Starting to think about weaning. Not that I mind breastfeeding, she is down to early evening, bedtime, and once in the night. We've made the mistake the books all tell you not to make; I let her fall asleep while nursing, and so now it is just easy to whip it out in the middle of the night when she fusses. I also don't want to use bottles. Our dishwasher is a pretty old model, the NE-VADA 1979, and with Gemma eating solids that means an extra litte bowls a day, and spoons, and sippy cups...all I need is bottles to wash, too. BUT I guess she is going to be one year old and if I could figure out a way to get her off the breast I guess we could. I'm not really in a rush.
So I invite your advice (and not judgement please; I know everyone elses' baby but mine sleeps through the night. Oh, and before anyone gets upset about me doing dishes, I do it because Chris cooks and does laundry, and a variety of other household chores)
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7 comments:
My baby doesn't sleep through the night :( I was excited because last night he slept 5 hours straight... Yah... I wonder if he will do it again tonight???
Michelle and Dolan
I know, sleep is like playing the lottery; Tonight could be my lucky night!!
Don't do bottles - go straight to sippies.
Just pick one of those times to "get rid of" first - you may need Chris to go in and settle her down for the first few nights b/c she probably associates you w/ nursing. Once she learns she can go back to sleep w/out nursing, it'll all work out.
After a couple of days of less sleep, you will all be grumpy but DO NOT GO BACK or youll have to start over again, LOL!
Just pick a super small goal and once you've reached that, make a new one. Baby steps. :)
Good luck!
Totally agree with Shelen: skip the bottle. If she can do the sippy cups, there probably isn't a reason to introduce a bottle. Just fill one with water and have it in her room, so you have quick access when she wakes and needs a drink.
And I also agree that Chris will have to do the first couple/few nights. It worked really well for us - we picked a weekend, and when Jared got up for his early morning nurse (the last one to go), Ryan just took him downstairs and gave him a drink and then cuddled him back to sleep. It only took those two days - Saturday and Sunday. By Monday, I don't think he even woke up for his once-regular feed. Beware, though. In my experience, even though I never got engored when my milk came in or when I weaned any other feed, that last one did me in. I was in quite a bit of pain for a couple of days, starting about Sunday evening. When Jared would lean on my chest - ouch!! It may not happen to you, but it just might, and that was when I was the most tempted to put him back on, even for a second, to relieve the pressure. But I resisted and stayed strong!!
My nephew is just starting to sleep through the night, and he is 14months. And really they still have to go in a rub his back twice during the night. But Alex can do that now, and he doesn't have to eat during the night. Don't be silly Nevada, not everyone else's baby sleeps through the night.
Other people have told me about skipping the bottle too. Just use s sippy cup. Sorry I don't have any personal expereince:)
Nevada,
Personally I think that if you have gone this long without a bottle, don't start one now, it will just be another thing to get rid of later and another weaning. Matthew never slept through the night until he was a year old and I took away his bottle. Once he never had the bottle, he didn't wake up anymore, he only wanted the bottle, and never needed it in the night.
This will be very hard on all three of you. You may feel helpless, and in a way unneeded. I do agree with Chris going in and settling her down in the night, and giving her a drink, and if she will not drink from the sippie, she is not really that hungry or thirsty, but just wants the boob for comfort and out of habit.
Be strong, help eachother, but do not go back once you start because it will not be easier the second time. Kids are very smart, and they know and remember more than we give them credit for. So if you were to start weaning and go back to nursing, she may remember that all she had to do was cry and not take her cup and she got her way and got the boob again.
Good Luck.
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