problem is waking and screaming to be fed!how did or do you night wean?

[missytequila]

Any suggestions on breaking the feed to sleep?

My angel baby never had a problem sleeping and was going through the night since 8 weeks. Then she hit the 6 month mark and has been waking 3 times a night for the last month straight.

She has no problem settling... but a problem staying asleep. And when she wakes at night she screams the house down until I give in and feed her.

Now I am worried I am setting a pattern of her expecting breast feeds at 10pm 12pm, 4am, 6am...

how did you night wean? am going back to work soon (when baby is 9 month) and worried about coping..

ps- baby is now mix feed, mainly breast but 1 or 2 bottles a day

Night weaning can be done by giving water intead of milk, on the basis that the baby won't bother waking if only water is on offer, but in reality she's probably on a growth spurt. My ds has fed at around those times every night for the last 8 months - he's 14 months.

How much solids is she eating? Did the poor sleeping coincide with her weaning on to solids? Most weaning foods have a lower calorific content than BM so it may genuinely be that she is waking because she is not consuming enough milk during the day?

Whats her food/drink routine?

I am suffering exactly the same if it's any consolation - probably not! Baby D No 3 just 6 months, just started solids, use to sleep like a dream now waking 11 pm, 2 am amd 5 am. Suddenly I am a walking zombie as she won't sleep in day either (never has done). As soon as she is on solids 3 times a day I'm going to go with the controlled crying which I had to resort to with Baby D no 2 but you need to be sure they are getting enough milk during day. However if you are heading over to full FF I don't think you will need to worry as you can see what they are getting. Obviously controlled crying is not for everyone and I hated it with Baby D no 2 but after 5 days I was getting sleep and he was better for it too - it's a desperate measure and last resort but an option - saved my marriage!

DH.

When we night-weaned DS, DH went to him every time he woke in the night for 4 nights. There was a lot of crying, which DH cuddled him throughout.

DS was older though, more like 18 months.

I agree with the cuddle - the dvd we had said don't touch, no eye contact etc, bit harsh for a young baby though, I intend to give a cuddle of reassurance and then return to cosy warm cot before it cools. You've got to be mentally ready for the crying though, as although it really is less than a week I found it heart breaking.

It's probably a developmental spurt and she needs the milk. 6 months is still very small.

i tried night weaning at 8 months and it was a disaster. (as in i just didn't feed him and gave him water) at 10.5months i tried again and the next night he slept ten hours. tbh i think he was as tired as i was. we are now down to 5am feed (from 7pm) and then he sleeps till 7am. not much sign of him giving that up as yet - he is 12months.

I would just feed her. DS was still on one night feed when I went back to work @ 10 months. It wasn't that bad.

I've never done controlled crying with any of my 4, I ended up co-sleeping with no4 and it worked for us. There are lots of different options. Have a look in the sleep section to the right, lots of helpful info :)