DD 23m - really long sleep regression?

[wishIwasonaBeach]

Hi all.

DD is 2 next month. Always been a pretty good sleeper. (She is bf and we co-sleep) She was sleeping through until about 4/5am and then would feed until about 7/8.

However, the last 4/6 weeks it's like she's a newborn again. Waking and feeding constantly. She isn't upset - doesn't cry - doesn't seem to be in any pain but feeds almost constantly.

She's been through regressions before but they've lasted maybe 2/3 weeks never this long. Is/has anyone been through this? Will she just remember how to sleep through?

She's still napping in the day - if anything maybe napping better. Anywhere between an hour and a hour and a half a day.

Is it just a huge developmental leap? She has really come on in the last few weeks.

Any advice - shoulder to cry on?

Thanks all X

I say this as a fellow breastfeeder etc, so no judgement, but I think your milk is no longer satisfying her and she is perhaps using you as a comforter.

I would stop breast feeding and move her into her own bed; make this disruption to the pattern the reason to move on to a new stage.

Thanks. I think you may be right.

We are planning moving her out but I thought i should stop bf'ing before as I didn't want to be running down the corridor to her room.

Have you stopped bf'ing a child before? I don't know where to start 😂

When I stopped bf mine it was when I went back to work. He was under a year old and was trying to bf before I went to an evening meeting, and he was wriggling and giggling and basically interested in anything but bf for his supper.

I handed him to his dad and said “he’s a big boy, give him a bowl of rice krispies and milk for his supper”
and that was that! I left the house for my meeting and never offered the breast again.

It’s a sign that he wasn’t getting much milk from me by then that I had next to no engorgement.

you may have a thought few days of it, but the time is right.

Yeah I guess it's about finding what's right for us. She absolutely loves 'boob' as she calls it - I know it's right but she has always responded better to gradual change than cold turkey.

My mum bf all of us (she had 4) and said she'll just decide when she's had enough and I guess I was holding out for that but I don't think that's coming 😂

No personal experience as I weaned at 17 months but I am on a Facebook group for breastfeeding older babies and toddlers and I think this is quite common around the age of 2. Could be developmental but also possibly related to the start of second molars coming in if they haven't already.

If developmental I would expect it to pass. It may be useful for you to get advice from other mums in a similar position - the Facebook group is called 'Breastfeeding Older Babies and Beyond'

Thanks @angelpie33 that's very useful. I'll have a look at the FB group.

We have had a few better nights but last night was rubbish.

Thanks again. S

Totally this. You need to treat her like the big girl she is and not a baby.
Make it exciting for her. Get her to help decorate her room and choose her bedding and if possible get dad to do bedtime so she can’t start clinging to you.
You will get there!

Following in solidarity! My dd is 21mo and breastfed still, she has been sleeping through really well for ages but the last few weeks she's been waking up in the night wanting milk. She does sleep in her own room, but I find it so hard to get her back to sleep after she wakes and end up being up for over an hour sometimes trying to settle her.

She eats well so I don't think it's hunger but maybe comfort. Have you felt for back molars? I can't feel anything yet but wonder if they're brewing..

Here's hoping it's just a phase!

I really would like to wean her from the boob soon but no idea where to start as we get screaming if she even thinks I'm not going to feed her at nap or bed time, god forbid her dad tries to put her to bed 🙈

Thanks @Panda34 Absolutely the same here.

I'd say overall the nights have been a bit better recently but I think she is ready (as are we) for the next step.

We've started talking about her being a 'big girl' now etc - but she mostly just ignores me and shouts "Boob!" I'm sure we'll get there but I never wanted to go head-to-head with her - I was hoping she'd just decide she's had enough but alas - here we are.

We've decorated her room and we are buying her a big girl bed so maybe that will push things in the right direction - it really is a minefield weaning a strong willed, boob obsessed toddler 😂