Seeking Sleeping Advice - Islamorada,FL

No, you do NOT need to wean your daughter just because you are pregnant. In most cases it is perfectly healthy. You can find more information about nursing while pregnant and tandem nursing at www.kellymom.com.

As to the question you actually asked, you have already suggested teething and I would suggest trying Hyland's teething tablets to help with that. It could also be a growth spurt or developmental milestone causing the waking. If you're up to it I would continue to nurse her when she needs it. She is looking for comfort from mommy and before you know it you will be sharing all your time and snuggles with another child and you'll miss these times with only you and your daughter. Would you consider co-sleeping for a while to see if both can get more sleep?

Breastfeeding does NOT rob the unborn baby of needed nutrients. That's an old wive's tale. The only one who might be losing out on nutrients is mom so she needs to make sure she's eating well.

I would say the waking is molar related. My son is the same way. Up for hours in the middle of the night usually means a tooth is trying to break through. It is probably a phase that will pass. Usually when you can't take one more night is when they start sleeping again. ;) Personally, I'd wait until she's not teething to wean if weaning is something you really want to do. I did nurse my daughter until about 3 months into my pregnancy with my son so I've been there too. In the meantime, try teething tablets or motrin if you're ok with it. You could also have your husband help out at night. I don't do CIO either, but crying in a parent's arms is not the same as CIO for sleep training. Even one night of solid sleep would probably help you a lot.

I just wanted to point out that a lot can change with your daughter while you're pregnant. She will probably go back to sleeping well again when the molars are in or she might even wean herself before the baby comes. Try not to worry that this is how it's going to be 7 months from now when the baby is here.

How well are you eating? You are asking alot of your body so feed it well.
Next make sure she is eating very very well- I like WestonPrice for guidance there. Maybe she is waking because she isn't getting enough to eat, and handling that will allow her to sleep- you may not be a pacifer but her needed source of food.
best, k

I have 6 children - I know what you are feeling. I, too, am not a fan of the "cry it out' philosophy. We did that with our first and it led to issues of insecurity... When a child's sleep pattern changes it means that something has changed to disrupt their routine. Sometimes it is a bad dream, but certainly teething could be the culprit. It takes a long time to get those molars, and it is extremely painful!!! I would talk to the pediatrician about pain relief - there are non-medication options available...
When I was pregnant with #6, my youngest daughter refused to sleep in her own bed. We let her fall asleep with us and then moved her to her own bed. After a while, she started sleeping in her own bed again - even voluntarily going to her bed for naps...
As far as nursing - I think it is time to wean her. Good for you that you made it to one year!! So many women give it up long before that. I nursed all of mine for the first year and then some... Most practitioners agree that nursing robs the unborn child of much needed nutrients. Not only that, but you need the energy that you are using to produce that milk.
Good luck!

Sounds like you already have the answer. You just need to follow through and carry it out. Children of one year old need boundaries, not a mom who caves in and is exhausted every moment. If you are tired now, just think how the new baby will flip things in your household. A few nights of crying and learning something new never hurt a child. See it through and you will be sohappy you did.

Wow, it sounds like you're going to have your hands full. I would suggest that you start trying to wean her off breast milk and get her drinking cow's milk now; this is the age that doctor's recommend that children start drinking whole milk for the fat content; they get a lot of things they need to keep them from getting sick by the fat proteins in whole milk. If you have a pump, I would pump the breast milk and have her drink it from a bottle; mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with whole milk and every few days, increase the whole milk amount and decrease the amount of breast milk until she is taking nothing but whole milk. Then, right before she goes to bed, give her a bottle of whole milk; you could put a little bit of rice cereal in it; it can help make her a little more sleepy and more full so she doesn't have to wake up in the middle of the night. I used to leave bottles of water in the crib with my kids and they'd drink that when they would wake up.
And as for the cry it out method, here's something I had to do with my daughter (who didn't sleep through the night until she was almost two; she was up every 20 minutes): when she cries, let her cry for a few minutes until you are sure she isn't going to go back to sleep; then, go into her room and rub her back (My kids refused to sleep on their tummy and after a year, if they can roll over, they're safe to let sleep on their tummies) until she calms down. Do not pick her up unless she becomes hysterical, just rub her back and murmur things to her until she settles back down. You can also try taking her into toys r us and letting her pick out a stuffed animal to sleep with. It might help her feel better about sleeping all night; we bought my daughter a stuffed sheltie and it worked like a charm; she wrapped her little arms around it and held tight and slept from about 9p-6a ... still up too early for my liking, but at least I got a full night's sleep. lol

Good luck and Mazel Tov on your upcoming blessing.