If you've tried Dr. Gordon's nightweaning...

[justKate]

What do you do if baby doesn't *really* wake up?

Not sure if this is okay to post, but here we are:

Excerpt from Dr. Gordon's nightweaning article:

The First Three Nights

At any time before 11 p.m. (including 10:58) nurse to sleep, cuddle and nurse when he wakes up and nurse him back to sleep, but stop offering nursing to sleep as the solution to waking after 11 p.m.. Instead…..

When your baby awakens at midnight or any other time after 11 p.m., hug him, nurse him for a short time but make sure he does not fall asleep on the breast and put him down awake. Rub and pat and cuddle a little until he falls asleep but don't put him back on the breast (or give him a bottle if that's what you've been doing). He must fall asleep with your comfort beside him, but not having to nurse to feel comforted enough to drift off.

Now, he will tell you that he is angry and intensely dislikes this new routine. I believe him. He will also try to tell you that he's scared. I believe he's angry, but a baby who's had hundreds of nights in a row of cuddling is not scared of falling asleep with your hand on his back and your voice in his ear. Angry, yes. Scared, no, not really.

DD is almost 12 mos. She nurses, finishes, and either cuddles to sleep or starts screaming. I know she's angry and tired, not hungry/wet/uncomfortable/etc. But sometimes, her eyes are closed and she's just screaming. Doesn't want to be held or nursed or anything. I can't offer her water because she won't let me hold her still or open her eyes.

So if you've done it this way, how do you get beyond the screaming? And how is this any different from NCSS (if you've tried that too)?

We're NCSS failures here, but night time is becoming so stressful I'm considering totally weaning her.

Any thoughts are appreciated....

Casey