I want to stop night time nursing HELP!!!!

Jennifer - posted on 06/23/2009

I think cutting down on the nursing at night gradually like Chelsea suggested is a great idea. That's what I did with my son. I just cut it by a few minutes each night for three nights. I did, however, do a controlled crying method with him and it worked beautifully. He was actually nursing every two hours through the night and by night three was sleeping straight through!
You should definitely increase the nursing sessions during the day- instead of decreasing. You want to make sure your LO gets all the calories needed during the day :) One thing at a time.
You're doing great, and only you know what is working and what is not. Whatever you try- I would suggest doing it for at least a week to see if it's making a difference.
Good Luck!

www.MommyNaniBooboo.com

Melissa - posted on 06/23/2009

There is a huge controversy on the crying it out technique.... I for one agree with it and it has always worked well for me and my chidlren are happy, healthy, well adjusted children. I nursed each child for a year but my goal was to cut out all night time feedings once they were on solids (around 6 months) and I KNEW they did not NEED the breastmilk. My babies never went hungry. Luckily my son gave them up on his own at six weeks. I was VERY blessed! But once he did that consistently for about 2 weeks I never nursed him again during the night.... even if he got up and cried. There was only once time around 4 months that he cried for about 30 minutes but went to sleep and then never woke up for nursing again. My daughter gave it up at six months. But I believe the trick is to know your child... know when they are ready to give up the night feedings (which should be no later than six months) unless you choose to keep nursing. If you do.. then you are going to have to not give in to her. I found it was always worse when I did the going in the room thing to calm them every few minutes. I found it made them madder because they see you and then you don't pick them up or feed them. The sceaming would only escalate every time I left the room. You have to be 100% ready and dedicated to letting her cry and know that it is okay to do so. I do not think you will have to do this for more than one or two nights and then you will feel so relieved! And baby will get a full nights sleep too! Good luck!

Deborah - posted on 06/22/2009

As long as you give in, she will keep crying for it.

Leanisha - posted on 06/22/2009

Hi I notice that you are cutting the nursing during the day. So I wonder if she wants to nurse at night because she misses it during the day. I would take one thing away at a time.

JC - posted on 06/20/2009

thank you! this is pretty much what we are doing and it's working great. The only thing is i can't even let her smell my milk or she starts screaming. I have to make sure i'm covered with a blanket or something. I'm cutting down the nursing all day so she gets use to her sippy.

Chelsea - posted on 06/17/2009

I think that you need to approach this gradually remembering her developmental level. She is not really capable of handling frustration such as being told that she can't nurse when she wants to. I would suggest letting her nurse for say 5 minutes for a few nights than 4 minutes than 3 minutes than 2 minutes than 1 minute. Does nursing her for 1 minute sound do-able? You know her best and you need to follow your instincts. When she is done with the one minute she should just go back to sleep but if not tell her you will rub her back or hair (whatever works). You need to give her an alternative. Slowly she will learn that she doesn't need to nurse and you can just rub her back for a few minutes or hair etc. This is a slow and gradual approach and means less of a fight and minimal crying if any.



The approach that I am describing is a loving approach to night time parenting because as we all know parenting is a 24 hour a day job and our little ones need not suffer because we want sleep. If we do this gradually and lovingly it shows our children that 1- they are worth our time 2- Sleep is a nice place to go to and a nice place to stay in 3- They deserve our love and attention even at 3 am. Remember you know her best and know more than I do or anyones does what she is capable of handling. Good luck!