I've created a boob monster

[clarejane]

DS is 12 mos and I am still feeding him down for naps and bedtime. He goes in his cot sleepy but awake most nights. He wakes at least once in the night and despite my daytime resolve to nightwean him, at 3am I don't have the patience and inevitably just feed him back to sleep. He has slept through the night once or twice. DH is brilliant and does his best to help but I feel guilty for him being awake when he has to go off to work in the morning and at least I can nap when DS does. DH can get him to nap and to bed with an EBM bottle but if I am around only boob will do. I am feeling a bit useless as DH and my mum can both rock him to sleep but I can't, once he's in my arms he thrashes around until I feed him. I would like to continue BF'ing as long as he wants to but I am totally drained from the broken sleep and was not expecting still to be feeding this much at a year old. He is eating solids pretty well and doesn't seem to be BF'ing from hunger, it's for comfort. How on earth can I help him to settle without needing to BF when he won't accept just a cuddle? Thanks.

Hi clarejane, just wanted to offer my support. My DD (11 months) is exactly the same and I have no idea what to try as rocking/patting/singing just really irritates her and makes her wake up fully and just like you at 3am I just want to get back to sleep as soon as possible!!!
I could not let her CIO.

I have the added pressure that I return to work in 2 weeks and I am really worried that she will point blank refuse to nap for Sil, I got a feeling that poor Sil will be out walking in all weathers .

I have read several threads on here about similar things and I think its quite common for BF'ing mummies not to be able to resettle without offering the boob as LO smells the milk and obviously it's such yummy stuff they just NEED it!

I have decided to just continue as I have being, I honestly dont see any other option for me (although obviously it may be different for you) as DH works long hours and definately needs to sleep so no help there. I am sure they wont need boob when they are 10 (well, im bloody hoping not!)

:) Thanks MadameJ - sounds like we are in the same boat! Hopefully your DD will settle for Sil as she (presumably!) won't smell any milk on her - and then perhaps she will start to settle without boob for you too!

I work freelance / part time so my hours are all over the shop - so some nights I have more patience to try not to feed him, and others when I know I have to go to work at 7am I have less. It's probably a bit confusing for him actually. Sending you luck for your return to work!

I go back & forth between being willing to let things continue as they are in the hopes it will change - and some days feeing like I should be tough mummy and really try to crack the night feeds. Oh well - it is nice to know I'm not the only one in this situation - thank you!

It's not unuseall for baby's of this age to still wake during the night to feed.

Think like this milk is not just food but liquid and comfort they are growing and changing so much at this age. They often need the comfort and reasurance. It's called night time parenting DrSears is a good read on this one.

If your happy to just go with it then do there is one thing that is certain he will grow out of it, they all do.

I know it can seem hard at the time (my first workup for milk in the night untill she was 2 1/2years old) but they are so little for such a short time. Enjoy those middle of the night cuddle's there the one's I miss the most.