Time to wean at night?

[lilmonkey]

If this needs to be moved then please do so but I thought  that I can get a better asnwer here.

DS used to take very good feeds at night.  Long swallows and goes back to the crib awake.  However for the last week, I have noticed that he sucks for afew minutes only and then the rest of the sucks as mostly like. flutters.  He's on 3 meals with 4/5 milk feeds.  How do you know when to wean?  DD did it on her own at 5/6 mos so don't know how to tell or do this.

[kjab]

Hi,

Do you mean at night before bedtime or during?  Does he actually wake up hungry?

[lilmonkey]

I mean during the night.  He usually wakes once or twice at 1/2 am and then again at 4/5.  He doesn't necessary cry when he first wakes but would move around the crib until he gets stuck somewhere and then I would go in to rescue him.  It is then that he opens his mouth and goes for my breast.  I have waited up to 60 min sometimes to see if he will just back to sleep but then he just rolled himself into a corner or get on all four and needs rescuing.  I'm trying to increase his feeds but he won't take anymore but loves his solids.  So I'm wondering if his lack of enthusiastically sucking on the breast means that I can wean him.

[claires mum]

Hello there...I'm not sure how old your LO is but it sounds to me like all the signs are there to start weaning.  It's probably waking out of habit now - particularly if he's only taking a small drink.  Does he need to suck to go back to sleep..just wondering if it's become a sleep prop for him. 

With my LO - I had the same signs and BFing was also a sleep prop.  I gave water instead of milk and she soon figured out that it wasn't worth waking up for.  Sounds like this might work for you too???  What do you think?

[lilmonkey]

I'll give water a try maybe have dh do it so I won't be tempted to nurse.  Thanks

[claires mum]

Great idea to get DH to give that feed.  Let me know how it goes