Night Weaning Suggestions?

I personally think 12 months is a bit young for night weaning if your child is used to on demand breastfeeding. Breastmilk is such an efficient source of nutrition, that they do tend to want to eat more often.

I night weaned my son at 18 months. He was a little older, so we talked about not nursing anymore until it was light out. (I randomly chose 5am). He fussed the first night, but I just offered water and threw him over my shoulder. This lasted a few nights, but there was no real crying. We co-sleep though, so he still got to snuggle with me.

I would recommend continuing to take your baby's cues as far as night nursing. Is she walking? You may notice some different sleep patterns as she approaches walking and it is up to you, but with my kiddos, I would have never wanted to attempt night weaning at the same time they were getting ready to walk, as their sleep patters were always crazy just before big milestones!

Good luck mama!

Have you considered moving your daughters bed time a little later? Keeping her up a little later and allowing her to "tank up" in the evening (nurse, nurse, nurse!) may help her feel more content and more sleepy and sleep better at night. I'm this that if you could even get the feeding down to one time at night you would feel so much better about it. The fact that your daughter is eating so hungrily at at least one of her night time feeds leads me to believe that she truly is hungry and needs to eat instead of just waking out of habit as a PP mentioned. 12 months is a growth spurt time as well as being a time that your child is mentally developing SO much. You could also consider giving her a bed time snack. Dr. Sears has a great article on foods that can help your little one sleep (http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T042400.asp). You've done a great job nursing your little one until now! Child lead weaning can be a little trying at times but it is so worth it. I promise. I nursed my DD until she was 2 1/2 and I wouldn't change a thing! It helped her and I get through those terrible twos. I only wish she had continued to nurse because 3 was so much worse without the nursing to help calm her (and I) during frustrated tantrums! LOL

Night weaning is tough work. I also breast fed both kids on demand. I was in the the same boat with both of them at 12 months. For me I realized that they did not need the food at night and while they did eat heartily during the night, it was mainly about comfort.
Unfortunately what I learned is that you have to go cold-turkey. Just stop the night feeds. You can't even give them an early one (on wake up #1) because this will just frustrate them more on wake up #2 (I got it when I woke up before, why can't I get it again?). Since they have mainly associated night waking with you and night feeding, this is a good time for your partner to get involved- and take over during the night. I ended up going to the basement while my husband had her during the night wakings. She will not like it-nor will you but it will allow your partner and baby to do a little bonding, and for all members of the house to get some needed night sleep. She will figure it out after a few nights. We are not the cry it out parents at all, but your partner can hold her close or do whatever else she needs to get back to sleep. I was surprised that when they learned that they wouldn't get a special treat (aka mommy milk) upon waking, they just didn't wake up.

Good luck!!! IT is not an easy transition but you will get through it (and everyone will sleep more!).
K.

Hi R..
You may want to try giving her some more food at dinner. Try some chicken and veggies, with some fruit and water. I night weaned at 9 months, and just went in and rocked my son, although he took a pacifier. It took a few nights, but he stopped getting up. Good for you for still bf!

I agree with Kim T. We did this just a couple of weeks ago, and now she sleeps through without needing us at all for about 10 hours a night. I can't put her to bed any later than about 6:45 because she needs that sleep. Sounds like your daughter may be cranky in the morning because she needs that uninterrupted sleep at night. My husband went to her when she woke at night when I would usually feed her (but she didn't need to eat-just comfort). She really was mad at first, but she calmed down after awhile, and he didn't need to do it more than twice before she figured out it just wasn't worth waking up because she wasn't going to get me. She still wakes up during the night, but she "talks" herself back to sleep quickly! My newest observation is that she sleeps better and longer when she's had a protein for dinner.... Good luck!

I love Dr. Sears. I have copied the link to his suggestions for night weaning.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/t070800.asp

It's all about habit. So, to break her night wakings, you need to break her night eating habit. Best way to do that is to start weaning her to whole milk. That most likely would result in the least amount of tears.