help me

Julia - posted on 06/15/2012

You don't need to use a bottle. Only one of my kids ever took a bottle.
This can be a tough situation... my kids didn't breastfeed that long, but I had one who was very persistent about it when he was 15 months old. I had a deadline for weaning him because his father and I wanted to go on our honeymoon. In our case, my husband offered to put our son to bed to assist in the process. He had to do it for about a month, but after that Gabe didn't even try to nurse when I put him to bed. I think this is the easiest method if you have someone willing and able to help you.
With my older kids, I started by wearing inaccessible clothing so that they couldn't "attack" me and just start pulling up my shirt. They would get snacks and drinks, then stories and cuddling, and then I would sing to them.
However, all but one went through stages where they got restless and didn't like the crib.
This is controversial, but I figured, if they're not in school why do they have to be on a set sleeping schedule? I had one baby who would take a 2 hour nap and still sleep 12 hours at night, and another who rarely slept more than 6 hours in 24. The room was thoroughly baby-proof, so I got her a toddler bed, put a gate up in her doorway, and told her "It's bedtime now and you have to stay in your room. If I hear you, I'll know you're up and I'll come in and put you to bed." She often got up in the night and played, but never got into any trouble and seldom woke us or her brother, who shared the room. A lot of people will think that was irresponsible, but she's 21 now and bright, healthy and as ambitious as ever, in her third year at a very good college. She still fondly remembers those nights of looking at books and playing with her little kitchen.

Emily - posted on 06/14/2012

I'm in the same boat with a 3 1/2 year old, though we have mostly cut out her day feeds. She has developmental delays though so I didn't want to focus on weaning her from the breast until she mastered other things, like toileting (we are nearly there but she's just taken a big step back, so frustrating). As I have no help during the week, it is hard for me to just tell her no at the vulnerable time of bedtime. She just gets hysterical. I don't want her to get hysterical. So I just feed her for an easy life. Maybe over the summer holidays we can try something. She will be 4 soon.

Jennifer - posted on 06/14/2012

I am in the same boat my son is 2 and he wakes up several times to nurse. He is in my bed and we both are not getting much sleep. I have to get him out of my bed and off the boob. UGH!

Celeste - posted on 06/14/2012

You don't have to give him a bottle. My twin boys never took a bottle either. Besides, he's 2 and kids are usually off of bottles before then. Take a look at the night weaning, I think that will help the night waking to nurse. I used that method with boys who were waking up several times at night.

Nitya - posted on 06/14/2012

THANKS BUT ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT HE HAS NEVER USED A BOTTLE I TRYED TO GET HIM ON BOTTLES SINCE HE WAS BORN AND HE JUST NEVER LIKED THEM.

Celeste - posted on 06/13/2012

Sounds like nightweaning can help you!
http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleepp...

Caroline - posted on 06/13/2012

Hi Nitya, have u tried giving him a bottle with expressed milk in it, it might work as its still ur milk, i have an 11 moth old that is still breastfedding he wakes up several times a night too, if nothing seems to work go see ur healt advisor that could help u tho this hard time :)