13 month old ONLY falls asleep on the breast with looooads of night wakes

[Arianna1]

I really want to hear from someone who went through this and how did you manage.. 13 month old boy has only ever fallen asleep on the breast and he always only falls asleep this way. As a result of this we do sleep and he stays awake a lot at night and sucks for ages , and I just hate it. How did you teach him to fall asleep any different way?

At that age mine was also comfort feeding too. I had enough so just didn't let her have it any more. Instead I cuddled her and tapped her back like I used to when burping her and getting her to settle as a baby.
Did that for maybe one night then noticed it made the fussing worse so we went straight from kiss and cuddle to bed with cuddles and rocks and then sitting with her for a little bit while she was still in bed during the night when she woke.
Although, I found that after about three days she stopped waking up so much and after a week she slept through the night and settles for sleep on her own.
I guess if that doesn't work maybe find a new comfort? Like a specific bed time teddy or blanket or toy?

Both of my boys were the same that age, the only way I could stop it was my husband took over in the night and at bedtime (he did the night first and then bedtime) if they woke up he rocked them to sleep. Both started sleeping through within a couple of nights. After a couple of months of this I was able to rock them to sleep at bedtime (once my milk had completely gone) and then I think at around 16 months with my oldest we transitions to putting him down in the cot and shushing him rather than rocking. Haven’t quite got their with my youngest yet but he’s lighter!

Buy how did you guys manage not to feed them at night to settle? Mine just never settles without breast at night no matter what and it doesn’t work with husband

I just cuddled, and then when she started getting even more fussy because she realised she wasnt having boob I just put her down, she'd whinge for a little and then stop
the first few nights were difficult but she learnt quick, you just have to find what works for you

Mine was the same. At 13 months we told her ‘no milk at night time. Night is for sleeping.’ And offered water instead. Dh went to her for the next couple of nights and shushed her. It only took a few nights and she started sleeping through. She was old enough to understand, and dudn’t Think there was any point waking for water.

My DS was exactly the same at 13 months and I thought things would never change. He’s 16 months now.

At around 14/15 months he went through a massive episode of teething and had a run of bad colds. When that ended I really needed things to change for the better in terms of his sleep.

What we did was I would give him a long feed in the lounge before brushing his teeth and getting him changed for bed. We moved an armchair into his room so I could then sit and cuddle him until he feel asleep.

It now takes just 10-15 minutes of cuddling and this past week he sleep nine hour stretches most nights which he has never done before - my username is a hint to how the last 16 months have been! Our worst night last week was 7.5 hours which is still pretty good. It also means DH and I can take turns putting him to bed.

We’re still working on things as this past week he wouldn’t settle in my arms in the armchair for some reason. Instead I have cuddled him to sleep in our bedroom before transferring him to his room but it still only takes 10-15 mins before he’s fast sleep and with no breastfeeding.

I hope things improve for you soon too!

When he has woken up after a 7.5-9 hour stretch then I’ve brought him in to our room and breastfed him back to sleep and he’s waking up in the morning earlier than usual.

My DD was the same until 17 months, when quite honestly I couldn't take it anymore. I tried lots of different things, but in the end I had to give up bf cold turkey. The first bedtime was hard, a lot of crying and hugging (I actually had to get in her cot)and it took a long time to go to sleep, and then it got better. Still a lot of crying but after a few days was more or less sleeping through. However I personally couldn't have done it any younger, it was the right time for us because I was ready and I felt she was old enough to understand what was going on.

Oh and the only way I managed to go as long as I did was co sleeping