Seeking Advice on Nighttime Weaning

C.,

I used this info:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp

to night wean my child. It worked really well and wasn't too traumatic for either of us. Good luck!

T.

To be honest, I don't think that there ever really is such a thing as a 'good sleeper' when it comes to babies. I think that there are just periods when there is more calm in between phases.

I think that if you can hang in there, you should. I lost my milk supply when my little dude was about 8/9 months old, and I wish I could have gone longer. However, I pumped and froze so that he could have milk well into a year, and combo fed him until he was ready to wean himself at 18 months old.

The thing is, she will not 'forget' about nursing altogether, and cold turkey is super tough for everyone. Are there alternatives you can offer, like pumping and giving her a bottle at night? From memory, my son night weaned himself at around this time to about 15 months because he just started sleeping longer chunks of time. But, every child is different.

Night feeding are generally recommended to go first, and then use the association of milk with mealtime and so forth until you transition to sippy cups full-time.

Now, at bedtime my son still has a cup of milk and snack if he's hungry and then we brush teeth and hit the sack. But, with any process it has to be done with care and gradually so as to not freak her out or put her into turmoil over the change to her usual routine.

I hope you find a solution that fits for both of you.

Best of luck.

Deanna

My question would be: you are wanting to night-wean her because your nipples are getting hurt... BUT, once your nipples heal, is this what you REALLY want to do? Once your nipple heal, will you go back to night-nursing? Or are you sure you want to be done with that?

I nursed both my kids, my nipples got hurt too and cracked etc. I used Lanolin cream and it helped immensely. Also, when you bathe, do NOT put soap on it, just rinse it with water. Soap will dry it and cause the skin to further crack.

But, I still breastfed despite. So, everyone has their own pain threshold. But before you "wean" just make sure that this is something you REALLY want to do... no matter what.

And then you also have to "decide" if this is a good enough reason, for you, to wean? Each woman is different.

All the best,
Susan

Hi C.,
I nursed my daughter for 21 months and she was also a nighttime power nurser. We shared a family bed so it was quite convenient for her, but I was so tired the next day. About 16 months, I guess, I decided I wanted to cut out the night time sessions. So when she would wake up for milk, I'd give her a sip of water that I'd have right next to the bed. During the day, I would tell her that mom's milk was gone when we were in bed. Worked like a charm. So we still nursed during the day or at bedtime, but not in the middle of the night. She was totally fine with it. Good luck!

I weaned my son from nighttime nursing at about 15 months because it was seriously affecting our sleep. It was a lot of crying for several nights while I stayed right by his side - but once we got through it he started sleeping better (not great, but better) and was happy with a back rub in the night to go back to sleep (next to our bed in his own bed). He continued to nurse during the day including going down for nap until 19 months old when he just kinda forgot to keep asking and so I didn't offer. Good luck!

have you tried lanolin (i think thats what its called). its a breastfeeding ointment or something like that. its used for dry cracked nipples. also its not one you have to wash off before you breast feed. i think you will have a hard time breaking her of the night feeding because she uses it as a comfort thing. maybe try to pump and offer her the bottle of pumped breast milk. it may be hard at first but if you stay with it she will adjust. good luck i hope this helps!

I got "The Sleep Easy Solution" and it changed my life! Look it up on Amazon used it was like $5. Basically to get your baby to sleep through the night she needs to be able to put herself back to sleep so you should concider sleep training her. After she's full, has a good cuddle and maybe a story put her to bed awake and warm. Try to keep the room around 60-65. Tell her that things are going to be different tonight and that she need to go to sleep on her own. Put her down and check on her at 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, and then every 15 minutes after that until she is asleep. This should only break your heart for the first night, because you'll see that is works!!! It took my daughter about an hour the first night. When you check on her don't touch even for a second and NEVER NEVER pick her up. Tell her that she is safe and that you love her stay only a few seconds and don't go in if it sounds like she is calming down. If she uses a pacifier put her to bed with one and scatter some more around so that she can grab one in the middle of the night.

