Can you help me make this stop? Please?

[Harmony08]

Hello,

My 18 month old ds is still nursing. He nurses to sleep. This is usually easy and done in 10-20 minutes. He has some night wakings. I'd say about 50% of the time I don't even track them. he nurses a little and we both nod off. I can't even really say how often they are. I think he usually wakes in the wee hours 5-6 and may wake again before waking all the way up at 8-9. It just depends.

Anyway, my problem is that some nights he wakes and nurses FOREVER...like an hour or what feels like more. This I can't sleep through. He doesn't seem to fall all the way to sleep. If I unlatch him he and cries and fusses. I am handling it. I'm not going crazy or anything....yet. But I want to have another baby and I know it will make me crazy then. I am not a great sleeper so sometimes it is very hard for me to get back to sleep after an hour long marathon from 4-5 or more. Any btdts or advice????? I am all ears!!! or I guess eyes actually. hehe

[briome]

How often are thease all night sessions? 50% 30%?

At that age with both my boys I had already nightweaned and their father was putting them to bed. You don't sound like you would like to do that? Maybe you would consider some 'spot' weaning where you block out a time where you are unwilling to nurse him and use some gentle subsistution (water in a cup, daddy or other comforting technique) gradually.

I don't think there is anything YOU can do to get your child to not be interested in having those occasional nights. He may need/want some extra milk, comfort whatever. Maybe you would consider postponing having your other child untill he is more independent at night?

What would be your ideal night time with him? How involved is your husband/partner? Do you like the physical proximity of co-sleeping and want to keep that part?

Wondering?

[Anna's Lovey]

My lo did a lot of those long nursing sessions at that age too. I was pregnant at the time and it just wore me out, so I had to cut back. I nursed as long as I felt comfortable( a few minutes or so) and then said no more and offered snuggles and lullabies. It was hard at first, but eventually she got used to it and started settling down to sleep on her own after I interrupted the nursing. At this point, she sleeps through the night and goes to sleep without nursing. It was very difficult for the first two weeks though. I wouldn't have had the strength to follow through had I not been pregnant and experiencing some pain with nursing.
Good luck to you

[katmann]

Have you tried the Pantley Pull-Off method (from the No Cry Sleep Solution)? My ds used to spend a lot of time comfort sucking at night, but now I can pop him off and he'll roll right over and go to sleep. He's 15 months.

[Harmony08]

Thanks everyone! I think I will try cutting him off if he isn't back to sleep in 10 mins or so and trying snuggles and everything else. I have done this a couple times with sme success. He has also gone back to sleep a couple times without nursing at all. So I guess we're on the right track. I just have to be more proactive those nights that the marathon happens. I have tried the PPO and will try to be more consistent. The trouble with those marathon nights is that it doesn't work very well. He just never falls all the way to sleep.