10 month old started using me as a dummy at night - how to stop?

[HalfBakedCleverCookie]

My DS is 10 months old and has decided he only wants to sleep at night if he can have my nipple in his mouth. We don't feed to sleep at nap times or when I put him to bed at 7ish but if he wakes during the night he wants boob.

I have tried popping him off when he is not drinking and offering the dummy instead but he just throws it and grabs at my boobs. I have even tried snuggling right in and shushing/patting. I don't mind feeding him if he is hungry/thirsty but I can't cope with the constant fast little nibbly sucks, he's definitley not drinking.

Does anyone have any tips?

[cathan]

I'm afraid you'll just have to be firm! At this age, he's old enough to sleep through the night unless he's ill/hungry and, from what you say, he's well and definitely not hungry or even thirsty. That being the case, the only way he'll stop this behaviour is if you refuse to allow it. You're entitled to sleep too, remember. And this night-time upset won't be doing him any good either - babies need quality sleep too. So, just grit you teeth and leave him to cry. Since he goes to sleep by himself in the day/at bedtimes, I bet he won't cry for long and you'll both be able to get more sleep!

[HalfBakedCleverCookie]

Thanks Cathan, I will try that, it's just too easy to give in when I know I have got to get up for work in the morning. I feel terrible depriving him of something he wants that I could easily give him but at the same time I can't stand it.