for moms who are nursing or have nursed their baby?

Question

my daughter is 11 mos old and still falls asleep by nursing. I would really like to wean her, but i do not want to put stress on her at bedtime by not nursing. any tips for me?

Answer 1

You haven't said if you have already tried and this has caused stress, Why don't you start and see what happens and then come back here.

Answer 2

I agree with those who say to stop the feeding as she is falling asleep but not sleeping, read a book then put her down with a little music perhaps. She'll be dozy enough that she'll fall asleep on her own. And if she fusses wait a bit before going in, she may fall asleep on her own, if she doesn't pick her up and pat her till she's calm and set her back down, wait a little bit longer if she continues. Does she use a pacifier ? We think things will be more traumatizing for the baby, but sometimes it's more traumatizing for us mom's. You'll have to try it out and see what works.
We do this with my 7 month old who likes to fall asleep at the breast, and has adjusted to this great ! He can even fall asleep like a big boy, even without his soother !

Answer 3

A book called the 'no cry sleep solution' has some good ideas.
Try nursing in a different room with the lights on and then take her into her bedroom and either sing a song in the dark or read a book and then put her down. make it a routine so she knows that this is still sleep time and she will ge tthe picture and fall asleep easily enough in a week or so.

Answer 4

Do you want to wean her just off the breast while falling asleep or totally wean? I would wait to totally wean but you can start to wean her off at bedtime. You need to wait until she is almost but not quit asleep and then pull her off the breast. This allows her to fall asleep somewhat on her own. Eventually, she'll be able to fall asleep on her own. Good luck.

Answer 5

Start with by changing one of the feedings time first. The afternoon ones are easier to change for baby. The bedtime feed should be done last. The idea is to do it one feed at a time.

First, nurse baby as usual, keep watch on your time with baby. Take note how low it takes for baby to fall asleep. If baby takes 30min to fall asleep then next day cut back by 5min. Stay on 25mins for three days and then shorten to 20mins the following day. Progressively, keep cutting back the time, until baby is able to be put down to bed while still slightly awake. Just concentrate on one feed at a time before changing the next feed.

5-10mins of feeding is enough and baby should learn to go to sleep on his/her own.

Answer 6

My baby is 10 mos old and what i've been doing is not letting him fall asleep at the breast..i have been putting him down when his suckling slows down..he slept through the night once but not the other nights so I know it will take more persistance. Maybe you can try that on her..good luck!

Answer 7

If she is using a bottle at all try supplementing with that or try feeding her a little before bedtime and then putting her to bed with a pacifier or just try rocking her. She will probably resist and be unahppy but babies don't usually like change. She will be fine, just needs some time to adjust. Good Luck

Answer 8

If you want to wean her, start by giving a bottle earlier in the day. Then gradually work up to night time. Good luck.

Answer 9

my son is the same way. just realize it's not about the milk, but more the comfort and security. what i've started doing is nursing him, then holding him when he falls asleep. by the time i put him in the crib, he's too sleepy to whine for anything else.

Answer 10

Wait a little longer and in the meanwhile start giving her a bottle. That way when you wean her from your breast she will already be used to the bottle.