My son is 7months old and still nursing throughout the day. He has a bottle of formula at night (around 10pm) and eats solids at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I breastfeed about 4 times a day now. I want to start weaning for personal reasons and I'm worried that I won't be able to calm him down if he's too upset. Sometimes he gets so wound up from crying before a nap that I don't know what to do other than to nurse him. It always calms him but I'm worried about weaning. What if I can't calm him down?
2007-11-01 02:36:23 · 4 answers · asked by Loogie's Mom 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You have to start now. He's 7 months and certainly old enough to cry himself to sleep little by little.
If you dont want him to nurse for comfort and sleep every single time, you're going to have to set up a different routine. He might freak out and cry and scream and pull his hair and cough and gag and carry on, even throw up, but its just his wiles to get his way. Babies are not dumb, they know exactly how to get what they want- because you teach them out. They cry long enough hard enough and you do what they want.
Help him learn how to rock with you to fall asleep, or to lay down and let you pat his back, or whatever might feel good to him. Put him down groggy, but not completely sleep. Or if you do put him down asleep, only do it once in a sleep period. If he wakes up, he's on his own.
Its hard, but you get over it.
My son's record is 4 hours of crying because he's pissed off that its night time and he should sleep without boobie. But that was only ONE NIGHT. He fussed maybe 20 minutes after that, fell asleep, and that was the end of it.
If you know he's not in pain (give him tylenol so you can know h'es not teething and hurting) he's not poopy or wet, and he's had his dinner, put him down and let him fuss. I promise he will not hold it against you in the morning, he'll wake up just as happy as ever.
2007-11-01 02:43:56 · answer #1 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
well if you keep giving into his screaming with the breast, you will never wean him, or it will be a hard long process for you. if you give him a bottle at night already with no problems, then you can start doing in once in the morning too, or whenever. If he is upset, upset, upset, then snuggle him close to you, like you are breast feeding, and feed him his bottle that way. You will be able to calm him down, dont worry about that. If the morning isnt working to start the transition, then try it in the afternoon. Introduce the bottle more throughout the day, he will adapt.
2007-11-01 09:48:52 · answer #2 · answered by louie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right, nursing is a great way to calm down a fussy baby and a great tool for stopping a toddlers temper tantrum. The world health orginisation recomends breastmilk for at least 2 years and as long after as mom and baby are happy doing it.
I respect that you have reasons you want to wean. There is a lot of social pressure in the US which I find sad. But if you wean, the consequence is the loss of this wonderful parenting tool as well as the loss of the health benifits your baby could still be receiving.
Also studdies have shown that children that are forced to "cry it out" have higher levels of stress hormons and stress related diseases in adulthood than children whos needs are met in a loving way.
2007-11-01 14:08:09 · answer #3 · answered by Brena L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You better start letting him know now who is in charge. Try something new other than nursing when he gets would up.
2007-11-01 09:45:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