18 month really hungry in the middle of the night, how to night wean?

[candelaria80]

We are in the process of night weaning our 18 month old DD and it is not going well.  Last night she woke at around 1 and wanted to nurse, we cuddled a bit and she went back into a restless sleep for an hour or so, then woke up and would not let up!  She kept saying "please, please" it killed me .  After about an hour of this (in and out of a restless sleep) I decided to test and see if she was truly hungry or just wanted to latch and fall asleep.  We went into the kitchen and I got an applesauce pouch (not the best choice, but at 2:30 it seemed OK) and gave it to her, she gobbled it down in seconds flat and by the time we were back in bed she was asleep for the rest of the night. 

I feel horrible that I let is go so long.  I just assumed at this age nursing through the night was just for comfort, but I still feel like we need to night wean.  I am with her all day and I nurse on demand, we co-sleep at night my breasts and I would appreciate sleeping at night again. 

She is not a big eater, which is probably most of the issue, but she is getting better everyday.  Has anyone here ever offered snacks throughout the night...is that ridiculous?  She has never had formula and I doubt she would like it at this point.  Not a huge milk fan either, haven't tried too many milk alternatives, but I am planning on starting.  My mom recommend Pedia-Sure (sp) but it seems to have a lot of sugar and other weird stuff?  I tried pumping yesterday, but at this point I am not getting a lot of milk. 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[thedenverduo]

I would really try to get more calories in her during the day.  Maybe keep track of what she eats for a couple days?  If you start offering snacks in the middle of the night you are eventually going to have to "nightwean" her from snacks.  How are you nightweaning?  Our ds goes to bed around 730, and we go to bed around 11.  So for the first month or so of nightweaning I would put him to bed, and then wake him up and nurse him at 11 right before I went to bed.  (He didn't really fully wake up, he would just latch on and nurse and then pass out again).  That way he only had to go 8 hours or so without nursing, and his longest stretch of sleep was when I was sleeping. (bonus!)  Then for a week I woke him up around 10 nurse, then 9, and now he goes the whole 11 or 12 hours without nursing.  During this time his eating/nursing during the day really picked up.

It sounds she is starting to eat more during the day so hopefully she won't be hungry at night soon!

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I also think she probably just needs to eat more during the day.  Also, with being so used to nursing in the night, her metabolism is set up for her to feel hungry at night just like you tend to feel hungry around the times of day you usually eat.  It will take a little while for her body to not be hungry at that time.  I would suggest decreasing the amount she gets to consume in the night and offering her a glass of water as that may help her feel full while at the same time getting her body to not expect calories. 

[candelaria80]

Thanks to both of you.

Originally Posted by thedenverduo 

I would really try to get more calories in her during the day.  Maybe keep track of what she eats for a couple days?  If you start offering snacks in the middle of the night you are eventually going to have to "nightwean" her from snacks.  How are you nightweaning?  Our ds goes to bed around 730, and we go to bed around 11.  So for the first month or so of nightweaning I would put him to bed, and then wake him up and nurse him at 11 right before I went to bed.  (He didn't really fully wake up, he would just latch on and nurse and then pass out again).  That way he only had to go 8 hours or so without nursing, and his longest stretch of sleep was when I was sleeping. (bonus!)  Then for a week I woke him up around 10 nurse, then 9, and now he goes the whole 11 or 12 hours without nursing.  During this time his eating/nursing during the day really picked up.

It sounds she is starting to eat more during the day so hopefully she won't be hungry at night soon!

I agree, I think the calories she is getting during the day is the issue.  She is just not that into food?  She would much rather nurse.  On the rare occasions when I leave her she will eat, but around me she will refuse food. 

Thank you for the tip about nursing before I go to bed...that is a great one and I will try it tonight.  Usually she goes down at 7:30 and I go to bed around 10:00, she wakes around 11:00 to nurse, then at 1:00 and sometimes 3:00 and 5:30 or so.  I think waking her and nursing will gain some much needed sleep time so thank you for that!

Originally Posted by CrunchyChristianMama 

I also think she probably just needs to eat more during the day.  Also, with being so used to nursing in the night, her metabolism is set up for her to feel hungry at night just like you tend to feel hungry around the times of day you usually eat.  It will take a little while for her body to not be hungry at that time.  I would suggest decreasing the amount she gets to consume in the night and offering her a glass of water as that may help her feel full while at the same time getting her body to not expect calories. 

Good idea, thank you!  Come to think of it, we went through a night time tea phase and she was sleeping better during that time.  I think we will start that up again.

Again, thanks ladies!