Talk

Flip

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Help me night wean. Getting desperate

8 replies

milpool · 03/08/2016 05:32

DD is 14 months. I'm 14 weeks pregnant. A few weeks ago we decided to night wean her because I just can't take feeding her in the night any more. At first she took to it quite well; went from waking 3 times to 2 and would settle back down just with a cuddle.

Now she won't have it. Screams and gets hysterical if me or her dad try to settle her with cuddles. The only way she'll calm is with feeding but I physically can't do it, the irritation is like nothing I can describe, I almost want to just push her out of bed sometimes.

She sleeps in our room still, we take it in turns for bedtime (though I do most of them) and she will go in her cot for the first part of the night. Then first waking is anywhere between 12 and 2.

I just don't know what to do. I've read the Jay Gordon method, it isn't going to work on her. I don't know if she's absolutely ready to night wean but I definitely am and I feel like I'm at breaking point.

OP posts:

Report

Ifiwasabadger · 03/08/2016 05:39

At 14 months if she is eating well in the day she won't need milk at night..can you put her into her own room? If our DD sleeps in with us, eg on holiday, and wakes up, she will see us and want to come onto the bed. In her own room this doesn't happen.

Or if you have another room, can you sleep in it? Get your husband to deal with the wakings so you can sleep? It might take ear plugs on your part but if you are pregnant you really need to sleep.

I remember how hideous sleep deprivation is, our DD was a dreadful sleeper. Sleeps amazingly now though. Good luck.

Report

LaceyLee · 03/08/2016 05:46

I recently Night weaned my 18 month old while pregnant. I really think she needs to be in her own room. You can then try not to
Lift her out of the cot before a certain time (mine was 4am when she was allowed in bed with me) and offer her a bottle of cows milk instead of breast. But do try to get your husband to do a lot of the wake ups on the first night or two. Mine kept wanting the breast for about a week but I just calmly explained it was all gone and offered her milk or water. She's fine now (about a month on) and doesn't ask anymore. Good luck!!!

Report

DollyBarton · 03/08/2016 06:47

Own room is my best advice. Give it a try?

Report

milpool · 03/08/2016 14:12

Thanks everyone. We're in the process of clearing all our junk out of her room and then she will definitely be going in there. I am hoping that helps!

OP posts:

Report

Writerwannabe83 · 03/08/2016 20:30

Putting my DS into his own room saw a HUGE improvement in his sleep!!

Report

DollyBarton · 03/08/2016 20:41

Mine went into her own room last weekend and went from 6-10 wakes a night, co-sleeping and feeding all night long to sleeping 7pm-6am from the second night and every night since (now 7 days straight). Same happened with my older child who was a very different character. I do think the best window for that is between 6mths and 1 year because they become quite aware and dependent on the status quo after 1. They're also better at fighting you on issues! But that's just my opinion.