How can I wean my son from middle of the night nursings?

Question

He is 13 months old and its time he stopped nursing all night long. HELP!

I cant just let him cry it out because he shares a room with his 2 year old brother

Answer 1

Theres too much info to post it all here, check out the link below.

Just be aware that night weaning does not nessisarily mean the child will sleep through the night. They are 2 seperate issues.

Answer 2

My son just turned 3 months and he usually sleeps 6-8 hours at night. At first it was 4 hours, then 5, now its 6-8. What I have been doing is that I feed him before bedtime - I'm breastfeeding, so when he was too little for cereal I just fed him for a longer period of time before I put him down to sleep. Now I add a tablespoon of organic rice baby-cereal to the breastmilk in a bottle to fill up his little tummy better. (anything other than rice cereal may cause serious constipation) Then, we give him a nice warm bath - this calms him a lot, read him a story and then we put him to bed and leave him alone whether or not he falls a sleep during story-time.
He's doing better and better each week. I'm not an expert because he is my first child, but I think the key is consistency. The same routine every night, no exceptions. If he cries, he cries. He will get used to the "night routine". I hope this was helpful :). Good luck!
PS. I'm in the dental field... a good advice: do not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle of juice or anything sugary!!!! It's very demaging to those little teeth. Water is fine.

_______________________
I have to correct myself! I just read that adding cereal to milk in a bottle is a bad idea. Among other things it's a choking hazard. I will not do it ever again either.
... and the fact that your 13-month-old is sharing the room with his brother must make things even more difficult for you. I hope it works out soon!

Answer 3

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning-night.html
Night Weaning
By Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC, Becky Flora, IBCLC and Paula Yount

Breastfeeding is not an all-or-nothing process. Night weaning is a workable alternative for many moms, and baby continues to receive the many nutritional and immunilogical benefits of breastmilk.

Remember that sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone (like walking or toilet training) that different babies will reach at different times. At some point, your child will sleep through the night - even if you do nothing to encourage it.

If night weaning is not going well, then consider backing off and trying again a little later. The closer your child is to reaching this milestone on his own, the easier it will be for both child and parents.

Getting your baby to sleep is not a battle to be won, as it is so often portrayed in books and the media. The real goal should be for your family to get the sleep they need, while respecting the needs of the youngest family member(s).

Gentle methods for encouraging less night nursing
Eliminate discomfort
Maximize baby's nursing during the day and during any night wakings
Maximize sleep for the entire family
Gentle methods of night weaning for toddlers
Is night weaning necessary to get baby to sleep through the night?
Additional information

[Read the article, Kellymom is the best]

Answer 4

I breastfed for 15 months. The best solution for me was to have my husband step in for me for like a day. Once everything was kind of in control, I stepped back in and just ignored my child when it came down to beastfeeding. I supplemented the beastmilk with water, juice, soy milk, or whatever I thought that would work. Depending on if your child like bottles,sippy cups, or whatever these will make it alot easier on you. And also if its still difficult for you to ignore beastfeeding your child because to me it was very emotional, just pass the child to whoever you have to help you. It took about a couple of days, but eventually my child was officially weaned.

Answer 5

I WOULD GO TO HIM BUT NOT NURSE HIM. WOULD BE EVEN BETTER IF YOUR HUSBAND COULD DO IT FOR YOU. MAYBE EVEN OFFER A SIPPY CUP, BUT IT IS PROBABLY NOT THE ACTUAL NURSING HE WANTS, HE JUST PROBABLY WAKES UP AND WANTS TO BE CLOSE TO SOMEONE. HE IS OLD ENOUGH TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT A FEEDING. I HAVE A 1 YR OLD AND A 2 YR OLD BOY WHO SHARE A ROOM SO I UNDERSTAND NOT BEING ABLE TO LET THEM CRY IT OUT.

EXPERIENCED EXCLUSIVE NURSING MOM OF 3

Answer 6

Just don't give it to him. I was lucky, mine quit nightime feedings at 6 weeks. Just make sure he's getting enough to eat during the day and he won't get hungry at night.

Fruits and vegetables. Two servings each per day.
Whole grains. Four daily servings.
Milk and dairy. Three servings, or one pint of whole milk per day.
Protein. Two servings a day.

Or maybe he's not hungry at night, just lonely. Try putting him back to bed with out a feeding. Don't talk to him or make any noises, make it as boring as possible. Or you could let him cry himself back to sleep, but some people have different opinions of this method

Answer 7

i was told to let them cry it out - no longer than 15mins - or just go in the room and comfort him without feeding him. Make sure he eats a lot at bedtime. Good luck

Answer 8

Let him cry for couple of nights, that is probably the only thing that works. you can also try to place bottle with water or juice in his crib.

Answer 9

dont go to him when he cries