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Infant feeding

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

HELP night weaning 20 month old

1 reply

Jadeleigh196 · 21/03/2023 20:28

I really need some help....

My 20 month old toddler is a god awful sleeper. We bed share, and she wakes up a minimum 4 times a night, usually it's around 6-8 times. Myself and my partner are totally at our wits end. She is breastfed through the night still, she has one need in the daytime for her nap and a feed before bed (although this no longer gets her off to sleep).

My partner has been trying to do the getting off to sleep part which initially was going quite well, however as soon as I leave the room she now screams, runs around the bedroom and bangs her head against the door!! He does eventually get her off to sleep but she's so distressed beforehand and it's for all of us to deal with.

As for over night, she will NOT settle any other way other than boob. If my partner attempts to pick her up, she screams. If I try to do the same, she screams until I give in. She has a bedroom and mattress on the floor which she will not sleep in. I've tried gentle weaning, she drove me mad with sleep deprivation and screaming at me. We've also tried some sort of level of Ferber sleep training which didn't work and made us feel god awful for even trying. I think she's a high-needs baby.. she's so attached to me and so quick to get angry if things don't go totally her way.

I don't really know if I'm asking for help, tips or just some sympathy here. If anyone's had success at night weaning a bed sharing toddler I'd love to hear what you did! I'm so unwell through lack of sleep it's making me very low and I'm generally not being the best mother I could be as a result.

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 22/03/2023 07:31

Which night weaning method did you use @Jadeleigh196? Was it the Dr Jay Gordon one?

Have you read the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers? That might be helpful.

I think I'm your situation I'd sleep with her cot sheets for a couple of nights before putting them on the cot, that way her cot will smell the same as your bed.

Then I'd do the bedtime myself with a nice big feed. I'd feed on any wake-ups till midnight then I'd start the Dr Jay Gordon method.

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