stopping night feeds, it's just NOT working!

[hazlinh]

dd is one, and she bottle feeds during the day whil am at work and still gets up for feeds during the night. i normally just breastfeed as am too lazy to get out of bed and prepare bottles but actually i think the milk supply has long run out and she's just doing it for comfort.

have been trying to quit these night feeds by giving her plain water (as suggested by some mumsnetters on other threads out there) but its just not working!!! she gets aggravated and may fall asleep again but then keeps waking up every hour or so and demanding a suckle or milk or something!!!and she gets all worked up when i give her the water!!

help meeeeee...not sure how long i can keep my act together..

[NotQuiteCockney]

How long have you been giving her plain water? Do you give in and give boob when she complains?

And how does she fall asleep - on her own, or while sucking?

If you still feed every day (night, whatever), I'd be surprised if your supply was gone.

[hazlinh]

TBH only tried it 2 nights ago and I gave in the first time and gave boob, then the second time i gave formula. she used to fall asleep only by sucking but have now embarked on 'strict' regime where i put her to bed and wait until she stops shuffling around in circles and finally nods off. she sometimes spends nights at my mum's or mil's so milk supply dried up ages ago.

if she complains, do i just grit my teeth ? even tho it sounds like she's being strangled/murdered/u name it

[NotQuiteCockney]

If she sometimes goes without formula or boob during the night, then I'd go in regularly to check on her, but not give in.

If she never has gone without, I'd do slow reducing - say allow her the first feed but not the second, or time how long you're feeding for, and reduce it (or how much formula).

If you're happy to keep breastfeeding, you can feed her first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, if you like.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, by "go in regularly", I'd do something like, wait 5 minutes, then 10, then 15, then keep doing 15. Reset to 5 next time she wakes.

It will probably take less time than this, though, if she's used to falling asleep without sucking.