Night weaning?-when is it ok?

[Debobu]

Hi moms
I am thinking about night weaning my almost 19 month old.
I am conflicted and having guilt feelings...
How do you know when it is the right thing to do?
On my end- I haven't sleept more than 1.5 hrs at a time, I suffer from anxiety and I am perpetually exhausted.-this does not help my anxiety.
We bed share but that hasn't made a difference. My son wakes up sooo many times my husband has even moved out of the room so he can get some sleep.
I feel conflicted...
Any stories to share?
Thanks

[CherryBomb]

I think it's appropriate to night wean a 19 month old if the night nursing is bothering you. Good luck

[spughy]

Yup it is totally appropriate to nightwean a 19-mo. You need some sleep, mama! Ask your DH to help out, have him sleep with your little boy and you go sleep in the other room (obviously a weekend would be the best time for this.) Talk to your DS and explain it to him, emphasizing that he won't be alone at night, he can have all the cuddles he needs, but you all need to sleep better to be happier people.

[PatioGardener]

great info about nightweaning:
http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleeppattern.html

[Debobu]

Thanks Mamas for the support and info!!!
I need it!

[Altair]

I agree with Dr Jay Gordon that 12 months is the cutoff. That worked for me personally.

[mamadelbosque]

Absolutely OK! Thats about the age that I got pregnant with ds2 and we moved ds1 into his own bedroom/own bed and he night weaned! It was SUCH a relief!!

[CoBabyMaker]

Totally ok mama! You are still meeting your little one's needs, just in a different way. Hope it goes smoothly (as far as night weaning can) and you are able to get some better rest!

[Debobu]

Thanks Everyone!!!!
How did you night wean your LO?
Did everyone use the Dr Jay Gordon method?
How was it?
Thanks!

[Honey693]

Originally Posted by Debobu

Thanks Everyone!!!!
How did you night wean your LO?
Did everyone use the Dr Jay Gordon method?
How was it?
Thanks!

We used a combo of the Pantley Pull-Off and Jay Gordon's plan. I felt his plan moved a little fast for DD so we stretched each stage out to 7 days before we went on to the next level. She did ok with it, the first few nights she just seemed confused like "Excuse me, what do you mean I can't boob to sleep.", but overall it wasn't too bad. She still wakes up most nights, but resettles with some back pats and a few shushes. Occasionally I have to hug her back to sleep, but overall I'm getting much more sleep and I'm a lot less cranky.

[spughy]

I just left the bed from around midnight to 6 am. My DH slept with our girl. She cried a tiny bit the first night but that was it. It was really not a problem at all. I did still nurse her to sleep and I gave her a dream feed when I went to bed, let her wake up and nurse once (usually around midnight) then I went to sleep on the couch. She didn't have a problem with it at all. She was about a year old at that point.

[mamadelbosque]

We just started putting him to bed in his to sleep, and when he came back in our bed, initially I, and after ds2 was born, dh would get up and put him back in his bed... thus nursing to sleep simply wasn't an option! Good luck!!

[Debobu]

Thanks for the replies!
I have a question though- my son wakes up a lot but as soon as I put my boob in his mouth he's out- so how would I make sure he doesn't fall asleep on the boob? it's dark and it all happens so fast how would I make sure he won't sleep at the boob?

Also,
My son is teething for what it seems weeks- he's been getting tooth after tooth
without reprieve...how did you all deal with teething while trying to night wean?
He is not 2 yet so he still has a few teeth to get....
Thanks

[Altair]

We did jay gordon, but slower. Nursed, but not to sleep (stopped before he was out) and put to sleep other ways, then a few days later put in crib after nursing and rubbed his back, then a week later just sat by the crib, then a week later nursed and put in crib and laid on other side of bed and every time he got up kissed him and laid him back down. After a month of that now I leave the room and come back in if he cries. He now goes to bed no problem on the first try.

Doing this at bedtime REALLY helped with night wake ups. I cut down to 7PM, midnight, and 5AM (then co-sleep) early on in this plan, and did that for a week or two (if he really wanted to nurse in between I'd leave the room and he'd fall asleep for daddy). The I cut out the midnight one same way, I slept on the couch until 5.

All of this was done with barely any crying, which was amazing considering the first 12 months he cried all night long while nursing and co-sleeping.