13 month old not sleeping through the night

[gen24]

I just went to see my sons doctor and he seemed shock when I told him my son wasn't sleeping through the night. (I still BF him every 3 hours at night). He said it had to stop and that I shouldn't be BF at night. He said sleep was very important for babies and that it wasn't good for him to wake up every 3 hours.
What do you think ? Is this normal ? I don't know what to do because when I talk to other moms, it seems like I'm the only one nursing at night

Also, do you have any suggestion to try to make him sleep longer ?

Thank you

[pbjmama]

I'm not shocked your ds isn't sleeping through the night. Did he give a reason for not bf at night? I night weaned my ds about that time but it did not help with his sleep at all. Around 2 he started sttn on his own.

As for sleeping longer - night time routine, warm bath, give a snack before bedtime, white noise, black out shades, comfortable temperature, something like smells like you in bed. Use whatever works for your family, it might take some time and trial and error. In my experience it really just depends on the kid.

[JamieCatheryn]

So he wakes twice at night to nurse? Not too bad at 13 months so long as it doesn't bother you. It doesn't hurt them to wake up to nurse so long as it's not a big interruption, crying first or anything. DS woke once a night until after age 2, when I started refusing him (it was sad but night nursing started hurting me then).

[gen24]

Thanks for your help. The only reason he gave me was that at his age, he should be sleeping through the night. Than, he strongly suggested I let him cry at night to make him fall back asleep on his own which I kinda tried and realized I couldn't do it. It's too hard to hear him cry like that and not do anything.

[ZoeyZoo]

I have a 13 month old who is FF since I couldn't BF. She wakes up every three hours to eat too. I wanted to post this to led you know someone else is going through this and it's not necessarily related to the BFing.

I've noticed in my case that DD is so active and stimulated that she has trouble sitting still long enough to eat enough during the day so she continues to eat at night.

[gen24]

Zoeyzoo, that is funny because my son can't sit still either. He started walking at 9 months and now he runs around all day so he doesn't eat much. Maybe it could be part of the problem...

[stormborn]

As long as it works for you and baby it isn't the docs concern, honestly. Mine is that age and she nurses a few times a night but neither of us wakes up all the way so I don't see it as a problem. Heck, most adults wake at night to turn over, get up to pee, etc; and no one sees that as a big deal.

Sorry....docs giving unsolicited parenting advice and the obsession with Sleeping Through The Night are two of my pet peeves.

[BeccaBaby1]

My babe just started sleeping through the night (most nights) at 16.5 months. It'll happen.

[spirit4ever]

My dd is 11 months and wakes up more frequently then every 3 hours to nurse..

and so did both my ds's until they were over 2!!!!

[Isamama]

Originally Posted by gen24

Zoeyzoo, that is funny because my son can't sit still either. He started walking at 9 months and now he runs around all day so he doesn't eat much. Maybe it could be part of the problem...

I think you are on to something...my dd was very much the same way. She was too busy during the day to eat much at that age. I tried giving more food during the day, but she wasn't that interested (from what I can remember). She still nursed a lot but also ran around a lot requiring more calories...

What works for your family?

[artgoddess]

My suggestion? find a new ped. Waking a couple times at night to nurse at that age sounds perfectly normal to me.

[gen24]

I've been thinking about getting a new ped. I always feel like I have to tell him what he wants to hear or he gives me a lecture.

It encourages me a lot to see that there are a lot of other moms in the same situation. Thank you!

[alegna]

What do I think? I think you need a new ped.

-Angela

[mouthcave]

Sounds like you two are doing fine to me! My son is 2 and a half and just now started sleeping through the night.

[_betsy_]

I ignore parenting advice from my ped. I'm there for her medical expertise and advice, and she's not an expert at parenting my child.

DD1 didn't STTN (I mean, finally a longer-than-4-hour-stretch) until 17.5 months, about a month after she started refusing to night nurse.

[nelson]

My DS is also 13months and nurses every couple of hours at night. For some reason I have always considered him a good sleeper because he just tosses a little, nurses and then goes back to sleep. So it kinda seems like he is sttn even though others may not view it that way (like your dr). Like others have said, cutting off nursing at night isn't necessarily going to get your lo to sleep better.

[georgia]

Originally Posted by artgoddess

My suggestion? find a new ped. Waking a couple times at night to nurse at that age sounds perfectly normal to me.

Totally agree!

[Mizyellow]

I think it is normal if not tiring for your LO to be waking up to nurse a couple of times a night. My DS was waking up 2-3 times a night when I got pregnant (he was 11 months) I just couldn't handle it- so I night weaned. I NEVER let him CIO- when he woke up the first few nights I would let him nurse for a min or 2 and then pat him back to sleep- after that I would just pat him back to sleep. Then rub his back to sleep and now he sleeps from 8-5. Sweet bliss! Good luck and do whatever makes YOU comfortable- not your DR

[limabean]

My DD still woke at least once a night to nurse at 13 months, then at 14 months she just started STTN on her own. It happened when she was ready. As long as you're okay with continuing, keep right on doing what you're doing.

[chipper26]

My dd is almost 12 months and still nurses frequently at night. She barely wakes to eat and is she wakes, she's right back to sleep. What is it with docs and the CIO advice? They have tunnel vision.