Hi, my daughter has just turned one. How do I make her go to sleep without nursing?

Question

She sleeps with me and keeps waking up three to four times during the night for feedings.

Answer 1

My daughter (who is 3 1/2 and still nurses) kept using me as a pacifier too. So, I talked to Le leche. Who advised start with nap time. I found other ways to calm her. I gave her boob then right before she fell asleep took it away and walked her around or took her for a walk around the block. I did this for a week or so. Then I just walked her. it took her less and less time for her to fall asleep. Finally I just laid down with her and she went to sleep. Then started on the night time nursing. I just kept nursing but took time away. I timed how long it too her to fall asleep and took 5 mins away every other night. It did take 2 weeks but their was very little crying or struggle.

Answer 2

My little one was like this too, I breastfed her till she was 18 months and she would wake every couple of hours at least for feeding, the health visitor explained how this was because she had an all night cafe offering her her favourite food which was also a comfort so why wouldnt she wake for it afetr getting so dependant on it to get her to sleep, for us the only thing what got her to sleep through was after I had stopped breastfeeding as it wasnt the same comfort waking up for a beaker of water so she soon got out of the habit. Although you could try that now, if you could be really firm and stick to it offer water in the night rather than milk as I'm sure at 1 yr old she is getting enough through the day. Also what about trying her in her own room? Although I have to same I wouldnt change both her room and feeding together perhaps try the sleeping in her own room if there is a room available for her and then maybe once shes settled in there you could try the water in a beaker. Hope you manage to get some sleep soon

Answer 3

You will have to be firm and teach her to go to sleep alone. You will also really need to get her a cot to sleep in or she is going to be waking for feeds and you can't stop her.
Put her down in her cot and then say goodnight and leave the room. If she cries, then wait 5 minutes and go back in, stroke her head, say something like its time to sleep and leave again. Keep repeating this every 5 or 10 minutes depending on how much you can take, but don't pick her up or give in. She will go to sleep eventually. (With my daughter it took 40 minutes the first time).Do the same when she wakes at night. The first couple of nights will be ohrrible but within a week or 2 she will have got the point and will go to sleep alone!

Answer 4

Sleeping with you is a bad thing. My daughter is just over 2 and I have only just got her to sleep in her own bed all night. She has been very forward and out of nappies and dry through the night, using the toilet herself and going to playschool ok. I have just got her off the milk bottle before she goes to sleep. She does still give me a cuddle to fall asleep and I put her in her bed asleep. Some people say this is wrong though. You need to try and fill your daughter up throughout the day so she doesn't wake up, I do believe it is all experimental though and what works for some doesn't work for others. Do one thing at a time though don't try and change everything all at once, she will get stressed and confused.
Good luck xx

Answer 5

Difficult one! I have a 2.5 year old who goes to sleep perfectly on her own) and a 12 month old who still has night feeds so you are not alone! I think maybe you ought to do it in stages, maybe firstly put the cot in your room? Get your child into a routine of bedtime before tackling the night waking? It is really hard and i think every baby is different - my 2 certainly prove this! It is all too easier for people who's children sleep to give advice, i was one of those with my first! Good luck, i know its hard! x

Answer 6

Hi you need to get your baby into her own bed. Put her down at a reasonable time. It will be hard at first because she is so used to being in bed with you. I have 3 children 2 that are 6 years of age and a 10mth old and the biggest mistake that you have made is letting your daughter sleep with you. I have never let my children into my bed,but the best advise i can give you is get her into her own bed,try putting a night light in her room and if she has brothers and sisters try putting her into bed when they go to bed,but if she is the only child you need her to get into a rountine, otherwise you will have no time for yourself and it is important that you have that time.And if your daughter is waking for feeds through the night it is only cause she is used to waking for those feeds,try letting her cry for a little bit,you don't have to run to her everytime she cries as she knows she has your attention,if she has a dummy and wakes through the night go into her and just place the dummy in her mouth and change her if she needs to be changed and pat her just so that she know you are their, this could take you several weeks till she gets in this routine but she will get into a routine and sleep through the night and us mothers need our sleep. My daughter is very clingy and doesn't like to be out of my sight but i have a good routine with her she goes to bed at 6pm and wakes at 7pm and if she wakes through the night i have found that if i change her and give her,her dummy she is satifised and usually goes back to sleep but if she is unsettled i will give her a bottle,but i don't take her out of her bed, i change her give the bottle then go back to bed and i have no problem with her. Its all about getting her into a routine. I hope that this has helped,and you finally get the sleep that you need. Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

I think the first thing you need to do is get her into her own bed.

When my son was 6months I was told to just let him cry and if i wanted to give him anything just give him water in a bottle and try to ingnor him as hes oly getting up for company. within 2 weeks he was sleaping through the night right up until 7.30am.

Now at 13 months he takes his self to bed (yes hes in a junior bed) in his own room with older brother and still doesnt wake in the night.

The best thing for you to do is just try and sleep while she crys for attention and try to ignor her as she'll soon get the idea that your not going to feed her during the night. Set a bedtime routine. Bath, feed and bed at a set time and leave her safe in the cot. If she crys just leave her, the longer you can leave her the better.

I know it sounds bad but you just have to be cruel to be kind..
Its hard... I know, I've been there. It took my boy 2 weeks, it may take longer with your little girl as shes used to sleaping with you.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Hi,I have 2 kids(4 + 2)My first child i allowed to nurse and sleep in my bed but has never had a routine so now at 4 he is a really bad child to get into bed before midnight and to get him to stay in bed.But with my second child i nursed her and allowed her to sleep in my bed up until she was 1 then i decide to put her into her own big bed,i did have some troubles but before bed i topped her up with a bottle and she slept quite well we did have a few nights were she ended up back in my bed but now she goes to bed with no worries and sleeps through the whole night.Good luck and do what you think is the right thing for your daughter.

Answer 9

If you have a significant other, have them put her to sleep for you. She will be cranky the first few nights, but eventually she will get over it. Or have a sippy cup to give as an alternative. Make sure there is water in it, she will eventually not want to wake up for water.

Answer 10

Please, PLEASE listen to Jojo and Tania (above). I know it's hard, but you just have to start doing this. You will drive yourself nuts the way it's been going. Baby's cry, it's not going to kill them, though it may break your heart. She will learn to soothe herself if you give her the chance, it doesn' mean you don't love her. Ask your pediatrician for more advice, they will probably tell you the same thing.

From what other parents have told me, the method doesn't matter so much as sticking with one routine. Just so long as the routine isn't sleeping with you and feeding every couple of hours!