Don't think I understand night weaning. 1 yr old still waking!

[ChampionRunner]

I've been trying (and failing) to night wean DD. Shes waking several times a night and having milk 2-3 times. She had been sleeping through but she woke one night and I gave in to the bottle after a few hours. Really wishing I hadn't!

I've been reducing the amount in her bottles so I give her 3oz and put her in bed and she falls asleep. The problem is she then wakes after 15mins and won't sleep without more milk so I end up giving her it and she drinks just 1 or 2 oz. what am I meant to be doing?? Should I give her 3oz and then try other things to get her to sleep but give no extra milk? She can go for hours sleeping for 15mins in between crying for milk or just not sleeping at all.

Would it be quicker just to give her no milk at all? I don't think I can cope with no sleep for days and days while I reduce the milk if she keeps reacting like this!

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Isn't one suggestion that you make up the same volume but just use increasingly less powder to water so that it's eventually all water and they become less inclined to wake for it?

I'm only going by other things I've read on here rather than experience, sorry.

[ChampionRunner]

Thanks for your reply. My confusion is around what I do after I've given her the milk. So I give her the smaller amount of milk and then what? Do I just do what I can to settle her when she cries for more milk? Sorry it's probably obvious to most people. I'm so tired I need it all spelt out for me!

[valiumredhead]

My ds needed a full bottle before bed still at 1,I thought most babies did tbh.

[valiumredhead]

I would just offer water in the night if you are sure it's just comfort drinking and not actually hungry.

[Nicknamefail]

Agree with pp who suggested diluting milk over a few days. Do anything you can to settle her after that, you are trying to break the milk-sleep association. Either way you may be in for a tough couple if nights.

[catkind]

In this heat perhaps she's thirsty? Maybe offer water if you don't want to give more milk? Or she could actually be hungry - growth spurt, or eating less during the day because it's too hot? I know I've been hungry in the evenings recently because I just don't fancy eating much before it cools down!

[valiumredhead]

If I had my time again I would leave off night weaning until about 15/16 months. They have huge growth spurts at around 12 months and don't always get enough solids in them during the day. Later on you know you can just offer water and they'll be fine.

[ChampionRunner]

I always give her water first which she drinks but will hold out for milk before she sleeps. Or will lull me into a false sense of security of falling asleep for 15mins then crying and repeat for several hours. I suppose after a few days that will stop.

So those of you who night weaned did you feel that it was worth it or wish you had waited as redhead says?

[anyname2011]

Am in this at mo. dd 14 months. She really surprised us by not seeming to miss her all -night milk bar when I moved out for a few nights to sleep on the sofa and let dh do his best! However it's a bit up and down, sometimes she wakes more but most of the time she''ll go back down with a cuddle or song. How does she go to sleep at start of night?

[catkind]

I think when they do that wake up again after 15 mins thing it means they really were hungry. Or at least it did for mine.

[Nicknamefail]

I'm delighted u have done it, I feel more human, she feeds more during the day, and from the speed with which she dropped night feeds and started sleeping through it was obviously habit for my dd. for subsequent dc I will night wean at 9 months again. (Presuming they take good amounts of solids by this age as dd does. )

[valiumredhead]

I would also think that if she wakes after 15 mins then actually she is hungry.

[Nicknamefail]

I am sure some babies do get hungry but my dd used to fall asleep in my arms after a feed and always woke up 20 mins later. I used to think she was hungry and fed her, and as she settked quickly after a feed i was sure she hungry. Then for the last 2 1/2 weeks I have been putting her in the cot awake and staying until she falls asleep. I have a video monitor and at 20 mins now she opens her eyes, rolls over and goes back. So she wasn't hungry, just confused about waking up in the cot after falling asleep on me.

[ChampionRunner]

Interesting about people saying waking again after 15mins meaning they are really hungry. She falls asleep in the cot on her own at the beginning of the night and almost every time. Therefore I suppose she's not crying about being confused about where she is so maybe is hungry. I'll try to just reduce the amount if she's ok with it and hopefully then she'll make it up during the day and need less the next night.

Thank you all for your replies!