Anybody else still demand bfing an older baby? How does it end?

[laura032004]

DS2 has now reached the grand age of 19m and 3 days, and I'm still bfing on demand. I bf DS1 to 22m, and only stopped as I was 22w pg by then, so I've no problems with feeding long-term, but the frequency with DS2 is really becoming an issue.

He still wakes several times a night, but I'm planning on doing controlled crying with him in the next fortnight to try and put a stop to this. I had carried on with night feeds, as he had bad reflux until 13m, and didn't eat any solids. Then he only ate a bit, so I was concerned that he might be hungry at night. However, he's now eating a lot better, and is a really good weight, so there isn't really a concern any more. During the day he is feeding at least 20 times. Sometimes he can be on and off 4 or 5 times in an hour, having a feed, then wandering off to play for a bit. If I don't feed him, he's almost impossible to distract, and screams, bites and pinches until I inevitably give in.

I really don't feel like this is going to stop any time soon. There's been no gradual dropping of feeds at all, and I think I'm going to have to stop all together. Anybody done this? Any other tactics?

Any advice gratefully received!

have you thought about doing gradual withdrawal or pupd as opposed to controlled crying? i think it would have to be your dh that did it though so he think he cant^ be fed.

DH works away, so isn't around from Sunday afternoon to late Friday. He's also not particularly co-operative about helping out during the night - the wonders of having two entirely bf children means he's never done a night feed.

He is really stubborn and determine, so gradual withdrawal just gets him more worked up. Same with pupd really. Controlled crying did work before Christmas, but then he got a cold just as we cracked it. It literally took two nights, and only about 2-10 minutes crying at each waking, so I can cope with it. I'm just waiting until after our holiday, as I know while we're away I'll do bf him anything to get him to sleep.

determined

have you looked into the no cry sleep solution? a lot of people i know have found cc doesn't work past about 18 months for some reason.

I did read it with DS1, but I gave my copy away ages ago, and I've no idea what it said after 19m with no sleep . I've not heard that about cc, so I might have to look into the NCSS again.

i think it's because they become more aware iyswim.

Bump