How to night-wean bf-ing 11 mo - gentle solutions please!

[HollyFP]

DD (nearly 11 months) is waking 4 times a night again - usually the only way to get her to sleep is to bf her, even though she probably isn't taking a full feed each time.
I want to try gentle ways to night-wean, as sleep deprivation is really taking its toll on my health now. However I do not want to do cc or anything like that.
Anyone got any helpful advice?

[chocolateyclur]

Does she still sleep in your room? My son did until 11 months because of space and because I thought it would be easier as he was still night feeding. The first night in his own room he woke for a feed once - and since then he has slept through. I put it down to him either smelling my milk or sleeping more lightly because he was aware of my presence.

Failing that, how about sips of water from a cup/beaker when she wakes, if you think she's waking out of habit rather than hunger?

Ive also found it useful when son has had a growth spurt (in the first 18 months, he's 3 now) to give a supper of a weetabix or something just to keep him topped up a bit.

[tinierclanger]

You might find this link useful. It's aimed at bf co-sleepers but I pretty much used this method (we didn't co-sleep) and it worked well for us.

Or have a look at No Cry Sleep Solution, specifically the 'Pantley Pull-off' - basically you are aiming to take the baby off the breast before she falls asleep.

[RitaMorgan]

Does she self-settle at bedtime? I think unless they can go to sleep without bfing in the first place, they are unlikely to be able to settle without it in the night.

Once ds was settling himself at bedtime, I cut down to two nightfeeds with DP going in and offering cuddles/water the rest of the time. Once ds was only waking for those feeds I starting pushing the 3am one later and later til it got to about 6am, and then brought the 11pm one earlier until I dropped it.

[HollyFP]

She sleeps in her own room (and was great at sleeping there at first, now that she's properly eating solids and crawling she is now bad at sleeping!)

She doesn't really self settle for naps or bedtime anymore. I used to be able to bf her, then sit quietly with her for a few minutes and she would just calm herself down and get drowsy. Now I have to stand up (!) and hold her until she's closed her eyes; otherwise she starts crying again and doesn't settle even with shush-pats.

Oh yes and she also won't accept nighttime cuddles from DH, so he can't even help. I suppose we could stick at it but I don't want to confuse her as to why I'm not there for her :(

I have the 'No Cry Sleep Solution' so will start reading - don't know why I haven't already to be honest!