Opinions on night feeds for older babies (6m+)

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

DD is 8 1/2 months, ebf and still waking twice a night for a feed bloody exhausting.
I'm sort of of the opinion that eventually it will get better and she will sleep through when she's ready
However, it seems that most of my friends and health visitors etc seem to be of the opinion that these night feeds need to be 'managed out' as they are no longer 'truly necessary' . She eats during the day. Weight gain is good.
DH is also of this opinion and thinks I should refuse to feed her overnight and that she will quickly stop waking up and I'll be less tired blah, blah.
I must say it's tempting as I'm so tired and it's hard to also look after a 2yr old but I can't bear her crying in the night when I have the 'tools' to soothe her right at hand.

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

Yes yes yes - I know exactly how you feel. I think I actually got more sleep when she was a v young baby. And yep, I think she is also used to me responding v quickly....

Moan moan moan

Trying to keep in mind that she is well, thriving blah blah but it's sooooooooo tiring

[Brugmansia]

Another one in the same boat here. DS is also 8.5 months and wakes several times a night. Sometimes it feels like it's getting better and then we'll have a night when he's waking hourly. There's no real pattern. Some wakes he'll eat loads so clearly needs the feed but other times he'll be back asleep within a minute or so of feeding.

I've been half heartedly planning on doing something for a couple of months but for now it's just seemed easier to continue feeding. I go back to work though in the new year and need to be sleeping better by then. My current thought is cutting night feeds may be the best first step.

Because his night feed lengths vary so much I don't think systematically shortening the length of feeds will work for us. I'm planning on limiting night feeds by time, eg no milk before 3am initially, and then gradually push the time later. I'm anticipating some difficult nights though.

Good luck to the rest of you going through the same thing.

[RoadToTuapeka]

Hi OP, I am in the same position. My DS2 is 9 months and wakes anywhere between 1 to 3 times between 7pm and 7am. During the day I swear black and blue that DH and I will somehow try to settle him without feeding... But when it comes to night I just want the sleep so breastfeed him and hey presto he goes off to sleep.

Partly I keep on with the night feeds because the waking times vary, and as sometimes he sleeps all the way throught til 4ish, so I think he is actually hungry. Sometimes we have a few days of waking at exactly sane time so I think 'ah ha, habitual waking' but then he surprises the next night with a longer sleep.

If he's still waking at 12 months I will do something else but for now keep going. It is hard though isn't it, I have a nearly 3 year old who's dropped naps so I have no down time during the day, and altho toddler sleeps well he's sometimes up at 530 or has disrupted sleep and those nights/following day can seem like a parallel hellish universe.

[HandragsAndGladbags]

DD2 is 2.3 and still wakes up for an hour every night. She always has done, it used to be for milk - everyone was telling me she didn't need feeding. She did so I fed her. That stopped about 18 months old.

Now she likes chatting, singing, laughing anything to wake us all up but no drink.

DD1 by the way slept through 7 - 7 from 11 weeks. I did nothing differently...

I guess I'm saying I agree with the PP who said they will often wake and still need settling if that way inclined. If you try a couple of nights of water no milk and see how you get on. But it may be you have a night owl for a while.

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

I can just empathize completely! I too think everyday that tonight I'll do it differently and them 'wollop' out come the boobs as I'm so tired and lack resolve.
And I too thought I'd 'get tough' at 6 months
Then 8 months
And now I think maybe a year???....

[Panzee]

My son is 8 months and still wakes. I don't want him waking up,his brother so I take him downstairs and feed him. It's probably habit but I think it's for the greater good of the rest of the house getting sleep.

Ignoring return to work looming...