If I wean 18-month-old completely from boob - will she sleep better?

[numum]

This is what doctor says.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Doctor is mad. DD is now 20 months, still breastfeeding and she sleeps through - takes more time in some children than others. I found the Toddler Taming book helped me. She now feeds for five minutes and then will happily lay down and spend half an hour playing with toys till she drops off and I can go away and do something more interesting than getting frustrated with her.

[snookie28]

Not sure whether your dc will but mine only started sleeping through when i stopped feeding her at 17 months. By that point she was having a bedtime feed and 1 or 2 during the night. I gently cut them out by disuading her to snuggle in when she woke (cosleeping). The night after i stopped feeding she slept through and is now a much good sleeper - still stirs but doesn't actually wake up.

Suppose it depends when you are feeding her and what her sleep cues are. Am pregnant again and will try not to feed the next baby to sleep for so long - easier said than done

[Whitty]

I too wonder this actually. We are having a pretty rough time with my DS2 who is 13 months.

Fri night I fed him back to sleep 6 times between 11pm and 3am. How stupid is that? Yeah, I'm a bit tired..... He has now just gone to bed too at 9.45pm, after falling asleep twice nursing to then wake up when I tried to move him.

I think I want to wean him off to see if it will help but I actually don't know how we would cope at night if I did wean him.

[susiecutiebananas]

I eould say GP mad... no reason why not br feeding would make any difference. I also used the toddler taming book. and it sorted out sleeping problems immediatly... almost, with a bit of work from me, and a few sleepless nights. IN the long run, it was well well worth it.

I still br feed DD ( 16months) before bed, and first hting in morning, also in the day at times when she wants/needs it. PLus now if she wakes in the night, I do feed her, happily, knowing that she will go back to sleep and that it won't be the same every night anymore.

The book is called Toddler Taming by Dr Christopher Green and hasa sections on everyhitng you can think of, including a really good method on sleep training - since that is what you will have to do now at 18months. UNless you are happy to stick it out ntil your DC sleep through by themselves.

Its a kind of Controlled crying, but not as harsh, much easier to do, and kinder on them. Its very gradual, and DD was fine and has slept better in the day time as a result. It changed our lives, it really did.

[susiecutiebananas]

Oh, just to add, the technique does mean not feeding them in the night, when you are 'training' them to sleep. It involves a lot of contact and cuddles but no boobs!! i fact, everything but boobs and bottles really.

so in effect, it is night weening, but, only in the actual night, and only until they have started sleeping htrough and you are happy that they will always - with the exception of illness, teething or just the occasional crap night.

I can now feed Isobel safe in the knowledge it won't put us back to square 1, but it did take a good month or so until I felt happy to do it again and not worry that it'd undo all the work.

[numum]

thank you have ordered the toddler b ook