i'm totally ambivalent

about weaning max... he's 18 months and breastfeeds before bed/nap-times and a million times throughout the night (or so it seems).

i know the WHO recommends doing it till two, but i need-- like i've never needed anything before, a good night's sleep (i've never once slept through the night since he's been born-- i do ALL the night wakings, his father does none since he doesn't have breasts and max wants absolutely nothing to do w/ a bottle), but nightfeedings are all max does-- it's how he keeps up my milk supply at this point.

i have the "no-cry sleep solution" book and gave it a shot back before he was a year old and it never really took... i didn't sweat it, b/c i thought i could hang in there.

but he's 18 months old now. he wakes up at least 4 times (usually more) a night-- and he's pissed when he wakes up. he wants boob and he wants it now. he rarely opens his eyes, he just screams/hollers for boob.

i have no problem continuing to breastfeed him till he's two if i can just wean him of his nightfeedings, which're going to be the death of me if i don't find a solution soon... i'm so bleary-eyed right now b/c he was a hellion last night.

any advice/input/criticism is welcome!

I think that's a fine age to night wean.   I don't really have any advice though. Just support.  

No advice but just sending you some good luck!

Quoting Mara:“ about weaning max... he's 18 months and breastfeeds before bed/nap-times and a million times throughout ... [snip!] ... find a solution soon... i'm so bleary-eyed right now b/c he was a hellion last night. any advice/input/criticism is welcome!”

does he BF during the day????

Quoting Mara:“ about weaning max... he's 18 months and breastfeeds before bed/nap-times and a million times throughout ... [snip!] ... find a solution soon... i'm so bleary-eyed right now b/c he was a hellion last night. any advice/input/criticism is welcome!”

Have you seen a book called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"? It was a lifesaver with both of my kids. They both slept 6 hours by 7 weeks, and slept 12 hours by 4 months. And they both still do, no night-wakings. I don't breastfeed though, but the book also addresses nursing babies.

Quoting Addisons Momma!:“ does he BF during the day????”

no. unless it's before a nap... but usually he's w/ my SIL week days.

Here is a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp/0449004023

I found my copy at half-price books though.

Quoting Mara:“ no. unless it's before a nap... but usually he's w/ my SIL week days.”

so does he take a bottle during the day when hes with her? im just trying to figure out what works during the day.... and see if you can make it work at night!

Quoting Aggie♥Mom:“ Have you seen a book called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"? It was a lifesaver with both of my ... [snip!] ... by 4 months. And they both still do, no night-wakings. I don't breastfeed though, but the book also addresses nursing babies.”

hmmm...

i read through a few reviews on there and get the feeling it's too much CIO for me.

we live in 1500 sq foot apartment. i can't let him CIO at night. it's just easier to stick a boob in his face than lay in bed listening to him cry.

the inability to get away from his crying is probably why we're where we're at.

Quoting Addisons Momma!:“ so does he take a bottle during the day when hes with her? im just trying to figure out what works during the day.... and see if you can make it work at night!”

he doesn't take a bottle at all.

he just goes to sleep... he rarely falls asleep on the boob anymore.

it's not really a problem of getting him to sleep, it's a problem of keeping him asleep.

he's addicted to the boob as his form of self-soothing.

i am his human pacifier... another object he has nothing to do w/... b/c my boob is apparently a superior device.

oh man, i would have probably died by now if i were you. i thought 5 months was an eternity when jonas was waking constantly.

so, does he take a binkie?

Quoting Mara:“ he doesn't take a bottle at all. he just goes to sleep... he rarely falls asleep on the boob anymore. ... [snip!] ... i am his human pacifier... another object he has nothing to do w/... b/c my boob is apparently a superior device.”

well of course it is   is he actually hungry at night, or is your boob to soothe then too? could you maybe start pulling him into bed to cuddle, or cuddling in a chair, etc, but NOT give him the boob, and see if he falls back asleep?? if he will, then he might start to get out of the habit..... worth a shot!

i dont know if you have tried different bottles or anything.. but there is a bottle by the first years called 'breastflow" and its supposed to be the most like the breast. i dont know if it could fool an 18 month old though!

Quoting Mara:“ hmmm... i read through a few reviews on there and get the feeling it's too much CIO for me. we live ... [snip!] ... his face than lay in bed listening to him cry. the inability to get away from his crying is probably why we're where we're at.”

It's CIO in some of its advice, and it has good tips for other things. Like when they wake up, give them water instead and eventually they will stop waking up if all they can have is water. I had to do that with my oldest.

As for the CIO part, do you think your neighbors would cooperate if you gave them some warning ahead of time that you were going to be sleep training? Maybe they could turn up their sound machines or sleep with box fans during that time LOL.

I completely understand the hesitations people have with CIO, I had them too, but this book really made me understand the importance of it. I could go into more detail about their reasonings if you want.

Quoting brendaruth:“ oh man, i would have probably died by now if i were you. i thought 5 months was an eternity when jonas was waking constantly. so, does he take a binkie?”

no. we bought a few months ago-- and he thinks they're toys. if i were to try to offer him one (as nick tried w/ a bottle the other night) he would be (and was w/ nick) enraged at the sub-standard quality of that rubber nipple.

i am his human pacifier. *sighs*

this is what i get for being all die-hard about breastfeeding... and not using bottles and pacifiers.

he's the most delightful child all day long and then he turns into a hollering hellion who saps me of my energy all night long-- probably the reason he's such a happy baby-- b/c he's a vampire!