Night weaning: is it time? - Page 2

[WildKingdom]

Originally Posted by infojunkie 

Well, here is an article that is some food for thought. While I would suspect the individual who only needs 6 hours of interrupted sleep is VERY rare, the article is interesting in that it brings up the idea that the 8 hour single stretch of undisturbed sleep by oneself or with one partner seems to be a very modern Western thing.  Near the end there is some discussion of "segmented sleep". I was going to poke around the internet for some more references to this but don't have time right at the moment

http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/9_25_99/bob2.htm

edited to add:  I personally find that I can still function when my sleep has been interrupted a lot, but I have to stay in bed until I get a cumulative number of hours that is acceptable...total sleep for me is more important than long stretches. Although boy does a long stretch feel good :)   Now, if a mom only has a narrow window to get all the sleep (the 8 hours at night, which is what most people have time for) I can totally see that the interruptions would be really disruptive. I've read Jay Gordon's method for night weaning and although I haven't tried it yet, when I'm ready to nightwean my baby (he's 15 months now, too) I plan to give it a try.  

I've already read that article. In fact, I've given it to some of my patients to read to reassure them that a particular sleep pattern that they might have is ok. However, it does not support FIBJ's assertion that needing 8 hours a night is a myth. 

[~Adorkable~]

In terms of your concern with WOH, I'm guessing having not done it yet, that it would be valuable to make sure you have time for a non rushed morning nursing to start your day.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Not to hijack, but mammas, would your advice be the same to someone who WOH and so isn't around to nurse during the day?  I worry about the impact on our BFing relationship if I night wean.  Not ready to wean-wean yet (not by a long shot!)

I would still offer the suggestion to nightwean, yes.  I WOH part time, and our nursing relationship was great.  Before work, after work, until 11 pm, and all the time on weekends and days off.  Plus, I was a better functioning mama and was less likely to cut DD off early or count down to have her unlatch b/c I wasn't so touched out.

[coffeegirl]

Team "if you need more rest, then nightwean this baby!"

Also, I never got the memo about sleeping through the night or needing 8-ish hours being a myth. My husband, daughter and I have been STTN since the baby was a month old.

[hildare]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Mamma of a 15 month old boy who loves his nursies at night.  I hear ya srdvdsn, I am starting to need more sleep too!  DS starts the night off in his room, then moves to our bed when he wakes up after we've gone to bed.  On the nights that he sleeps from say, 11-3 I feel pretty good the next day.  But when he wakes up at 1:30ish and is on and off the boob all night I wake up pretty tired. 

Not to hijack, but mammas, would your advice be the same to someone who WOH and so isn't around to nurse during the day?  I worry about the impact on our BFing relationship if I night wean.  Not ready to wean-wean yet (not by a long shot!)

if he's 15 mos, according to kellymom (cant' find it specifically but do remember from when we weaned) after the age of a year, for nutrition (not comfort) a few times a day is plenty; you could nurse several times between getting home and time for sleep (or first thing in the morning, etc) and still night wean, or mostly nightwean (b/c isn't the gordon method not all night but just a really long stretch of time?).

or just nurse that one time when he wakes up?  the all night thing is a habit, in my opinion, and not a necessity.

[Lazurii]

I'm in the nightwean camp.  I'm heading that direction myself very soon.  I can deal with broken sleep, such as my daughter nursing 3-4 times a night and then letting go.  At least I get some REM sleep that way.  But when she latches and only lets go to switch sides I know I'm going to have an awful day.  Everyone needs REM and sometimes nursing moms don't get enough of that.

[srdvdsn]

Sorry to bump something so old 

But thank you everyone for the replies! She kind of naturally started sleeping longer and longer, and now she'll go a 5-6 hour stretch most nights. Unfortunately now I am so used to it, I sleep ridiculous hours (hello it's nearly 4am?! what is wrong with me?).

I am going to go back and look at your the resources because I do think it's about time we night weaned for good, we still nurse tons during the day and I work from home and I am not worried of fully weaning.

Thank you all again