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Dr. says I have to night wean my 16month old

Andrea - posted on 07/07/2011 ( 6 moms have responded )

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Well I have lupus and my doctor really wants me to get 7hrs of uninterupted sleep every night if possible. My daughter nurses 1-4 times per night for a few minutes each time. (we co-sleep). Her dentist also wants me to night wean. He says absolutely nothing after brushing, I had rotted front baby teeth by the time I was 18mo so I don't want this to happen to her! So I have a few reasons for night weaning. My problem is that it feels wrong. It takes me an hour to get her back to sleep without nursing. If I were to break down and nurse her she would be back to sleep within minutes. Also I feel so bad. She makes the sign for milk and I tell her no, milk went night night. Help! Any ideas. Also her sleep is so restless, she wakes up every hour or so. I don't know what to do. Any ideas?

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6 Comments

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Melissa - posted on 07/09/2011

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I agree, breastfeeding does not do anything the teeth. When a baby stops sucking, our milk doesn't flow, so there is no pooling in the mouth. Breastmilk also has properties that help guard against tooth decay.

weaning does not mean that a baby will no longer get up at night it just means that you have one less tool to help them fall asleep again. there have been studies showing that night nursing and co-sleeping actually mean that parents have more rest than the opposite so again it is just one of those myths...

Sally - posted on 07/09/2011

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If you get more sleep with her nursing in your bed at night, keep it up. Why stress both of you out when it seems to be making things worse.
For breastmilk to cause tooth decay would be evolutionary suicide.
Unfortunately, doctors (like everyoneelse) only know what they are taught. Very few of them are taught very much about the benefits (especially for mom) of co-sleeping and breastfeeding.

Teresa - posted on 07/09/2011

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Is there another parent who could settle her back to sleep? I wasn't co-sleeping, but found if I got up my son wanted fed to sleep, but if my husband did it, he'd just have a quick cuddle and back to sleep with no feed.

Elizabeth - posted on 07/08/2011

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My son night nursed for almost three years and has fine teeth. I agree ignore the dentist. Teeth rotting can occur from bottle rot but that is when the baby has a bottle in the mouth while sleeping and it is dripping and pooling around teeth, that doesn't happen with BF, they unlatch and there is no milk pooled around teeth. I personally would continue to night nurse especially since you co-sleep, I am guessing that like me you barely wake up when she eats. The advice of sleeping topless is a good idea, I do that too and my first little one would actually find my breast on his own and nurse without me waking up sometimes. It all comes down to you doing what you feel is best for you and child.

Lilliana - posted on 07/08/2011

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I nurse my 3 year old son at night still, he has perfect teeth. If I were you I would ignore the dentist and keep her in bed with you, I don't know about you but when my son wants to nurse I barely wake up. I sleep topless so it's easy acsess. We know our babies needs and it seems you'll get more sleep that way!

Teresa - posted on 07/07/2011

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Well... it sounds like you are/were getting more sleep WITH nursing her at night. My son didn't night wean til he was 2 (was up 1-5 times a night til he night weaned) and his teeth are excellent. He sleeps great now unless he has a bad dream or has to pee. He's 3.

I don't know what YOU should do though.

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