early wakeup

[mizznicole]

DS has been nightweaned for about a year. However, for several weeks I have been trying to cut out his 5am feeding. He's not having it, however. He now wakes up several times a night begging to be nursed. At 5:00, he throws his final tantrum, then demands to be fed in the kitchen. I keep water, crackers, and bananas by the bed. Sometimes he'll accept the crackers. However, he usually throws them in my face.

I would continue the 5am feeding, but I have serious nursing aversion which makes me fly into a rage when he's latching on. Also, I am not blessed with sleeping through feedings. Every time DS wakes up it takes me at least a half hour to return to sleep. Also, with the 5am feeding he usually demands a 6:00 and 7:00 feeding as well.

I know that 5am is not an acceptable wakeup time for his body. When I can soothe him back to sleep, he goes to 7am or beyond. He really suffers for a lack of sleep.

Any strategies to help us get through are appreciated.

[trustedinstincts]

Originally Posted by mizznicole

DS has been nightweaned for about a year. However, for several weeks I have been trying to cut out his 5am feeding. He's not having it, however. He now wakes up several times a night begging to be nursed. At 5:00, he throws his final tantrum, then demands to be fed in the kitchen. I keep water, crackers, and bananas by the bed. Sometimes he'll accept the crackers. However, he usually throws them in my face.

I would continue the 5am feeding, but I have serious nursing aversion which makes me fly into a rage when he's latching on. Also, I am not blessed with sleeping through feedings. Every time DS wakes up it takes me at least a half hour to return to sleep. Also, with the 5am feeding he usually demands a 6:00 and 7:00 feeding as well.

I know that 5am is not an acceptable wakeup time for his body. When I can soothe him back to sleep, he goes to 7am or beyond. He really suffers for a lack of sleep.

Any strategies to help us get through are appreciated.

The only thing I would suggest is that you pump during the day to give him that 5 am feed. How old is your son? It really sounds to me from what you have described that your son is really not ready to go without that feeding!

[ihathi]

I would also like to know how old your DS is... Mine is 22 m/o and our situation is almost identical (except that he's only been nightweaned for about 4 months). To be honest, I'm really regretting that we kept the early-early morning nursing as part of the routine as DS never goes back to sleep and is super-sleepy by 8:00 a.m.!

Hope you get some helpful advice!