How long did it take for you to night wean?

[Lizbiz89]

Currently trying to night wean my almost 1 year old and last night was a shit show. I stayed with him every time he woke to settle without boob but I ended up giving a 2am feed because he wouldn't go back to sleep and my boobs were going to explode at that point. He woke 10.30pm, 1am, 5am, then awake fully at 6.30am. Genuinely feel like I've been run over. Just wondering how many nights of hell I'm in for 😫. I've decided to night wean as my ds was feeding every night 3-4 times still.

You need to get rid of one feed at a time. You fed him once in the first night, that’s not so bad. Took me 4-5 nights with my first, my second night weaned himself. Persistence is key especially as you left it quite late. It will get better every night

Think it took 2 or 3 nights with my 8 month old, it was fine. You've started now, keep going and you'll be done in a couple days, I might weaned and continued day feeding - it defo helped the night wakings if that's part of your reasoning x

3 nights from 6/7 bloody snacks a night to sleeping 7 til 7.
Aged 10 months.

3 nights but I didn’t go anywhere near the DC. DH dealt with every waking. 2 hours first night, 15 mins the next 5 mins the next the 12 hours a night until about 8/9 years of age unless ill. I would ALWAYS night wean 12-18 months.

Did it at 13 months - took 3 nights. 45 mins of crying the first night, 30 mins second night, 15 mins the third, and by the fourth no wake ups..difficult at the time but we were all much happier and well rested for it!

Thanks for everyone's replies. Looks like I'm due 2 more crappy nights. Just thank god my husband isn't working tomorrow so I can at least go back to bed in the morning. Praying tonight is a little bit less awful.

How did it go? X

How did you all do it? Like when they wake up wanting to feed what do you do? Currently feeding to settle approx every 40 mins and feel dreadful

Took 4 nights and we were out the other side. Mostly sleeping through now. So glad we did it.

Fab news @Lizbiz89 I think people underestimate the benefits of sleep training older babies/toddlers. Completely different to sleep training a young baby which isn’t something I’d do!

Completely agree. He's so much happier for it as well. Wakes up with a big smile on his face. I would never sleep train a younger baby either. I think that's cruel. But we were both so ready for this transition.

That's amazing - well done! I'm in desperate need of doing this, but need to pluck up the courage as mine is a sensitive soul.

Did you essentially just keep rocking them and shushing them through all of the crying until they eventually calmed down?

@SpringTime2023 I started off cuddling him as much as he needed and would sit with him until he settled. Then I would give him a quick cuddle and put him in his cot but still reassure him. Then I would reassure him without cuddling. Then I would allow fussing. I've never left him to cry cry if that makes sense. Once they're nearing one you have a good sense of what is a genuinely "upset cry" to what is a "whinge cry". I've pretty much offered any form of comfort he's needed but strictly NO boob until 7am.

Thank you! My DD kicks off after a second of not getting milk though, so I fear that I'd have an unhappy crying child from the start. That's why I think it'll be difficult, because she goes from calm to furious within milliseconds!

@SpringTime2023 so does mine, there’s no in between stage but I’m desperate to night wean for my own sanity, going to try next week

Oh good luck, let me know how it goes! Mine was awake for 45 mins at 8:30pm even WITH feeding on and off, so I feel like it's such a mountain to climb (they also woke up multiple times in the night as standard).

@Thewildthingsarewithme did you have any luck?

@Andemaggie unfortunately not, we seem to have had one thing after another with bugs and teething so I seem to be feeding every hour at night at the moment! Have you started?

Oh that's so tough, I hope you're okay! I tried for 1 night last week but I gave in after 45 minutes of intense crying and haven't had the strength to try again since. It's just so hard when you know you can stop them being upset in an instant.. and when you just need a bit of sleep! Reading success stories is motivating though.

Ds - 3 months
Dd - 14 months

We're in exact same position...so many bugs and teeth, she's feeding A LOT in the night. Going to get dad to try and put her to bed for a few days to see if that helps with it in some way (she's currently fed to sleep).