was losing and thought of it as getting my bonding and quiet time. I'd read, watch a few videos, check the news, jump on here, whatever. Eventually it all worked out. If you can't or say you don't want to do that, it's ok. As long as you are both healthy!!!!!! Don't think you have to do anything someone else says when it comes to things that have choices. Again, 4 months is great. Whatever you decide is ok. Just know that nursing the baby is sacrificial and time consuming but it comes with rewards and if you're able to incrementally add to your goal it will seem much easier that determining for a full year and then feeling like you "failed". Small goals. And then when you meet the next one if you're done, you're done. No shame!!! You've done great and the fact you care so much tells me you're a great Mommy!!! Keep up the wonderful job!!! Success looks different for all of us!!! Hugs and love mama!!!!!

If you have a good supply and don't want to nurse you can always pump and feed. :)

I wonder if he felt your stress. Maybe pump a bottle for if you’re in public so you don’t have to worry. As he gets older he’ll eat quicker and go longer between feedings.

That’s actually very normal and not a reason to quit. I had to go to the car to nurse with both my kids. At 4 months they start becoming very aware of their surroundings and need more privacy to nurse. There’s too much stimulation and noise and they can’t focus. When my daughter was a baby we never went anywhere. She would just cry the whole time. So we didn’t go out to dinner til she was able to sit in a high chair and eat which was around 10 months. My son thankfully was much more easy going. I’d nurse him in the car then keep him the infant seat while we ate, then we took turns holding him. Don’t quit breastfeeding just because of how other people react in public. Who cares what they think. It won’t always be like this and it’ll get better.