[SundayCrepes]

When my son was 2.75, he nursed at 1 and 4 in the night like clockwork. Then he cut out the 1 am, so we just did 4 am. That lasted a week until we brought home our adopted baby. Suddenly, my son was waking up a gazillion times at night. Sometimes when the baby woke up, sometimes just on his own. After a couple months, that settled down and he would often sleep through the night.

It is 8 months since the baby was born and my 3 year old is waking up several times a night. I don't notice the pattern I did before we got the baby. I'm wondering if this is just a developmental thing for 3 year olds or if this could still be related to the baby. Between the two of them, I get awakened at least 6 times a night. Fortunately I am not tired during the day so this is more a nuisance than anything. However, if there was anything I could do (short of sleeping separately) to get my son to sleep through the night, I'd love it.

 

[rzberrymom]

It does kind of sound like it's related to the baby. Maybe DH/DP could take over helping to resettle him in the night? That's a hard one mama!!

 

[SundayCrepes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rzberrymom Maybe DH/DP could take over helping to resettle him in the night?

Alas, my husband does not do well with nighttime stuff. Better for me to deal with it.

 

[Moonchild77]

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[SundayCrepes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonchild77 : : : : :

OT, what part of Holland are you in? My husband worked for a Dutch company and lived there for a year. (He was a friend I visited, we fell in love on the cobble streets of Holland, and now it's 12.5 years and two little ones later.) I have traveled throughout all of Holland and miss our annual trips there. Fall is missing something now that we don't get to go see our Dutch friends. (His company used to pay for us to go there each year.)

 

[ktmama]

Have you talked with him about it? Seems to me at 3yo, he could help create a plan for nighttime that's agreeable to you both. Are you ready to nightwean him? If not, it seems that you could at least limit the amount and/or frequency of nighttime nursing.

 

[SundayCrepes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktmama Have you talked with him about it? Seems to me at 3yo, he could help create a plan for nighttime that's agreeable to you both. Are you ready to nightwean him? If not, it seems that you could at least limit the amount and/or frequency of nighttime nursing.

No, it hadn't occurred to me to talk to him. I think in part because he is so attached to nursing that I can't imagine him having any desire to not nurse every opportunity he gets. We just woke up (about an hour ago.) We lay in bed with him nursing for about 45 minutes, which is fine. But when we got up it was a huge scene because he wanted to sit on my lap and nurse while I peed. Then he wanted more milk in the living room, "No, my milkies are tired. They need some rest." "BUT I NEED MILK."

 

[ktmama]

If you're looking to develop a plan to cut back on nursing, there's lots of good info in the Breastfeeding Forum. I think it's important to keep in mind that bfing is a relationship and needs to meet the needs of both people involved. There are gentle, loving ways to limit bfing.

Oh, I just thought of something a friend of mine is doing that I think is genius. Her 2 1/2 yo wants to nurse all the time when he's bored during the day, but it's very taxing and painful for her. So, she gives him six stickers a day to spend on nursing. When he wants to nurse, he gets a sticker and puts it on a piece of paper hanging on the wall. This way, there is a limit, but he's totally in charge of when nursing happens. It's really helping them.

 

[SundayCrepes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktmama If you're looking to develop a plan to cut back on nursing, there's lots of good info in the Breastfeeding Forum. I think it's important to keep in mind that bfing is a relationship and needs to meet the needs of both people involved. There are gentle, loving ways to limit bfing.

I'm actually more interested in finding a way to help him sleep without waking. If he wakes from a nightmare, I want to offer him milk. It's keeping him asleep that is my desire.