12 month old wants boob all night!

[Geordiebabe85]

Someone please tell me how to get my boob monster to stop feeding every 2 hours through the night.
I've tried getting my oh to go to him. He literally just screamed like he'd been kidnapped.
I've tried just cuddles. Again, I'm surprised the neighbours didn't call social services to report a kidnapping.
Please, please, someone tell me how to do it. Do we just need to go through the tears?

Reduce one by one, once you have started do not go back. Some tears are to be expected. Warn the neighbours to buy earplugs if it makes you feel better.

Probably easier if it’s you to start as your husband is a bigger change. Put on a clean sweatshirt or something so he can’t get to your boobs or smell skin so much. Have your husband around as back up so you don’t weaken.

A bottle at nighttime can keep them fuller, not that he’s really hungry but it might help delay wake-ups. Your husband could do that bit.

If you try to stop all in 1 go it will be distressing for all of you.

I've weaned 3dc (finally stopped feeding dc3, age 28m last Friday). Night weaning isn't recommended until after 18m as it's still a significant dietary contribution. If you are determined that you need to stop night feeds then I'd try having "core hours" - protect your sleep between 11-6 (you'll probably have to start with a shorter time period and gradually lengthen it). You refuse to breastfeed during those hours and provide a sippy cup/bottle instead. Lo will get the idea pretty quickly, id expect around a week of tears and screaming.

They may also want to feed more and for longer during the day and on morning waking so if you're back at work you need to factor in time for this.

Good luck with it (my dc3 would scream do hard he'd make himself puke if it wasn't me who came to feed him around that age)

Thank you. I hadn't thought of reducing the access to boobs. Great idea. I'm going to bed in a hoody tonight!
Thanks

Thank you. Did you do it with a sippy cup? I thought once they were 12 months breast milk was no longer needed?

Is he tired enough at night time to stay asleep? Is he eating enough at daytime? My understanding is that he is old enough for you to drop night feeding and even all breastfeeding if you want to/cannot feed anymore. Mine just stopped wanting at around 14 months and my milk production just dried out.

To add I started keeping a sippy cup and ready to feed milk next to our bed so if my toddler wakes up hungry any night I just quickly pour her a cup.

Sounds like baby is using you as a comforter and it may be your baby likes to suckle I gave my baby an orthodontic dummy just until the baby was sleeping all night then reduced the amount of time baby had it. Some people give baby it's own thumb this proves a bit harder to stop. Just feed until baby stops suckling and sleeps then give baby the dummy if you want to. Sleep when baby sleeps feed burp change see if baby wants more milk and when sleepy swap with the dummy and you should shower and get some sleep. This may seem a lot but they grow so fast baby stage doesn't last long enjoy your time and relax things do get better sooner than you think. Good luck with your wee baby . 🍀🫰🍀🫰🍀🫰☘️🙏💪🍀

Try 12 alternatives for the all night nurser or Dr Jay Gordon's Gentle Night Weaning Method.

Both of mine significantly reduced their night feeds though by just going into their own room. DD went from Feeding every couple of hours to once or twice.

Thank you everyone. Last night was tough but we did it! Went from 1130 until 630 with just cuddles.
Is the idea that it will get easier and he'll soon just stop wanting it?

Hopefully. Did you read the Dr Hay Gordon's method?

Yes. Makes a lot of sense. We're already in different rooms and I've tried to touch him more in the daytime and last night I slept with my boobs well covered so that when I went into him they weren't easily accessible.