Ok Im really tired of this...?

Question

My recently turned 7 m.o old girl is still nursing. it isnt that shes nursing thats worrying me its that shes is always at my breast. and when i try to put her down to sleep she wakes up crying.

Answer 1

I don't blame you for being tired of it, and you're right, the problem is not that she's still breastfeeding (I breastfed my babies up to 2 years if they wanted to continue), but that she won't settle to sleep any other way.

Babies nurse because they're hungry, but they also sometimes want to nurse when they're tummies hurt (they can't discern why), when they don't feel well, they're thirsty etc. I'm wondering if your daughter is also eating solid foods. She would need them by 7 months, and you would want to make sure that she's not hungry. Also make sure that her bowel movements are regular and healthy (not too hard, not too much straining)

Most likely your daughter wants to be at the breast all the time because she likes it there. I'm not sure how often you feed her, but a schedule would help and she's old enough to have a sleeping, feeding, waking schedule. Often we get into the habit of feeding our baby to sleep, but if we reverse things a little- change and feed them when they first wake up (including solids), have some play time/bath time/awake time and then put them down to sleep on their own, it's much easier in the long run.

If you know that she's not hungry, her nappy's clean and she's tired. Crying for a little while won't hurt (I mean tired, "I want what I'm not getting" crying-not hysterical crying which could mean there's something else wrong). She needs to learn to go to sleep by herself or, even if you choose to stay in the room with her, to fall asleep without being on the breast.

Hope that helps. God bless you

Answer 2

You should read "The No-Cry Cleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. The best thing in it is a technique called the "Pantley pull-off." Basically, you unlatch the babe and put a finger or two under her chin so that she keeps her mouth closed. If she freaks out, you nurse for a couple more minutes and try again, soon she will stop rooting. The book also had an excellent program for helping your babe sleep at night without having to scream themselves to sleep.

7 months is a prime time for a growth spurt too, which is why she may be at the breast so much. Drink lots of water, eats oatmeal and let her nurse a long time on one side so that she gets the hindmilk, which is fattier and more filling.

Answer 3

My kids all did the same thing, but this is really very normal.
Babies nurse because they are hungry, and when they want the security and comfort. They will also nurse more frequently at random times to increase the milk supply when they are going through a growth spurt.
Make sure your daughter is fully awake when she nurses and not drifting off and doing what I call "pacifying" instead of active nursing. My kids would try this and drag it out for hours if I let them! A light thump on the bottom of their feet usually got them going again.
Be sure to burp her when she is through feeding and then put her down.
If she still wakes up try rocking her instead of putting her back on the breast. And if she still cries after that then she may be still genuinely hungry.

Answer 4

You are her security blanket.. try letting her cry for a little bit when u put her down..She will most likely fall right back to sleep. It may take a couple of times but she will be fine. My kids were the same way & believe me, with my first I just dealt with her being attached to me 24/7 .But she was so hard to break, she even slept with me from the day she was born..She didn't sleep in her own bed until she was 6 yrs old & by this time I had my son & I just laid him in his crib & he whined & fussed alittle but it only lasted a little while. then he was fine when I would lay him down alone. it's better to start breaking the habit now then later..good luck

Answer 5

I would advise on starting to wean her.

Yes breastfeeding is wonderful and all that but honestly why would you want to breast feed your child when they are 2 and a half,thats way too long.

She is most likely doing it for two reasons.
1) The security of her mother
2) Maybe after she nurses she is sill hungry thats why she cries.

Getting into the habit of having your baby in bed with you is not a good idea, I know I sound hard but believe me I have been thru it all, once they get into the bed they will never get out.

We use to let our daughter sleep with us occasionly and she is 3 now and still wants to come into our bed at some nights.
There needs to be a balance and babies need to feel warm and safe in their own bedrrom and cot.

