Night weaning 16mo

[*Ali*]

Yes we just went cold turkey. As you say she is a lot older than your DD. No way I would have done it that way under a year. She was definitely just having a few sucks to help her settle back to sleep. She isn't any hungrier in the mornings now than she was when she'd had 3 NFs.

Last night wasn't as good. She did sstn but only 7.45-5.45 and then she couldn't get back to sleep. I tried until 6.30 but if she wasn't crying she was tossing and turning so I just started the day.

I seem to remember when I night weaned DS2 he took a good few weeks if not a month to sleep later in the morning so I'll just wait it out.

Thanks for your support.

[*Ali*]

Hi, I just thought I'd update that nights 4 and 5 had some more EWs but we seem to be doing better now for the last 4 nights.  She's mostly sleeping 7.30 or 8pm until 6.30 or 6.50am. Still a tad earlier than before but I'm hoping we get back to after 7am soon. She still has a 2-2.5hr nap most days as well so that's probably  13hrs sleep which seems enough for her. It's lovely not to have NWs. I sometimes hear her stir but she just settles herself, usually without crying out at all. 😆

[jessmum46]

Well done to you both

[Palmira78]

Ali. How are you doing? I would really like to follow your steps with my DS2 since it worked so well for you. It also did for us with my DS1, when he was 18 months.
In total how many "difficult" nights you had to get the message across to your baby that no milk was coming? what steps did you take to put her back to sleep?
My DS2 is only 9 months but 2 pediatricians told me that he was biologically ready to stop nursing through the night... and I would like to wean him cold turkey as you did (since gradually is not working).

[*Ali*]

Hi nluno, It was really just the first 2 nights we had NWs that I needed to resettle. She sttn from night 3 but was getting up earlier around 6am rather than her usual 7am. She's mostly STTN since then for the last 6 months and is back to a 7am or later start to the day. If she does wake in the night (no more than twice a month) I usually just have to say once that it's still sleepy time and to go back to sleep and she does. Occasionally she asks for her water if she can't find it (I leave a straw sippy open in her bed) or it needs topping up.

There was one night a couple of months ago when she fell asleep in the car driving home from a day out and I just put her into bed without dinner or her BT BF and she slept until 3am. I knew she was genuinely hungry so I explained that she could have her BT BF then (of course she had no idea of the time). She never woke asking for boob again as a result. I think there was one other night that she had a virus and wouldn't settle around midnight so I BFed her just that once. Again, it luckily didn't result in her asking for a feed any other night.

When training her those first two nights back in May I just used my voice to shush her and remind her "It's sleepy time. Mummy's boobs are sleeping. Lie down and go back to sleep please." I think it was so easy because she was ready and was able to understand exactly what I was saying to her. As I said above, I personally would not use this method much under 1yo because they  can't understand as well and also their tummies are so little. Plus they are getting less solid food so it is to be expected that they will need to feed at night if they wake asking for it. I'd expect significantly more upset and more nights of NWs from a younger baby.

[Palmira78]

Thanks a lot Ali, for your advice. I have found it very useful.
After reading your post I am having second thoughts thinking if this is the right time to eliminate the night feedings... I listen to so many people saying that such an old baby (9months) should not eat during the night that I somewhat feel that I am delaying my son's progress. The pediatricians opinions are also important to me. Furthermore, I am quite exhausted since I am getting an average of 4 NW lately. (I will not bore you with the details since I already placed that information in the NW forum).
I would like to be respectful with my baby's needs but I cannot be a good mother if I am not feeling well. One of the problems is that since the beginning of September  my son has started going from 8 AM to 3:30 PM to a kindergarten, so I cannot influence the timing and length of his naps or even the amount of food that he takes.
Anyway, I hope that your toddler continues sleeping so well and I wish that I can join your sleeping club soon :-).

[*Ali*]

I think you are right to wait.

Fwiw the WHO recommends feeding as much as baby wants day and night until 2yo. They wouldn't recommend that if it in any way delayed a baby's progress.