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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Night weaning toddler starts tonight - I might need some hand holding.

40 replies

pickledlily · 01/01/2014 20:30

DD is 21 months and usually wakes several times a night. I end up BF her a couple of times to get her settled again. It was ok for a while - DD had reflux and it helped her sleep. But the lack of sleep is now taking it's toll and as DD's reflux seems to have improved (we are withdrawing meds) DH and I have agreed tonight we start night weaning.

SO... I've told DD for a few days now that there won't be any more milk when Mr Sunshine has gone to sleep (we have a gro-clock). She shook her head the first few times and then just ignored me. The plan is that DH will do the wake ups. This is going to be noisy - she normally creates merry hell until I go into her room. So it could be a long night.

Anyone feel like holding my hand or sharing your success stories?

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AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 01/01/2014 20:37

I need to do this with DD (15 months) have tried before but always cave at about 2am. Sounds like your DH is on the case though and I think that's half the battle!

Holding your hand. Any wake ups so far?

Judyandherdreamofhorses · 01/01/2014 20:41

Good luck. I night weaned DS last month (17 months) and it was ridiculously easy. In two nights he went from frequent (and lengthy) night feeds to sleeping through. I weaned him from his last bedtime BF last week and he's only asked once. Sometimes it must just be the right time.

Hope it goes well for you.

squidkid · 01/01/2014 20:45

I did it at 14 months and it wasn't too bad at all.

Boyfriend did all the nights for a week. I do night shifts sometimes so I knew she could manage. Still felt very anxious though.

I recommend ear plugs, though my baby only really cried on one of the nights. Or going away for a night? I was away for the first two nights, working.

Now (15 months) we still get night wakings sometimes but sleep is lots better, and I don't feed in the night. So if I need a night off I can get one. If I sleep with her (we still do some co sleeping) I don't feed her either and she doesn't really look for it any more. She is a bit more clingy for her bedtime feed and will sometimes try and get a cheeky feed at a time there normally isn't one in the day- small payoff I think.

good luck. I think different babies are ready for it at different times. xxx

Original poster
pickledlily · 01/01/2014 20:54

Gunpowder, I think DH has been biting his lip waiting for me to say we should night wean, so he's only too keen to help. No wake ups so far, but the first one isn't normally until I've just put my head on my pillow 11ish.

Glad yours was quick to solve Judy. Not convinced DD thinks it's time to give up...

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Original poster
pickledlily · 01/01/2014 21:00

Hmm, yes. I am expecting plenty of clinginess tomorrow but I'm off work this week so it shouldn't be problem, other than sending me insane! Wish i had some ear plugs to hand though.

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FadBook · 01/01/2014 21:00

Good luck, we followed Dr Jay Gordon method.

Fab that you have DH on board.

I offered water and consistently repeated the same phrases like "no milky until morning" / "sleepy time now" etc

AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 01/01/2014 21:16

Pickled our first wake up is usually at 11 too.

Fadbook what age was/were your DC when you nightweaned?

Original poster
pickledlily · 01/01/2014 21:21

I found Dr Jay Gordon very helpful, but geared to cosleeping. So in theory it should be easier with DD in her own room and DH settling her. Perhaps.

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Original poster
pickledlily · 01/01/2014 21:27

Ok, am going to get some sleep before it all kicks off. Thank you for your words of encouragement. I'll let you know how it goes.

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AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 01/01/2014 21:38

GOOD LUCK OP!

Showy · 01/01/2014 21:49

I did it a month ago with 2.3yo ds. He barely complained on night one, didn't even ask on night two. And he was a milk monster all night long previously.

AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 01/01/2014 21:51

This thread is giving me hope.

Original poster
pickledlily · 02/01/2014 01:52

Quick update... We are on wake up no. 2 and not a peep so far from DD. DH clearly has magical powers (I've probably just jinxed it now).

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Original poster
pickledlily · 02/01/2014 01:55

Showy, well done! did you do it or your partner? DD has always kicked up a fuss when i have refused her milk.

