night nursing habit 16mos. old

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CASEY-17
Posts: 1
4/10/12 1:39 A

Hi, just saw your question and in fact I just night weaned my little girl a 19 month old this weekend. I took a few extra days off work to make it a long weekend 4 days (it has been so nice to have the time off)! I was expecting a lot of crying but it was not that bad. The fist time on the first day she woke up she cried for a little over an hour and that was the worst. It killed me of course to hear her cry/wale and ask "nurse" and I had to tell her "no nursing,go night night." I also told her "You can nurse in the morning after breakfast". My little one is not a big eater and we have to do solid food first or she will not eat that food at all. Anyways we also co-sleep and it has not affected that at all (P.S we would nurse in the bed). She still wakes up but over the last few days I think it has been less. I just tell her the above comments and ask her if she wants to cuddle. She usually does, but will complain a tiny bit and then falls asleep. A few times she seemed mad at me and complains, and cries for a few minutes and then goes to sleep with no cuddling.
I was thinking to do the separate bed thing but chickened out. I like our night time cuddling and thought to much change might not be good for my child or me. I don't want her to think I've abandoned her and I feel taking it in steps is better for the both of us. This might not be right for others though. You have to do what you think will be best for your child, you and your family. I pass no judgement on anyone! We are all trying to do the best for our children.
Good Luck!!!

MISTI1621
Posts: 79
8/24/06 12:01 P

Thanks for all the great responses everyone! I appreciate all the good advice, and that article sounded pretty good too. I'm not certain how I'm going to go about doing this yet, but I will definitely be incorporating everyone's ideas into it. I'd like to be able to keep cosleeping if I can, but, if all else fails, I guess I'll just move the crib into our room and try that; because it may end up working best.

Thanks again for all your input, it will definitely be put to good use!

Misti

ITSAGIRL!
BabyPoints: 19662
Posts: 6753
8/24/06 6:00 A

Thank you, thank you!!!!! A terrific article, Marcy.
I'm so glad to read these posts and just to know it's not just me.
M still wakes to nurse and sometimes quite frequently! I need more sleep very badly. I've never been good at lying down nursing, so for me it's a sit up/wake event, lol.
Anyway, I hope that works, I do not feel ready to give up cosleeping yet either.
Thanks,
Deb

Edited by: ITSAGIRL! at: 8/24/2006 (12:05)

Madeleine Shanti arrived August 13, 2005.
She was 6 pounds 1 oz and 19 inches! A tiny, perfect little girl! She is my heart!
YAY! I did it! 26.2 miles and I can't wait to do my next marathon! But first I'm working on being able to walk again!

Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your c

LTLFAERY
Posts: 9492
8/24/06 12:39 A

there's an awesome night-weaning in the family bed article:

http://tinyurl.com/9qo6s

*remembering the triplets*

JMACDOW
Posts: 3002
8/23/06 4:05 P

hi. we went through the same thing. My son is 18 months old and we night weaned him a few months ago. It doesnt stop him from waking up at night but it does stop the all night milk marathon that seemed to have occured from time to time. We sleep in adjacent beds and what it entailed was to tell him that 'milkies are asleep, mommy is asleep, daddy is asleep, Jasper has to sleep". Ok Ill admit the first time he heard that he threw a HUGE temper tantrum. The first few nights were hard. We stayed by his side and patted his back and kissed him and gave him lots of reassurance. He generally accepted the situation but now needs to cuddle up to sleep or some water.

Good luck

PURDYFROST
Posts: 536
8/23/06 1:35 P

I think there gets to be a point,,we all have hit it, when we know we need to night wean. I am one for self weaning as well, but sometimes it needs a bit of a push. You're not a bad mom for thinking that way, we have all hit it. Sometimes it's for our sanity, and daddy's as well as hers.

The way I did this was to write down one night every "time" she woke up..then start with trying to cut out one feeding at a pace you can handle, for me it was one time slot a week..( but when we got about half of them stopped it was easier to sooth mine and stop them entirely). You can use cuddles, you might try her own bed for it is easier to night wean when the breast isn't quite so handy, then rub her back, and other soothing touches to let her know you are nearby and she is safe.Keep talking to a bare minimum. Maybe a doll or something else to cuddle too. Some people like to put a small bed in their bedroom, but I am one for if you are going to give them their own room, do it all at once and get it over with,,but that's just me,,other people may disagree on that point...

You may have some really sleepless nights but this too shall pass(usually the first week is the worst).

You can also say things like "milk night night, you go night night..milk when the sun comes up." (Or get her a drink of water from a cup, sometimes the bit of "wet" in the throat is calming as well)

It's A Girl! Born 6/23!

I already have three boys ages:
8, 5, and 3

MISTI1621
Posts: 79
8/23/06 1:22 P

My daughter is 16 months and still breastfeeding. My concern is that I have caused her to develop this habit of not being able to fall asleep unless she is nursing. It's been fine as far as naptime and bedtime (which is pretty much the only time she nurses anyway) but she will wake up numerous times throughout the night and want to be on the breast to fall back asleep. We are cosleeping as well. I'm all for child-led weaning, but with a gentle nudge from me too

I'm not necessarily ready to wean her yet, but how can I go about weaning her from the numerous middle of the night nursings? Because of this "need" to be on the breast, she doesn't sleep through the night yet, I don't sleep well, my husband doesn't sleep well, and my nipples are killing me! Anyway, my concern is more for her. I think I may have started a bad habit for her by nursing her to sleep for the past 16 months (her whole life, so it's all she knows), but how can I change the way that we do this without causing her any grief? Any suggestions?

I would really appreciate any advice anyone may have. I'm just trying to make it easier for her when the time comes to wean, or when she's ready to wean, and I think eliminating the need to fall asleep on the breast will help with that.

Thanks in advance, ladies!!

--Misti--

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