stubborn 12 mo old - how to stop nursing him at 4am????

[Mjaz]

Hi ladies,

So my little one is waking to nurse - HABITUALLY - between 3:30 and 4am.  We've had a rough summer, so I've just been dealing with it.  If I nurse him, he goes instantly back to sleep and generally sleeps another 3 hours.

I have tried to start weaning this NW by offering only one breast and then APOPing.  He screams bloody murder.  We tried, a couple weeks ago, stopping it cold turkey and he screamed so much he nearly made himself sick.  My little drama boy.

WHAT DO I DO?  I cannot keep this up.  I'm exhausted as I generally don't get back to sleep.

PLEASE HELP!
Melinda

[Fiver]

Big hugs.  Sleep deprivation is such a killer.

By a rough summer, do you mean it's been particularly hot?  If so, it could be a genuine need to have a drink hence him getting cross when you try to get him back to sleep.  Do you think he'd take some water instead?

[Mjaz]

No, by a rough summer I just meant lots of travel, stress, changes, etc - it just wasn't a good time to try to wean him.

So last night DH gave him a bottle and he was fine.  So I guess it's hunger, not comfort!  (I'm surprised).  Tonight we were thinking of doing 4 oz milk, 2 oz water...?

Of course DH didn't wake, so I was up anyway and I've been up since 3am.  Dear God I need some sleep!

So what do you think about milk/water till it's just water and then HOPEFULLY he stops waking?

Thanks!
Melinda

[Erin M]

Sounds like a plan -- he's probably hungry because his body is used to eating at that time!  The water should help shift the calories (might want to try to increase his daytime food/milk intake to compensate).  Granted we would never recommend water for a tinier LO but at a year, I think he can handle it.

[Fiver]

Oh yes, I only suggested water as he was that bit older

I think that's one way that a number of FF mummies wean NFs, by increasing amount of water until only water is offered.

[Erin M]

Oh yes, I only suggested water as he was that bit older

Understood, just wanted to mention.   

Mjaz, how's it going?

[Mjaz]

It was ok for 2 nights then last night he actually didn't really want much to drink...but went biserk on DH.  I waited 5 min then went in and he went silent the minute I took him.  Just snuggled into me and went to sleep.  So I'm not sure what that means...but we'll try again tonight...

[Erin M]

I think it means progress.    FWIW, I don't think my ds would settle for dh at all at that point either, he's just way too used to me.