Extended bfing and night weaning

6 replies

IHeartIona · 23/02/2011 20:55

Hi,
Am after some tips please. Have amazingly managed to stop night feeds for the past three nights for who is 2. 11 and without too much hassle at all! Thought it would never happen. Have read the Jay Gordon method in the past and loosely followed that, cuddling and so on. She was so tired didn't protest for long at all.

Now, what I want to check please if anyone else has experience is what to do should she become ill in the night?

I assume consistency is the key, but as have always fed her in the past if woke up unwell not sure what to do! Cuddles and offer water?

Also, do you think she will in time sleep longer periods as won't expect milk anymore. I'm really pleased with this first step anyway and hope it will help our sleep in the long run.

Sorry for long post.

OP posts:

bumbums · 23/02/2011 21:10

Well done you for taking this step. Most folks would just offer cuddles and water through the night. So yes, even if she's poorly your cuddles will be enough.

You've decided to do this and personally I think you've done the best thing for all concerned. She will begin to sleep better. And that will help through the day cos she'll be more rested.

Original poster

IHeartIona · 23/02/2011 21:17

Thanks bumbums, one of the main reasons I stopped was so she can hopefully get more sleep.

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 23/02/2011 21:24

IHeartIona - I night weaned DD1 at 12m and DD2 night weaned herself at 16m and I have always fed them at night if they needed me to (illness/nightmares) but if they woke and nothing was wrong they would get a cuddle and water. I don't see why I wouldn't respond to them at night in the same way I would in the day but obviously different folk do different things.

Original poster

IHeartIona · 23/02/2011 21:34

Thanks TruthSweet - Just worried about having trouble with stopping again if I make an exception so soon after stopping really.

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 23/02/2011 22:03

I've not had a problem with either of the DDs expecting night feeds again when they have had a one off feed because of illness but every child reacts in a different way so if you think your child would want to go back to night feeds after the occasional feed then don't.

However it's always useful to have the choice of offering a feed in your bag of tricks if you know what I mean . I don't offer DD2 (3y/o) feeds but if I hadn't forced insisted offered her a feed a few months ago she would have been on a drip for dehydration & low blood sugar so never say never.

EauRouge · 24/02/2011 08:34

My DD was night-weaned at around 19 mo but yes, I still do BF her at night if she's ill (it's only happened once or twice though). She doesn't ask to be BF at night any more but she still doesn't sleep through at 2.4 yo.

I don't think night-weaning made an awful lot of difference to sleeping in our case, it's just been a natural progression.

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