Sleep Issues - San Francisco, CA

Hi there. We co slept and night nursed until about 13 months. Then we stopped night nursing. I slept in the other room, and my husband comforted our son when he woke up. We were hoping that once he realized he wasn't going to nurse, he wouldn't think it was worth it to wake up. We did this for about a week or so, and now he sleeps through nights most of the time. Last night he slept 11.5 hours straight. Try reading Jay Gordon's advice on stopping night nursing. http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp Good luck, you don't need a sleep therapist, it will work out!

Hi A.!

I can't believe you have made it 15 months!! Around 10 months, I threw in the nightfeeding towel. We still co-sleep (8pm - 4am without a peep) and I love it and was not about to give it up!. Here is what we did with our "up every 2 hours for a snacker".

It pretty much came down to dad. I slept in the other room (with a white noise maker, otherwise I would in there "trying to help") and my husband and baby slept in bed as usual. Each night, baby would wake up, hubby would comfort, baby would go back to sleep. We cut out 1 feeding each night. It took about a week. I slept in the other room for 1 more week to make it "stick". Then started back in bed with a more covered up approach to nightwear.

I was surprised at how quickly he adjusted. I hated to hear the little one cry so I had to often remind myself of Dr. Sears statement, "crying in the arms of someone who loves you is quite different from crying alone in your crib".

Good luck to you!

T.

Well, you have to stop breastfeeding at night. When he wakes up, comfort him and pad him, and maybe walk around with him, but don't breastfeed (and don't give him a bottle instead, that makes it even worse). You have to be strong, it will take a couple of nights, but it will work! Hang in there! You can still breastfeed during the day if you want to, just stop with the nights. He will be fine!

A. if you want to use a sleep consultant, I recommend Karen Kesti (www.kkbaby.net). She is wonderful! If she is booked up, also try Noelle Cochran (www.symbiosf.com).

We learned from Karen that after the early months the night nursing is out of habit, not out of need. You need to wean him off the night feedings. Start offering water in place of nursing. Also, make sure he is getting enough to eat during the day. We adjusted our son's feeding schedule so that he had multiple snacks (beyond the normal 2 snack schedule at daycare). He needs get enough calories and feel full so he can sleep through the night. The trick we used was to give a fruity snack about an hour and a half before dinner. The snack would kickstart his desire for food by the time we were ready to serve dinner, and they helped supplement his meals (he was never a big eater, a 25% percentile child).

Good luck,
V.

You have to get your son out of your bed. If your there its easy for him to want to nurse and now it is habit. He isn't sleeping that great either. I have my 2nd son who is 8 months now and at 6 months we put him in his crib and at first he was waking up at 3:00am and we bring him in. Now he wakes up at 6:30 am and joins us in our bed. Soon he will be sleeping longer!
Good luck!

Hi! My kids (both) did the same. My daughter slept in bed with us until she was over a year and woke up constantly to nurse. My son did not sleep in our bed, but in close proximity and also continued to wake up to nurse. I did not sleep, literally, for about seven years! :)

I would suggest trying a pacifier. My kids would never take one, but those that do, their parents swear by it. Also, moving him into a toddler bed right bedside you. That's what we did with my daughter. First we put her bed right beside ours and I would get into HER bed until she fell asleep, eventually, i would stay in my own bed and hold her hand until she fell asleep, but would make it a point for us to both be in our own beds. lastly, she would fall asleep on her own.

If it is the "mommy smell" that is keeping your son awake, you may need to do the above in another room, so he does not smell your milk all night.

Sometimes, you just need to let them cry a bit, though it is heartbreaking. I have to admit,I couldn't handle that all to well.

Hopefully this works. Good luck!