Toddler keeps touching my breasts

Hi. First time posting here, looking for some advice. I have a toddler, 2 year and 6 months old. He stopped breastfeeding at 1 year and 2 months, earlier then maybe he would normaly, but I had to go to the hospital so we stopped breastfeeding. Since then, he keeps touching my boobs when he is sleeping, for comfort, during the day if im carrying him, when we are cuddling etc. At first I was thinking it will stop, but it just became more aggresive. He is now squeezing them, his fingernails keep cutting me, my nipples have almost lost all sensitivity from how much he is touching them. I cant take it anymore. I tried explaining him that it hurts me, he just says no it doesnt and continues. I tried removing his hand and every time he will start crying if I dont give it to him. Even when we are in public, he keeps doing it and I have to distract him with some stuff for him to stop. Pls tell me Im not alone and there are others struggling with this. I want it to stop, my breast are hurting all the time from him.