TTMA Night Weaning

[fuzzylogic]

BTDT moms, or FT moms who have already successfully done this: Help. Night weaning. How did you do it? How did you know when to start the process? How long did it take? 

We are having more night wakings than when she was younger. I don't know if it's stomach upset from solids, teething pain (lots of comfort nursing and ear-pulling), separation anxiety, or actual hunger. When she wakes and wants to eat, she usually does take a pretty good drink. I often fall asleep so I honestly don't know how long she actually nurses sometimes.

ETA: Is it even necessary? Will she just do this on her own? Am I trying to push something too soon/expecting too much?

Thanks in advance!

[rachaeleigh]

I have nothing at all but relate so much to these thoughts, questions, and experiences.

We had a good stretch last week where she slept from 8 to 3. I brought her into the bed at 3 to eat/fall back asleep.

So the last few nights she's waking every hour after 12 again...I think, she can't be hungry, right?! She went until 3 all last week!

[pearlvirus]

I night weaned DD1 at about 9 months. The sleep coach we hired often recommends it as early as 6 as long as baby is big and healthy. DD1 was a nursing addict and a big part of getting her to sleep was convincing her to sleep was breaking her nurse to sleep habit. We tried sleep training without night weaning, but it just didn't stick, she didn't STTN until we night weaned. That said, nursing was not her only sleep crutch and she is still not a great sleeper, but it did make a big difference. DD2 however is a different animal. We were very careful not to create a nursing to sleep association and DH often goes to her in the night if it hasn't been very long since her last nurse. I don't think I will consider night weaning her until close to her first birthday or if she starts skipping it on her own, I might stop offering straight away. I have heard of many babies dropping the last night nursing in the last quarter of their first year, but typically those were babies that only woke up once to eat and go back to sleep anyway. IMO it's better not to night wean until after the first birthday, if you can survive that!

Short answer: if you have a nurse to sleep association, you'll have to nigh wean to get some sleep. If you don't have a nurse to sleep association, night weaning may not make any difference.

[yummeecookee]

I also did not night wean my DD until after she was 12 mo. That's when I was weaning her from BF'ing so it went hand in hand. If she woke up MOTN, MH would be the one to go comfort or check on her. That way she couldn't try to nurse or get more crazy about the fact that it wouldn't be an option. As I remember, it was a pretty bumpy week or so and we had to mix some CIO in there. But all in all, she has been a great sleeper since night-weaning. She is a rockstar sleeper compared to C.

I am not even going to try w C until we get to 12mo. he is a big night time nurser/cuddler. I definitely do not think he would be ready for that yet.