How exactly do I put an end to night feeds?

[ellesabe]

Do I just go cold-turkey?

What do I do if she wakes?

How do I get her back to sleep without waking 3yo dd1 who sleeps in the bunk underneath?

I'm very sleep-deprived and very desperate :(

Dd is 13mo.

she sleeps in a bunk bed at 13 months? have I read that right?

what we did (not deliberately, night feed had been getting really short and I had a bug so we decided to see if she could manage without it so I could sleep. DH went in and settled her when she woke for 2 nights, then I was feeling better and the following night she took an incredibly short feed and I decided that was it. DH went in for one more night and then she slept through pretty much since then.

We gradually offered less formula, then diluted it so it wasn't worth getting up for. When you're down to 2, 3oz then you stop it as it's just a habit and not needed. As you're giving less milk at night LO will make it up during the day...the key for us is that bedtime bottle - he has to at least nearly finish it or we run into problems!

wellie it's a Shanticot. Currently configured as a cot on top, toddler bed underneath.

indecisive I'm bf so not sure how much she's getting each time which makes it harder I suppose.

I've never bf so I'm not sure but I think you let her feed for less time?

Never heard of a Shanticot before - just googled it. That's so clever!

Cold turkey is faster. 3 nights or so. Do it at the weekend when you cal all rest the next day.

I went cold turkey with my boy twin at about 20 months.

I wore very buttoned up pyjamas and never left him to cry, just cuddled him until he went back to sleep.

He was very cross the first night and it took about 40 mins to get him back to sleep, less the second night and only about 5 mins the third night and thereafter. It didn't stop him waking immediately but he slept through about 3 months after stopping the night feed. Think he liked his nighttime cuddles!

His twin sister who slept a few feet away never woke, even though some nights he was VERY loud!

Good luck.

And I should say, he's now 2 1/2 and sleeps brilliantly. You will get there.

Just googled Shanticot. Ooh I could've done with one of those! What a brilliant idea.

I stopped night feeding my dcs by just giving close cuddles instead of BFing. Its hard, but only lasts for a couple of nights.

They don't need sustenance during the night so its just comfort they cry for. (Which is very important too!) Cuddling back to sleep worked for me.

Don't give a drink of anything because the habit will become 'waking for drink' rather than waking for comfort.

Good luck