I've been slowly weaning my 14-month-old son from breastfeeding. We're down to one schedule feeding at bedtime. He also usually wakes up once during the night, and I nurse him, lay him back down awake, and he goes right back to sleep. I would like to wean him completely, but I'm not sure the best approach at this point. I really don't want to force him to cry it out when he wakes up at night, unless nothing else works. Any advice?? Thanks!
You may not want to... exactly.
Many children will sleep through the night and not wake hungry. If yours is... and you don't feed him, you in for a hard night. As they'll typically wake every 1-2 hours after NOT being fed.
So if you're moving on to solids... I would still suggest feeding him right before bed AND when he wakes up hungry. Just transition to bottles of warm milk or formula.
Oh no, never let them cry it out but instead of offering your breast, it's best to offer water (not milk, not juice, and not cold water either) in a sippy cup (or bottle, if you prefer). The idea is to make waking up during the night less enticing. If he knows he's not getting your breast and only warm/cool water, he may be less likely to wake up during the night. This is a time when hubby may have to help you. Also, make your breasts difficult to get at. Good luck. You can do it.
We never stopped getting up with my grandson and he still gets up sometimes. He's 18 months old and we don't lay him down with a bottle. But he does sometimes get a few sips around 4-5 am. Usually, he'll sleep in his crib part of the night and then land in bed with his mother for last couple hours of the night. ALL of our children came to bed with us in the middle of the night too. I think people are too quick to try and force the kids to sleep through. But even if you don't want to spoil them a bit longer, I don't see how anything but CIO would work unless they get what they want or need until they don't want it or need it anymore.
I am not sure if you are married or have a partner, but my husband helped with this. When it was time to wean my kiddos, my husband was the one who put them down for a couple of days, then I did the 3rd day and did not even offer to nurse them and it worked just fine. The thing about the middle of the night one is that your son may just need some comfort and that is where he associates comfort from. So, you may need to let him pick out a "special" toy or blanket to use for comfort.
He's not nursing much at all.
But he still wakes.
Waking happens.
He only wakes, 1 time per night.
That is actually good and you are lucky.
The 2 may not even be related.
My kids had GINORMOUS appetites... and at each growth-spurt.
Then there is teething, which wakes them too.
A kid will wake.
When they get older, they will sleep through the night.
I weaned my son at 17 months, and he was already down to twice a day - once before his nap and once before bed. I just waited till my husband's vacation time and he went in when our son woke during the night, so the temptation wouldn't be there! After 4 days, my son didn't ask to nurse at bedtime anymore. If that's not an option for you, try giving him a cup of warm water and cuddling with him. If the water doesn't cut it, you might want to pump some milk before bed, and give him that if he wakes during the night. If that doesn't work, try gradually shortening the amount of time he nurses before you put him back in bed. Good luck!
At this point he's probably craving the closeness and attention vs. the food. So you can still cuddle him - try water if you need to. Then move to still going to him but not picking him up and just singing or rubbing his back for comfort. I remember literally hanging over the side of the crib with my daughter when she went through this, but eventually it worked. I couldn't do the CIO either... Good luck
