Any tips for night weaning an 11-month-old after exclusive breastfeeding?

[Peanutbutteryday]

My baby is 11.5 months old and EBF. No bottles or pumping.

I cut out day feeds two weeks ago fairly cold turkey in a day or two. Actually it was fine. Perhaps some extra fussing but on the whole fine. The harder bit was maps as I used to feed to sleep so calmly, Now baby requires cuddles and rocking and she does cry during it. But then baby does nap.

How do I wean at night?

I feed baby to sleep at 7pm and this usually conks baby out. Baby definitly takes milk. If baby wakes at night I also feed to sleep. Sometimes baby takes a lot of milk sometimes I’m not sure.

I previously thought I’d carry on night feeds for another month as that’s what I did with dc1 who then (from memory) seemed to cut out night feeds fairly easily.

But tbh I’m done now would like my body back. I’m terrified though to night wean I don’t want to be up all night with a screaming baby.

How did it go for you? any tips?

Baby doesn’t love milk but does drink water. (Not worried re calcium as I provide yogurts).

Also my husband is away start of Nov for a week for work so thought I’d wait until after that but tbh I really am done now. Nov seems so far away so actually I think i want to stop now. Will it be a disaster having to put a baby and 4 YO to bed on my own for a week with no beast feeding tool….

I’m so sorry I don’t have any advice - but watching this thread eagerly as I’m desperately trying to do the same!

I did it slowly. Mine would go to sleep around 8pm, then wake up for a feed somewhere between 10pm and midnight.

So, the first night, I did bedtime and pre-midnight feed as normal, then between midnight and 4am, if the baby woke up, I offered water in a sippy cup and plenty of reassurance, but no feed. There were plenty of tears, but after 2 or 3 nights, he got used to it. So, then I extended it to 6am, which was much easier. Eventually we dropped the 10pm- midnight feed. Then the morning feed. Bedtime was the last one to go. It took a bit of persistence, especially in the night, you have to remind yourself what you're doing.

I did it later. My DD was almost 2 but I just got fed up of the whole thing. I didn't refuse feeds I just made it harder for her. Lay back let her do the work. She had to suck harder and got less due to gravity and I didn't cuddle while she was doing so only when she finished. She got fed up of the effort within a week or 2.

Might work for you.

Thanks both although @Purpleelephantsandunicorns im royally fed up now 😂

Fair enough. I think at that point I was still feeling triumphant that I had managed to get all the medical types off my back and still breastfeed. It took a long fight for me.

Yes you should be proud of yourself and yes I know what you mean 😂

Stop now. I felt the same and kept postponing for those kinds of reasons - DH away a lot, holidays, etc. Here I am still BF over age 2. Cut it out now if you're done. Get DH to handle all night wakes. He gets a nice childfree week in November anyway.

I had to let DH take care of the night wakings or she would just wonder why I wouldn’t feed her. There were tears and I had left it so long she was able to shout ‘I want boobie’ through it all. Gave her follow-on milk before bed to fill her up and we got there after a couple of weeks of severe night-guilt!
My first born didn’t really kick up a fuss. He seemed ready.

Get in touch with Emma Pickett / look at her website. She occasionally runs weaning groups which might help. She has lots of information about making the decision to wean as well as how to do it.