Night weaning an 8 month old

[weepingwillow22]

I am wondering when people started night weaning and their experiences? I have an 8 month old who breastfeeds once or twice a night but also eats loads during the day and is on a much higher percentile for weight than height.

I don't mind feeding him at night but the main problem is that me going to feed him wakes up his 9 year brother who is in another room despite me being as quiet as possible. His brother has severe learning difficulies and is a nightmare to get back to sleep when he wakes up.

I did read online that you can night wean at this age but am wondering if it is a good idea. If you night weaned did your LO still wake up anyway? The benefit of breastfeeding him is that he does settle back quickly and I don't want to wean him if he is going to wake up anyway and then be harder to resettle.

My other consideration is that I will be going back to work in a couple of months and was hoping to retain some breastfeeding. If I night wean now will I still be able to maintain supply for a morning and evening feed? I have never had much success with expressing so don't want to do this.

I night weaned at about 10 months but your dc sounds ready. I sent in dh for the night wakes once I'd decided to do it and then don't ever go back to night feeds, consistency is key. My baby has slept through most nights (7-7) since doing this. Although I didnt have to think of not waking an older child but there really wasn't much crying at all. I was pleasantly surprised. You may have to prepare your older child for being woken a few times though, or could he sleep downstairs or have some ear defenders?

Thanks Russell. How many nights did your DH have to go in to settle before your LO slept through? My older one is waking anyway so I don't think this should be any more of an issue.

Hi, sorry only just seen this. It was about 4 or 4 nights. Not long at all.

Thanks Russell. Will give it a try as soon as I can convince DH to sacrifice a few nights sleep!