Nighttime Weaning in a Toddler

Updated on February 06, 2013
L.L. asks from Austin, MN
5 answers

So, I am extremely happy to announce that I finally told my daughter (who will be three in May) that I was NOT going to nurse her any more during the day. Didn't think it would work...but it did. For a full two weeks now, the first time I feed her is when I put her into bed...so now, instead of chaos, she actually has a bed time. I read her two books, lay down with her, feed her for about two-five minutes, and she's out like a light. (She quit taking naps when I quit doing daytime feedings, because I have always nursed her to sleep.)

She does wake up at night still, always had, and I still feed her. Of course, the goal is to quit nursing all together, so if anyone has any advice on how to go about this, it would be GREATLY appreciated.

And not to be difficult, but she doesn't drink milk, only water, doesn't do a sippy cup, so I can't switch to an alternate form of "feeding" at night...I tried that many times over the last two years and she just never took to it, so I gave that up. During the day she just drinks like a normal child.

(And yes, I know I made tons of mistakes by allowing her to be fed to sleep until she was almost three...there are plenty of reasons for that, and I don't regret it!!) ;)

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More Answers

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Well, obviously, she no longer needs the nourishment from nighttime feedings. Have you thought about just telling her, no more feedings during the night.

It worked for daytime, nighttime shouldn't be any worse. I would suggest, like Melissa R. mentioned, that you provide her with a "lovey"... something to snuggle with during the night. You can take her and let her choose it. You could even tell her the new plan, followed immediately by, "so today we are going to go find a lovey that you can sleep with". Valentine's Day is next week, so there are going to be tons of fluffy, snuggly, stuffed animals available for her to choose from. :)

And, by the way, she doesn't need to have a sippy cup in order to let her have only water during the night. You could get a small cup (whatever she uses during the daytime) and fill it with only a small amount and set it on her nightstand or dresser, for "just in case she gets thirsty."

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M.R.

answers from Miami on

At 3 night waking/feeding is just a habit and should be easy to break. Also sounds like she doesn't really need the milk at bed time but is just sucking for comfort. If possible have another adult go in to her in the middle of the night and gently tell her it's still sleeping time and pat/rub her back to calm her. I would think within a few nights she will be sleeping through. Have you tried telling her no more nursing at all? If she took so well to getting rid of the daytime maybe she would be as easy for night time. You might need to give her new ways of getting the comfort she currently gets from nursing (a new soft blanket/animal, music/nature sounds/white noise, stroking her face, etc.)

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

At this point she is not feeding, she is using you only for comfort. Babies stop needing to eat at night after only the first few weeks of life, if they continue to wake at night to feed after that it is because they have been taught to do so. So at this point she is simply relying on a learned habit. You have to help her find new ways to comfort.

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

When it was my son's time to night wean, the bedtime and nighttime duty shifted 100% to his father. Mom = nursing, so take yourself out of the equation and have her father take over.

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