[becoming]

Our 17-month-old has become a bit of a nightmare in the evenings. He still nurses a fair amount, but my milk supply is dwindling, and he isn't a fan of comfort nursing anymore, so he rarely goes to sleep while nursing as of the past month or so. (The milk runs out well before he's asleep.) Since this was the ONLY way he ever went to sleep before, he's having a really hard time getting to sleep without it. I've been just laying down with him at night (he sleeps in our bed), but I have older kids and don't get to lay down until 9 PM or later. By that time, he is BEYOND exhausted, extremely fussy, and so overtired that he throws fits in the bed, doesn't want to lay down at all, etc. I find myself using borderline threats with my 17-month-old, which is ridiculous! But I don't know what else to do. Is there any way to encourage him to sleep without being a tyrant? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[MommaShark]

So I assume you do the whole routine - bath - low lights, no tv, reading books in bed....
I'd make everyone else pretend they're going to bed too - these little ones don't want to miss anything - so make your LO think everyone else is going to bed. Then nurse him down.
Mine is almost 3 and that's what we do. I'm prego though and my milk supply is going down too - he actually had real tears last night because my boobies were empty! I can relate........ but I switched sides and told him to be patient and more milk came in..........

 

[hollytheteacher]

Do you have a partner? My ds just started going though this (finishing the milk before falling asleep) and the best thing that has worked for us, is once he's done nursing, my dh takes him into the rocking chair and sings/rocks him to sleep. HE usually cries for 5-7 minutes (but is safe in dh's loving arms). And once he falls asleep dh puts him in bed next to me. Usually he stays asleep, but if he stirs i nurse him for like 30 seconds and he's back to sleep. If not, like he keeps wanting tobe awake again, dh takes him again and starts rocking all over again and it seems to work pretty well!

 

[Chana]

I've been nursing my 15 mo old baby to sleep. she has been waking up a few times at night, and I move her from one side to the other. I have been waking up DRAINED. 2 nights ago she was nursing and playing and clearly well fed and very very tired. I decided that I was done with through the night nursing. I turned off the lights, offered her some water, which she drank. Then she realized I wasn't nursing her anymore and she started yelling. I spoke to her very softly and firmly and held her - it helped that it was all dark- she cried and cried. I offered her water every 2 minutes in case she was thirsty and she kept refusing. I sang to her and held her and rocked her and she fell asleep after 25 minutes. She woke up 4 hours later and I started the same routine. Offered her water (refused) spoke to her softly, sang, rocked, etc. She fell asleep after 10 minutes. She woke up as soon as I put her down and we repeated the routine for about 8 minutes. I put her down and cried and cried. I felt so bad that I have exactly what she wants, but I recognize that I am a disfunctional mother without sleep. When she woke at 5:30 am I nursed her and we slept. Last night, she fell asleep nursing at 8. She woke up at 10:30. I did the water, soft talk, singing routine and she cried but was asleep within 10 minutes. She woke up at 1. She cried for a minute as I spoke softly and then put her head on my chest and went to sleep. Sweet baby. She woke up again at 4 and whimpered and I pulled her close to me and she went right back to sleep. When she woke at 5:30 I nursed her. This is my stubborn baby. She is my 7th child, and just when I think I'm getting too old for this through the night routine, I find the energy to invest in myself, my sanity, my family. It's so important to remain consistent. I hope you get all the support you need.