I am still nursing my 21-month old, who LOVES to nurse (three times a day: at the morning wakeup, after his nap, and before his nighttime bath). I like nursing him and was planning to let him wean on his own time but 1) I'm pregnant again, just found out and 2) he's been consistently waking up to nurse at 5:30am--way too early. He hasn't had enough sleep yet, and I really need to sleep more now that I'm pregnant; I'm in that exhausted phase. He does this regardless of what time he went to sleep the night before. He SCREAMS hysterically if my husband or I go in and try to get him back down without nursing, he's sooo upset. When he does go back to sleep, though (eventually, after much drama), he'll sleep another hour or two. This is really becoming a pain, and we all need more sleep. I've heard of people with early-waking babies who have cut out the morning nursing, and their babies suddenly sleep much longer since they don't wake up expecting to nurse. But in their case, they had cut back to one time a day. Everyone says if you decide to wean you should start with the nursing session that the baby is the LEAST attached to. In my case this morning one (the only one that's a problem for us) is the one he's the MOST attached to. I hate to wean him totally yet (I'm hoping that maybe he'll decide on his own to stop once my breast milk starts to change taste in the second trimester) but I'd really like to skip that morning session if it means he would sleep in more. Has anyone had a similar experience? Has anyone ever tried weaning a baby off a feeding he's very attached to while leaving other (less-favorite) nursing times in place? Help! Any advice is welcome!!!!!
E.,
My first son was the same way. I started with the daytime nursing first. Once we had eliminated all the daytime/bedtime nursing he just started sleeping through the 5:30 one and that was the end of it.
Maybe that might work for your little guy.
Jessica
Good for you for nursing still! I too am pregnant and have been nursing my DD all through pregnancy. She too was waking up way too early and I really wanted the extra sleep. My husband just started getting up with her (which was awful for a few days) but now she doesn't ask to nurse when I get up with her. We go straight to her high chair and have breakfast. She would be standing at our bedroom door pounding on asking to "nu-nu" (nurse) but my wonderful husband kept distracting her until she realized it wasn't going to happen. Now we nurse for nap and bedtime...and very rarely inbetween. I did try weaning her from her nap time nursing but she isn't ready. Good Luck!
My daughter and I stopped her breastfeeding when she was 22 months old. I do believe she'd still to this day enjoy nursing if I let her (she's 4) because of her strong personality and strong self-awareness. When she stopped nursing, she immediately became an awesome sleeper. I would have been thrilled if she was sleeping all the way to 5:30 a.m.! Alas, she'd wake up every few hours at least. I was a Zombie. If you're pregnant, you will be in for another two years without adequate sleep so the more sleep you can get now, the better. I think you're in a tough spot kind of, because it really is so healthy for you to continue nursing throughout your pregnancy but this can be difficult if you are a hardworking stay-at-home Mom. Congratulations on your new baby!
Hi E.-
While I don't have any experience with weaning yet, I do have a nursing 22 month old, so I can definitely relate. I plan to let her self wean, but she also night nurses still and will freak out if I don't nurse her back to sleep.
Since your son is only nursing once at night, is it possible to let him come into bed with you at 5:30am when he wants to nurse so that you can all go back to sleep more quickly? I co-sleep with my DD and that is what makes the night nursing so bearable. I think I get decent sleep even though she tends to wake 1-3 times a night (sometimes more if teething). I too am hoping to get pregnant soon, but will continue to nurse like you are.
I really think if that is the only feeding bothering you to try the co-sleeping thing. If you are against that I suppose your husband could take on the roll of soothing him back to sleep.
you are doing fine.
have you tried cosleeping/bedsharing or a version of it? it might be easier for you to get back to sleep if you are laying down and just going back to sleep while nursing!
awesome job mom. my son self weaned at 19 months, so im excited to see another mom doing a more child led weaning with their child!
its possible that shortly, with the changes your milk is going to go through your older child would wean on his own. ..
just be patient, and try the best you can to do what you've been doing; trusting yourself and your child! :D
With my daughter, I cut out the daytime feeding first and she didn't even notice. Distract with toys, books, cuddling. Then I did the morning, when he wakes up just get up and give him breakfast with pumped milk or whole milk. After a couple of days, he should adjust fine! I cut out the bedtime feeding last and there were a few tears but daddy took over bedtime routines. Good luck to you and congrats!