At night you need to wake her up before she wakes up and feed her. If she wakes up at 1am you should wake to feed her at 12:30 If she feeds for 15 minutes only do 10. The next night go in at 12:15 and feed for 5. Then the next night don't wake her at all. Do this for all of her feedings. On the night that you will not feed her she may or may not wake if she does you should only check on her at 5, 10, and then every 15 minutes. Also if she is nursing for less then 5 minutes before sleeping then there is no need to ween from that feeding.

This may take up to a week and you can do it with naps too but you don't need to. The ideas of letting her cry is scary but remember your nipples need to be saved! Also your breasts won't hurt as bad if you lesson night time feeding gradually.

She is definitely old enough to stop with the nighttime feedings. I had my boys sleeping through the night at two months (well, my younger two) and still nursed them throughout the day for months afterwards. They just learn that nighttime is for sleeping only and not eating. Whatever nutrition they need they will make up for during the day. Just start with knocking out one feeding at a time. Go three nights with only feeding her once, then knock out the last feeding. Also, make sure you are putting something like Lansinoh on your nipples after every feeding to protect them and help them heal faster. Good luck!

I night weaned my son at 16 months, it was hard for 2 nights - but then it was over. I still nursed him during the day when he really wanted it (naptime, etc.) or after a boo boo.

I'd like to make one suggestion though, this time around I've done the exact opposite with my daughter (she's 13 months) I'm starting to day wean her, and still nurse her on demand at night. During the day, she is busy and eating a lot of food, and drinking cows milk now, so she isn't as interested in nursing. Our night time nursing though is still very special cuddling/bonding time, and I am enjoying having the break from nursing during the day, and get to soothe her at night as much as needed with nursing. My daughter wakes up 2-4 times a night too - I think it is because they want that closeness a lot during the night.

Anyway, if you choose to night wean, try rocking her instead of nursing when she wakes. That worked for me with my son. Like I said, it was hard for 2 nights, but then he was over it and was happy with just a snuggle back to sleep.

If you decide to day wean, just start by cutting back, I'd still do the nap time nursings, but maybe try to cut back to just once right when you wake up, at naptimes and then at bedtime.

If you are like me, your baby still nurses a lot for comfort, this may be a big reduction for you.

I hope this helps. Feel free to send me a note if you want any more specifics about what I did.

go to classical homeopath. your nipples will heal naturally and you will not need "express" weaning. just don't try to use OCT remedies for that - professional homeopathic help is the sure bet.
Good Luck, hope you and your little one have many more month to enjoy each other!
V

Dear C.,

I have 4 children, nursed them all and there were huge differences in nursing each one. In my experience, which was similar to yours, except my son was nursing every 2 hours or less. Whether I fed him cereal or not, he still wanted to nurse every 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours, day and night, and would not take a bottle. I was exausted and sore and cranky and by the time he was 7 months old, I was the one that was ready to wean him. In this case where your mental and physical well being are at stake you just have to bite the bullet and wean her completely. She is old enough that nursing is no longer a necessity. Plan to spend 3 - 7 sleepless days and nights to wean. Do no give in. Everytime she cries for the breast, offer her the bottle, but do not give in to nursing. If you want to, you can express your breast milk and give it to her in the bottle, just don't give the breast. Also try water, diluted camomille tea, or juice. Once she realizes she will not get what she wants she will finally give in and accept liquids from the bottle. Remember, you cannot go back unless you are ready for more of the same. Once you make a decision to stop breast feeding, stick to it. You can still have those precious moments together when you hold her at bottle feeding. It's just that this way it will be less frustrating for the baby once she has been weaned and less painful and sleepless for you. I know it won't be easy, because I went through it twice. Just be strong and you'll both be happier once you are victorious.
Happy Weaning, D.

Hi C.,

I always found it easier to wean the daytime feedings first. There are many things to distract them with during the day! Nights are much tougher and hard on them. If you can handle it, wait until she's closer to two before weaning the night feedings. Children can be reasoned with at that age!

My two boys were the easiest, as I told them that my breasts were hurting and that mommies milk was all gone - they did well (weaned at 22 months). My daughter on the other hand didn't go for it, so I would sneak in the kitchen and put a little mustard on my nipples at the times she wanted to nurse. Without saying a word to her, she decided to stop on her own! The mustard doesn't hurt them in any way, it just doesn't taste good, in fact just the smell made her want to quit. I did this when she was two.

Good luck!
M.