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Original poster
pickledlily · 02/01/2014 02:39

Ok, spoke too soon. DD not happy about being put down. DH just trying a beaker of milk and all quiet. What are you supposed to do if they are quite happy being held but won't be put down?! I normally give up at this point and drag her in with us (she then sleeps happily across me and i end up with back ache Hmm)

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OutNumberedByBlue2 · 02/01/2014 04:41

No practical advice I'm sorry to say Op but offering a hand to hold & sending positive, non milk sleepy thoughts your way.

FadBook · 02/01/2014 04:58

Hope she went off OP - is say your DH just needs to rise it out. It might mean cuddling for a few nights but its worth the slight upheaval.

AndIFeedEmGunpowder - night weaned at 13 months using Dr Gordon's method. She was in her own room by then but I had a bed in her room too and co slept in there to settle her, just for a couple of nights. It worked as she wasn't in our bed and it wasn't consistently that I was with her. Just as and when she woke and I needed to get her through the night. By night 2 she woke twice compared to her normal 6 times. By end of week 1, she woke once.

FadBook · 02/01/2014 04:59

Grammar in that first sentence is shocking! DH to "ride" it out is what I meant

picklesrule · 02/01/2014 05:36

I weaned a boob monster at 20months..first night awful basically had a tantrum for about 4 hours trying to get to my boobs ended up pushing him in buggy to get him to drop off.

Next night still kick offs but not so long and 3rd night only one waking to have water and then done! Still not best sleeper but only requires a quick shush/drink of water now then goes back.

First night def the worst just don't give in. And if you can don't give milk either as you will only have to wean from that later on!
Good luck x

squidkid · 02/01/2014 08:17

How was the night?
We gave it a week before assessing to make sure we didn't give up. Only took a couple of nights really though (bit longer before I could relax and sleep). Now boyfriend does all the nights pretty much which is great!

Original poster
pickledlily · 02/01/2014 08:30

Well, 2nd wake up lasted 2 hours. DH gave her some milk which helped calm her and then she rattled around the cot for an hour till she got herself to sleep. Fortunately didn't have to resort to the buggy.

She woke up at 6 and was playing with her toys. It might have been earlier but the monitor was on mute Blush.

But we survived and it wasn't as bad as i thought. We are just all shattered now. Thank you everyone!

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Original poster
pickledlily · 02/01/2014 08:33

Just realised what time you posted outnumbered, pickles, fad. Hope your little ones weren't playing up too!

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AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 02/01/2014 10:30

Glad it wasn't quite as bad as expected OP. Sure it will be even better tonight.

Thank you Fadbook. I have got her into her cot bed now (in our bedroom) for the first part of the night so hopefully that will help. I think I just need to ride it out, I have no willpower in the early hours!

FadBook · 02/01/2014 22:54

Great news pickles, I recall our first night being no where near as bad as we anticipated.

Dd had got DP up but once I'm awake in the night i can't back off, mind to busy and DP snores (asleep within seconds). Bloody 2.5 hours I was awake last night and dd only woke for 60 seconds! Thank god for MN during the night!

Showy · 03/01/2014 11:25

How was last night?

I did the wakings still as I tend to co-sleep from first waking. I did A LOT of groundwork during the day. If he had a breastfeed, I made sure it was always in my chair and while latching him on/feeding, I would remind him that milk was only for in the chair now and we wouldn't be having milk at night. Nights were for sleep and cuddles, but no milk. I didn't go down the beaker of milk in the night from DH route btw because I wasn't swapping one reason to wake for another. He has a beaker of water by his bed but the night milk was ending.

Before bed on night one, I talked to him again about the fact that if he woke in the night there would be no milk and he could have milk in the morning when we got up. He repeated the new 'rules' and he knew what was coming.

I was so shocked when he just accepted it. He used to wake from about 11pm and would feed on and off, up to 10 times a night every night. Night one, he asked for milk twice but I reminded him that he had to wait until the morning. He did suggest that we go downstairs and sit in my chair but I just cuddled him and shushed him and he drifted off.

Now he sleeps through until about 6.30am every night in his own bed. I still can't quite believe it.