How can I get my EBF 1 year old to stop waking for night feeds?

[Ol1vertwist]

I can't believe I have almost done a years breast feeding. I never in a million years thought I would last a year. But we still love it and feed 3 times a day. I work part time but am lucky enough to see my daughter every lunch time for a cuddle and feed.

Anyway. She is still waking like clockwork at 1 & 5 - I always feed her as it is the quickest way to get her back to sleep. My oh is not too keen on getting up to her as he works hard and drives a lot. It's a good excuse I guess but it would be nice if he could do some night feeds/ comforting.

Any good tips for getting ebf 1 year old to sleep through?? Or am I asking too much?

 

[Ol1vertwist]

Sorry haven't been on here for awhile. When I say ebf I mean only breastfeeding - don't use bottles. She obviously has solids - 3 meals, snacks and water in beaker.

 

[midori1999]

I don't think there is any easy way, especially if your OH doesn't want to get up in the night. Trying to see to your baby but not breastfeed her will distress her and then probably you and often night weaning doesn't mean night waking stops anyway.

She might well suprise you and suddenly start sleeping through.

Do you cosleep? I found that really helped with night wakings/feeds.

 

[Ol1vertwist]

Yes we co slept from about 6 weeks to 6 months then she went in her own cot and slept through for about 2 weeks. Bliss. But then started waking again. Now we keep in her cot all the time and I feed in chair then put her back in. I sleep much better when I have more room. Saying that currently feeding her in bed lol. Morning ones ill so in bed.



She only woke once last, put yesterday was nursery day so probably worn out and she went to bed an hour later. Maybe a later bed time might work.

 

[jules1977]

Hi,

I have also nearly made it to a year, despite all odds ! My lo is a real booby monster but now only wants milk to get to sleep!
I have stopped stressing over it and she is gradually stopping the night feed on her own, now mostly goes from 8.30 pm ish until 5 am ish unless she is ill or teething then wakes for milk or comfort boob.

I am just hoping eventually she will stop on her own !

 

[Millnsy]

I weaned my eldest by ignoring her. That sounds harsh doesn't it?! By about 8/9 months she was capable of self settling for naps and at bedtime so when she woke I would leave her for 5-10 mins and just listen. More often than not she would find her thumb or comfort blankie and gently self soothe. Obviously if it escalated or changed, I would go to her. I can't remember when she dropped night feeds but I know that by 10 months when I went back to work she was reliably sleeping through (illness or teething apart).

 

[Millnsy]

I weaned my eldest by ignoring her. That sounds harsh doesn't it?! By about 8/9 months she was capable of self settling for naps and at bedtime so when she woke I would leave her for 5-10 mins and just listen. More often than not she would find her thumb or comfort blankie and gently self soothe. Obviously if it escalated or changed, I would go to her. I can't remember when she dropped night feeds but I know that by 10 months when I went back to work she was reliably sleeping through (illness or teething apart).

Forgot to say that I continued to breast feed morning night and whenever she wanted at the weekends until she was 15 months old.

 

[Ol1vertwist]

Grace stands up when she wakes at night so I've not left her as doubt she will get back down to lying to go to sleep. She is just so active at the mo. always wants to be moving around. Plus her bedroom is next to a young lady next door who can hear Grace cry so we pick her up and move her into our room as soon as we hear her.

 

[mistyscott]

Sounds just like my LO at that age he stands up when he wakes too.
I thought we'd never night wean but amazingly about a month ago (he's 14 months) he just stopped asking for a feed when he wakes in the night. He's not a big eater with solids so I was happy to let him dictate the pace.

Now, if only that meant he would STTN... Now when he wakes its a nightmare to get him back down, given he doesn't want feeding! Lots of people will say your LO is waking from habit now - I was always sceptical about that as he seemed hungry when he was asking for a feed. But you know your LO best and if you're happy to see how things go for another couple months, you might be surprised.

HTH