question about dr.goron's nightweaning method

[mrskatiekuj]

I am attempting to night-wean by 16 month old. She is an ALL night comfort nurser and I can't sleep through it. feeling exhausted. I am using Dr. Gordon's method, however I don't know what to do about the whole "pick your best 7 hour" thing. I don't know how I can expect my daughter to understand the difference between me coming in to nurse her back to sleep @  8:45pm versus 11pm.

Did you pick 7 hours, and how did your child seem to know the difference between when it was okay to nurse @ night as opposed to the time when it isn't anymore?

[CheriK]

I wonder if the 7 hours might be a reasonable length that an older baby/toddler can go without eating?  I sort of ignored that suggestion!  I used some of his ideas for nightweaning my twins when they were 2.5yrs.  We went from nursing whenever at night to nursing to sleep & nursing in the morning "after the sun wakes up".  That worked for us and seemed fairly reasonable and clear-cut.  So they weren't getting to nurse after falling asleep.  Not that it was easy, but . . .

Are there clear differences between some times and others?  Do you cosleep?  It sounds like she goes to sleep before you do.  Perhaps nursing to sleep, nursing when you come to bed, then no more nursing until morning. 

Good luck!  I'm starting to get to this point w/ my 2+ year old.  I really need to sleep for more than 2 hours at a stretch on a regular basis!  But right now night weaning sounds like more work than I want to do, so we keep nursing.  Night weaning wasn't easy w/ my older two, so it definitely has to reach the point of "I can't do this any more" before we try.  I hope your LO is receptive and it goes quickly.

[Ava's Mama]

We started this night weaning method with my 2 yo DD on Sunday night.  We chose 10-5 for our 7 hour stretch.  But we are only on night two now and it has been fine so far.  I think it will be the sedon 3 nights that will be harder because there won't be any nursing, versus just a minute or two.  I don't have any answers for you, but wanted to let you know that you aren't alone!

[mrskatiekuj]

thank you, yes we are co-sleeping

have been going @ it for a week now, she understands that nursing isn't an option, but she is having problems soothing herself back to sleep. She pretty much tosses and turns all night, fussing when she wakes up - and she takes forever tofinally settle back to sleep. Wonder how long this will last,...