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i need some advise/help

Samantha - posted on 10/18/2009 ( 2 moms have responded )

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12

ok my 19 month old daughter is still breastfeeding about every 2 hours and i was wondering if thats "normal" and whats the easiest way 2 start weaning her? she also dose not sleep throught the night at all i think the longest shes ever sleep was like 4 or 5 hours like once or twice how can i get her to sleep all night or at least longer then 2 hours at a time and she also has very bad separation issues and im going to be sending her to daycare soon any tips on making it easier on both of us

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Kathy - posted on 10/18/2009

199

19

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/...

Try reading this article on sleeping through the night, it's full of tips.

Your baby will begin to comfort herself and to sleep for longer stretches at her own developmental pace. If your baby wants to nurse at night, it is because she DOES need this, whether it's because she is hungry or because she wants to be close to mom. Sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone (like walking or toilet training) that your baby will reach when she is ready to. Trying to force or coax baby to reach this before her time may result in other problems later on.

Minnie - posted on 10/18/2009

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All of what you're experiencing is very normal. Nursing every two hours- normal. Not sleeping through the night- that might not happen until three or four years old.



I don't have much advice on weaning- we do child-led weaning here. If you did go about weaning her from nursing, which is a huge comfort for her, you'll have to replace that comfort somehow. Her security and comfort needs aren't just going to disappear once she's weaned.



I think also that if you push her before she's ready (and it really doesn't sound like weaning is going to improve things since you say she has bad separation issues) that you may exacerbate her clinginess. Toddlers are inherently insecure and they like to be babied- they like to know that they can return to mom for comfort and security (through nursing at her breast) so that they feel confident to grow in their independence.

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