Answer 6

well if you are tired of it and want it to stop then its time to start weaning you daughter from the breast


Weaning can be a difficult time for both mother and baby, but doing it gradually with lots of love can ease the transition.
Steps

1. Proceed slowly. Your baby may find abrupt weaning traumatic, and it can lead to uncomfortable engorgement and mastitis in your breasts. Mastitis is an infection that can cause fever and flulike symptoms, as well as pain, hardness, redness, or heat in your breast - usually just one breast, not both.
2. Eliminate one daily feeding session at a time over a period of weeks or even months, starting with the nursing session that seems the least important to your baby emotionally.
3. Offer your baby a substitute for the breast. If she is less than 1 year old, you may need to substitute formula in a bottle to make sure she gets the nutrition she needs. If she is past her first birthday, eating a variety of foods and drinking from a cup, you may be able to offer her food or distract her with a fun game or activity.
4. Give extra affection. Weaning can make babies feel vulnerable for a while, and your baby may need added reassurance that you still love her.
5. Keep your baby occupied by going to the park, taking a walk or playing in the garden.
6. If your baby clearly wants to nurse, and if your attempts to distract her with other snacks or activities aren't working, it's OK to nurse. This way, you can avoid a battle of wills.
7. Continue to nurse for comfort if necessary. Often, a more or less weaned baby will want to nurse after a fright or a fall. This is OK. It will take her a while to get used to the other forms of comfort you offer.
8. Contact your doctor, a lactation professional or your local La Leche League if you experience pain or engorgement while waiting for your milk to dry up. They can offer some solutions for a safe and pain-free transition.
9. If you wean your baby from breast to bottle, avoid putting her to bed with a bottle. It poses a choking hazard and promotes tooth decay. If she gets thirsty at night, keep a spillproof cup of water nearby and offer it to her when she wakes.

Tips & Warnings

* The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends breast-feeding excluesively for the first six months of your baby's life.
* After the first year, weaning often becomes easier, as you can offer your baby a wider variety of foods.
* Avoid feeling that you have to wean your child; many mothers nurse beyond the first year, and some nurse their babies well into toddlerhood. Eventually, all children lose interest in nursing, so follow your heart and do what feels right.
* When substituting other liquids for breast milk, avoid offering your baby large quantities of juice or sugary drinks; they will fill your baby up without providing adequate nutritional value, and can cause tooth decay.

Overall Things You'll Need

* Baby Bibs
* Milk
* Baby/infant Training Cups
* Baby Bottles
* Baby Formulas

Answer 7

Your breasts are her security. She feels very safe next to your breasts. You just need to relax and go with the flow. I nursed my son for over 2 1/2 years and I enjoyed every moment. I am 6 months pregnant with our 2nd son and can't wait to meet him and to nurse him. Nurse her as long as she wants to. You will miss it when she weans!

Answer 8

Breast feeding gives children a head start in life ,,,, Breast fed babies are more alert and better able to absorb things in life than those that aren't ,,,,The longer they breast feed the better off they will be,,,,, Nature has a perfect plan for things like this ,,,, Man is always trying to improve on nature ,,,,, He's not successful at it now ,,,, never has been and never will be ,,,, Don't be so ready for your children to grow up ,,,, You only have them once in life ,,,,Be thankful that they are normal and healthy,,,, Breast fed babies are alot healthier than those that aren't ,,,,, Enjoy every phase of their development for as long as you can ,,,, You'll one day be thankful you did ,,,,, Yoda said that ,,,,,,,

Answer 9

I had the same problem. I actually sat there one night for eleven hours straight! ( Needless to say, we both fell asleep eventually, but she woke the moment I removed her! ) I realized then it was time for the bottle. Next feeding time, I fed her till I was empty from one breast, then gave her 40ml of formula. I burped her, changed her, gave her a dummy, (pacifier, whatever you call them where you come from ) and put her to bed - hey presto! Sleeping baby! From then on in, she had formula, my boobs went back to normal and I went back to my own bed!!

Answer 10

Can you blame her? You're the person who makes her feel safe, you provide her nourishment. I only wish I could have breastfed my 2 boys. She's just showing you she cares for you and needs you in the only way that she can. Have you tried lying in the bed with her? Some people will ***** about it, but if it's the only way you can get some rest, it's worth it.