Have weaned 13mth old to her night time feed for her to sleep, how do i get her to sleep without this feed?

Answer 1

I think she will give up this night feed herself when she is ready.

Answer 2

Not realising this was usually the last feed to go, I weaned my daughter of her nighttime feed at around 9 mths, even though I continued on nursing strong until 13mths! It was around then that she became more interested in her stuffed animals, and in particular one that I would always tuck into bed with her. She hugs him and rolls over to sleep without needing mommy longer than a minute for a big hug and kiss before bedtime. If your girl doesnt already have a teddy, I would get her one. Otherwise, if you'd like to stop now, I've heard reducing the time she spends nursing by a minute each night over the course of a week or two should hopefully work. Replace nursing with lots of hugs and kisses, of course! Good luck.

Edit: When you say wean, I'm thinking breastfeeding and not bottle feeding like the person before me. Well, whatever, I dont agree with that person anyways... My daughter wakes every morning between 5 and 6, and the only way she'll go back to sleep is with eating - water wont cut it. There are people who would say let her cry or give her water (yeah, tried, doesnt work) but you have to go with what feels good to you. It's not breaking the sleep cycle if it's your daughter asking for it!!

Answer 3

Give her a bottle or spill-proof sippy cup with water in it. She will still be able to suck but it won't be hurting her teeth. You can still hold her and comfort her as you would when you were nursing but substitute the water. She might fuss the first few nights but it really doesn't take too long for them to get used to it - especially if you have already eliminated the other feedings.

Answer 4

First, whoever said no cereal in the bottle is right! Please don't do this and check with your pediatrician if you have any questions. Its linked to all kinds of issues.

As for sleep. I feel for you. That was the last feeding for my son as well, and it was just about 13 months that we stopped. (BTW - Good for you for nursing for a year+. It can be tough, but its SO good for your baby.) And, I think I had as much trouble as he did... it was really a special quiet time for us at night.

We started by replacing it with a bottle, with him in my lap and some quiet time. Then, when he was ready, we moved onto a new bedtime routine that we still use. He loves it. (He's 20mo now).

He gets to pick out a book and curl up in my lap. We read the book and he gets a sippy cup with some water. Then its hugs and kisses all around and off to bed. (He's recently started asking for a song, so once he's all settled into his crib, he gets to have me sing a song if he wants.)

If you've been letting your daughter nurse herself to sleep and then putting her into her crib asleep at night, this is going to be a bit tough. Like everything else, kids have to learn to settle themselves and soothe themselves to sleep. But, they do need to learn at some point. How you handle this depends on your own opinions and how you feel. In the beginning, when my son was learning to put himself to sleep, we'd do the bottle/book/cuddle thing to get him nice and settled and I'd put him in his crib and explain that I would see him in the morning and it was time for bed. Then, I'd close the door and leave. He would cry a little and I hated it, but some kids do "cry out" their energy at night... and little ones do hate a routine change.

Some folks say just leave 'em, some say never do this... its up to you. I went by the five minute rule. I'd wait 5 minutes and, after a few days, that's all it took and he'd be sleeping peacefully.

If he wasn't, I'd go back in and rub his belly, or sing and reassure him that it was o.k. But, I wouldn't pick him up and get him out of the crib, that would just make the process start all over. Then I'd leave and we'd start again.

Eventually, I was able to say goodnight, and my little guy would say "nite-nite" and we'd hear him for a few minutes playing with his toys or singing himself a song and then off to sleep he'd go.

Good luck to you. This is such a fun time. Treasure it, they grow up so fast.

Answer 5

please do not put baby cereal into her bottle. this has shown to be related to infant cot death. ok so the baby is 13 months old.usually they stop by 10months with night feeds. continue to feed but start by putting 50 ml of milk in the bottle,the next nigh make up 40 ml and so on till your on 1oz.you can dilute it as the baby is old enough. then the last night when your finished with the 1 oz milk just give 1 oz water. do this for the next 2 nights. i know it will take about a week but the baby will soon learn its not worth waking up for just water. if your 13 month old goes to bed at 8 pm give baby some thing to eat like mashed banana or baby cereal.then by 7.30pm give baby last milk 8oz baby is to used to being given a bottle durning the night so he/shes waking up. break the cycle slowly..

Answer 6

My mom weaned me by putting vinegar on her nipples. She says there were times that I'd just ignore it and feed anyway, but more often than not I'd spit the nipple right back out. Obviously, she'd then have to make up for it by cuddling me until I went back to sleep.

Answer 7

Put a small amount of rice cereal in her last bottle of the night. It will keep her belly full longer.

Answer 8

She may just need the sucking to fall asleep. Try giving her a pacifier when you put her to bed.