Night weaning

[nearlymumofone]

DS now 6 months has 3 small meals a day and is mixed fed (dropping one BF every 5 days or so). But he wakes usually 11,2,4 to feed then is awake at 5 for an hour or so. These feeds are all BF although I plan to drop them next. I think he's getting enough milk through the day and plan to night wean. Any tips/advice? I also plan to move him into his own room at the same time- is this a good idea or too many changes at once?

The main thing that strikes me from your post is you say you think he's getting enough milk in the day yet he's still waking for a feed 4 times a night. I'd be concerned that he does actually need milk at night - he's still very young. Especially if he's taking a reasonable amount of solids he may need the night feeds to keep up his calorie intake, because while they'll fill him up the meals won't be nearly as nutritious as milk.

Personally I wouldn't do everything at once because taking away the comfort of the breast at the same time as moving him to another room seems too much - but I am a "path of least resistance" person and also very soft. :)

I feel your pain . But... I would wait until your DS was a bit older, say 9-12 months before trying too hard to change the feeding.

Although they are on solids, milk is still their main food at this age.

I night-weaned DD who was complete boob monster at 8 months. Although she carried on having a BF at 4/5 am until about 13/14 months and seemed to really need this. She didnt' really eat solids well until nearer 9 months than 6. She never took a bottle.

It is exhausting night-feeding and you can drop it but do it gradually. DD was nightmare and feeding every 3/4 hours at night, but it was actually quite easy to drop to 2 feeds at night and then one. These just became massive feeds- at this age (8 months) they can take a lot of milk at once.

Sorry, bit waffly, unclear post, but I think main advice is to give up feeds gradually and to keep offering enough milk. They are all different. DS was mixed fed from 5 months and by 7/8 months had NO night feeds. DD was completely different kettle of fish.....

I agree with previous two posters - at six months they're still getting the majority of their calories from milk. Solids don't really take over until 8-9 months. I would keep going with all the feeds, to be honest - day and night. Your son needs them!

My DS is almost 7 months and eats like a Trojan in the day - and he still has 4 feeds in the day and at least two at night. I wouldn't expect him to go 12 hours without this, because on some days he isn;t that fussed by food, and he wants more milk.

It's also their only source of hydration, plus it's so soothing for them when teething or just for feeling safe and secure.

I know it's tough - DS has never woken less than 3 or 4 times a night since birth.

We're trying to just space out his two feeds now, so that he's sleeping a little longer in between.

He still wakes at 5am though!!

I agree with the others - still a little young to push too hard!

HTH

We night-weaned at seven months and it worked really well - after a week or so DS was sleeping through till 5am, and he was obviously happier for being better rested (as were we!).

That week was pretty tough though. DH took over all the night stuff, and did lots of cuddling as well as offering water. DS was never left to cry, always picked up and comforted, but he did cry A Lot.

Not sure I'd do the room change at the same time to be honest as he might feel a bit abandoned? DS didn't go in his own room until he was a year old (though that was partly because we were in a one-bed flat until then).