how to stop nursing at night with 8 mo twins

[twinnies26]

I ebm and then bf my ID girls for 6 and a half months, i then reduced the feeds and now have them on formula bottles from morning feed until bedtime feed. I have not managed to stop them from nursing at night though - how does one do it? is there anyway without a lot of screaming and crying? We've always had a no cry policy.When a baby woke i have always nursed her back to sleep and now they are completely addicted and spend most of the early hours waking and nursing, if i don't have DT1 then it's dt2 and 8 months on it's exhausting!

What did you do?how did you get them off the boob once and for all? These babies will not even go to DH when they wake, DT1 screams and screams until she gets me!

They don't have soothers and i don't really want to give them one at 8months old having managed so far without them!

Any advise appreciated!

I haven't fully night weaned DS (who's nearly 9mo) but have drastically reduced his night nursing from 4-7 times a night to 1-2, allowing for illness, teething, hot weather etc, we did this:

We live in a 1-bed flat, so DS is in with us, either in cot or co-sleeping. I decamped to the lounge for 3 nights, and during that time DH did all the settling at night. First night was hard. Me on the sofa in tears, DS in tears, DH trying his best. We're very anti-crying too, but I had to accept that DS was with his dad, he was safe, his heart wouldn't break! No feeds that night, he took water a couple of times.

2nd night, bit easier, 1 feed
3rd night, much easier, 1 feed

I moved back into the bedroom but on DH's side of the bed and he continued settling. Was a bit more trouble as DS knew I was there, but still only 1 feed. I've since moved back to my side And can settle him without boob the majority of the time. This week has been rubbish as he's got bronchiolitis and it's been so hot but still much better than it was.

I think we were lucky he wasnt more upset by it. I make sure he gets a lot of contact time with me in the day (still BF by the way), wear him in a sling a lot, have 'naked hour' every evening etc, so he gets a good top-up of mama time. It really saved my sanity, my health was suffering, I'm not someone who can cosleep full time as I get significantly less sleep, so this approach worked for us.

I took quite a lot from Elizabeth Pantley's 'No Cry Sleep Solution' but didn't follow it strictly - too lazy :)

Hi - I can't help much I'm afraid as I'm still nursing both of mine through the night at 13 months. DT1 sometimes sleeps right through, or only wakes once and its a 10 minute feed and back into the cot. This means I can co-sleep with DT2 who still wakes every 2-3 hours. However it is getting easier as it was every 1.5-2 hours. I have chosen to continue feeding them both back to sleep as its so little hassle for DT1 and I don't feel I have a choice with DT2. He gets hysterical if DH tries to comfort him and he hasn't read the book about shush patting.

I found it easier to cope with nursing at night rather than try and fight it so evening meals are easy and quick, and I cut corners round the house where possible. I am looking for ward to not having to do it though and I toy with the idea of night weaning (Jay Gordon method or similar) every now and again but tbh it just seems like harder work than nursing.

On a more positive note, a lot of people have found Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution helpful and I have used a couple of techniques from it to break a feed to sleep connection. I guess if yours are identical their sleep patterns are more similar so you won't have one sleeping better than the other?

I found 8 months a really tough time as the day seemed to be a non-stop milk/solids feeding marathon and then it went on through the night! At about 9 months there were gaps between meals and feeds so I could at least clear away...

Sorry that hasn't helped more, however lots of people have night weaned successfully so hopefully they can come along and let you know what you need to know.

thanks for your advise ladies, I must get that No Cry Sleep book. We were getting a little desperate over the last few nights and last night we tried to give it a go, it just involved a lot of crying from both babies and even less sleep for us. I was also in tears at 4.30am as i couldn't bear their howling. DT2 who is particularly stubborn cried on and off for 45 mins - maybe i am just a big softy

DW123 i know what you mean about it being easier to nurse than not too....Anything for an easier life and more sleep.. that was my mindset up until the last few weeks. Their wakings have increased so much now i seem to have someone on the boob pretty constantly from 1am -6.30am if i am unlucky :( I really think they are only waking to nurse no other reason and i am so tired now i just can't keep it up. The girls are identical and yes the patterns are pretty similar - they even syncronise sleeping positions when in a deep sleep!Whatever one does,the other will surely do within a few nights

I think i will contact my local La Leche League, i think they have a library so maybe i can get that book there.

Ouch - hope the book helps. You need a break and some sleep.

My only other straw of comfort is that the really bad night waking only lasted a few weeks and then I got more used to it and DT1 calmed down a bit and I co-slept with DT2.

If you do want to carry on with the night weaning have you got anyone around apart from DP/DH to help comfort them? Your DT2 sounds a bit like mine with persistent crying - he hasn't heard of shush patting and its very upsetting to listen to.

26 we had night waking from 2 to 5.30 am with dt1 from 4 to 7 months. In the end I got some professional advice which was: Make sure they have 3 meals and the required amount of milk a day. Offer milk at 10.00pm (this feed was soon dropped). Make sure they are not hungry or windy when they are put down for sleep. When they cry go to them, check them, wind if they need it, then put them down and leave the room going back in every five minutes to soothe as required for up to an hour. We did this as I was at breaking point. The first time I tried it was a daytime nap and it took dt1 40 minutes to sleep, then at night it took 15 mins about 3 times now he does not wake at night. The bottom line for me was that the not sleeping thru was worse for him than the crying (for the time it lasted). Appreciate this may not be what will work for you as a couple.

Funnily enough when DT1 slept thru I actually missed our little early morning cuddles....

I have identical twin boys now 4 years old. I had similar problems to you when they were younger. They would feed constantly through the night and I has to co sleep to survive! I found it impossible to listen to their crying, they would never settle for my husband either. I decided to keep with the nursing as it kept everyone happy and quiet! They stopped feeding in the day time at 2 years but kept going at night til about 3, then gradually weaned/lost interest. I know this is not for everyone, but it worked for us.