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Sleep

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Original poster

Poll: does weaning make any difference to sleeping?

22 replies

MamaChris · 01/07/2008 08:29

22wo ds wakes at least every hour at night. Totally exhausted - this can't go on! I keep reassuring myself that by the time he's 14 he'll sleep forever, but I need to know there's light at the end of the tunnel sooner than that [desperate emoticon]. Not going to wean early, but only 3.5 weeks to go and really really hoping this will mark a (positive) change in sleeping. What are your experiences - did weaning make any difference, and was it good or bad?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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belgo · 01/07/2008 08:34

No. Neither of my children slept through until about 18 months of age, weaning had nothing to do with it!

Hourly waking is very tough though! What do you do when he wakes?

StellaWasADiver · 01/07/2008 08:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShowOfHands · 01/07/2008 08:35

It made no difference whatsoever. I started blw at 7 months. She started to sleep through at 10 months.

I firmly believe sleep is a developmental thing like walking and talking. You can help your child and give him cues but something arbitrary like a bit of fruit or veg may make little difference.

PortAndLemon · 01/07/2008 08:37

No difference IME. Sorry.

CantSleepWontSleep · 01/07/2008 08:38

No. (DD was also an hourly (at least) waker until 8 months).

throckenholt · 01/07/2008 08:39

No - not in my experience.

Waking is more a developmental thing.

The key is to teach them to go back to sleep on their own. Keep it dark, quiet, low key, and keep saying it is sleeping time now, rub tummy, or forehead gently and don't feed unless it is a reasonable time from the last feed (unless it is really hot when I guess a sip of water might help).

Wisknit · 01/07/2008 08:42

no. in fact with ds2 he got worse. sorry for the lack of encouraging info.

Original poster

MamaChris · 01/07/2008 08:44

That's my hope gone then! I tend to feed when he wakes, just because it works and lets me get back to sleep in the quickest time possible. But I guess it also perpetuates the problem. Thing is, I need to be less tired to have the strength to do anything else!

OP posts:

CaptainKarvol · 01/07/2008 08:44

Sorry, another no. DS is 2.3 now, and usually only wakes once or twice a night, but weaning made no odds to the 6-8 times a night we were up at that age/stage.

BellaBear · 01/07/2008 08:47

Oh god, I clicked on this thread with the hope of positive answers!(OP, identical except DS is 23.4 weeks)

PuppyMonkey · 01/07/2008 08:48

I'm the first yes then!??

Weaned very slowly and when she was at last on three solid meals a day (only things like rice and mushed carrots), she did her first proper sleeps through - 7pm-7am. She had never done anything like that before weaning, so I believe weaning was the thing that made the difference.

Original poster

MamaChris · 01/07/2008 08:50

BB Sorry I started it now! Though nice to know we're not alone

OP posts:

BarbaraWoodlouse · 01/07/2008 08:51

Sorry, no. DD woke at least once a night until about 9 months (weaned at 6 months).

Original poster

MamaChris · 01/07/2008 08:52

PM yay! I will then ignore all my training in evidenced based anything and hold on to your lone story of hope

OP posts:

BellaBear · 01/07/2008 08:53

Me too! but still not weaning early

ShowOfHands · 01/07/2008 08:56

I'm sorry you feel . It's exhausting I know. DD was the same. Shall I tell you only to listen to PM and take that as definitive proof (and resolutely not suggest it was a coincidence)?

The only way I got through it was co-sleeping. It got to the point where dd would latch on without waking me and I eventually got some sleep.

PuppyMonkey · 01/07/2008 08:58

Mama - I was you this time last year. This time does seem to drag on, but honest it DOES pass. Just chill out and rest when you can...

PuppyMonkey · 01/07/2008 08:59

Funny though that the coincidence happened with my first baby too.

Original poster

MamaChris · 01/07/2008 09:34

Well, from this small poll the eveidence suggsets a 10% chance that sleeping will (coincidentally?) improve at the same time as weaning. Compared to the chance of winning the lottery, that's quite likely! So I'm going to hold onto that thought just to get me through the next few weeks

OP posts:

Seona1973 · 01/07/2008 09:35

I weaned at 4 months with dd and she slept through at 5 1/2 months. I weaned at 5 1/2 months with ds and he slept through at 8 months. Weaning probably makes a difference but only when they are well established on solids i.e. it is not a quick fix solution and they are not going to miraculously sleep through the first time they try a bit of solid food.

alexandra2 · 01/07/2008 09:36

hi in part of a survey I asked the question to mums 'when did your baby start sleeping 12 hours in a row' and 75% said it was just after weaning had started. so dont worry there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel!

Legoleia · 01/07/2008 09:38

Weaning itself didn't make a difference.

I however was more confident to go through controlled crying, knowing that DD had a meal in her tummy and so wasn't starving.

This was 10 months though.

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