https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 03:33:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586697 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 03:12:32 +0000 OhCaptain 2586697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I add a step to the Jay gordon method. At first, I rock all the way back to sleep. So, nurse until almost asleep, unlatch, rock all the way to sleep.<br /> With my son I night weaned at 18 months. But he never did 4-6 wake ups, more like 3-4. When I night weaned that cut down two. Which felt doable. It's all about what works for you. Eventually by two he was fully weaned and able to put himself to sleep. But he still woke up one time, and he still does to this day. He goes right back to sleep though.</p> <p>Evelyn on the other hand, she wakes up more. So.... We are starting night weaning tomorrow. I also worry about her day time calorie intake, but I'm hopeful it will balance out naturally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586545 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 19:13:39 +0000 Mama Bird 2586545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I feel your pain! My almost one year old is a night nurser. I thought it might stop when she got good at solids and bottles (nope). I thought it might stop when her top teeth came through (nope). I've sort of tried sleep training, both the kind where you comfort the kid but don't nurse, and the kind where I passed out on the bed next to the crib because I was too tired to pick her up. I've tried getting DH to put her to bed (works very well... but only when I'm not home). </p> <p>Now she goes to bed in her crib, but I take her into our bed some time between 12 and 2 am. She can fall asleep on her own, but she doesn't want to if she can nurse instead.</p> <p>I'm so so tired. BUT. I've noticed that when DS was in day care at that age, we were both so miserable about it. We wanted more time together. With DD, both me and her are handling the transition to day care much easier, and I wonder if I've got cosleeping to thank for that. Maybe it makes a difference that we can bond and catch up at night, exhausting as it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586535 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 18:48:07 +0000 ShootingStar 2586535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: So I'm not a pediatrician, but um, I'd kind of ignore his advice about solids. I think at this stage, you should just be introducing your baby to new flavors and let him practice eating. Sure, at meals you can supplement with having him try a bite or two of what you're having. But I would totally be feeding purees. Lots of them, lol.</p> <p>When DS was around 10 months we were feeding him all day long. Bottles and purees alternating. So for example, his day was something like this:</p> <p>7am Bottle<br /> 9am Solids (breakfast)<br /> 11am Bottle<br /> 12pm Solids (lunch)<br /> 3pm Bottle<br /> 6pm Solids (dinner)</p> <p>Around 11.5 months we switched the 3pm bottle for solids, then a week later the 11am bottle. We had already gotten rid of the bottle after dinner because he was not interested in it and I didn't have enough time. Last to go was the 7am because it was so easy for me to stick him in the PnP with a bottle while I got ready. Doing a real breakfast takes way longer, lol. </p> <p>But anyways, it was only when he was eating this much did we really see improvements in his sleep. And we did combine that with letting him cry 10-15 minutes at wake ups. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586518 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 18:14:10 +0000 maddyz 2586518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I night weened at 11 months. Dh went in for all night wakings and there was no nursing no matter what until 5am. It took 3 nights with lots of fussing but he got it and that was it, no more night nursing and very few night wakings. When he was getting less milk at night he started eating more during the day.</p> <p>Crying alone was not an option for us, he would get so crazy and not calm down. If I went in he would claw at my clothing. But dh could calm him. Now at 16 months, dh still deals with night wakings... but also I am 30 weeks pregnant and so tired. We've had some growth spurts where he wakes at night asking for food and we feed him and he goes back to bed, that will be a few days here and there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586440 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:11:36 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2586440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: thanks for posting this! I have the infant one and was thinking about getting the toddler one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586417 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:43:45 +0000 Iced Tea 2586417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is the explanation, copied from the toddler version ebook. It is almost identical to the baby version, but you can hop over to Amazon and buy the baby version if you want to read more. </p> <p>"Pantley's Gentle Removal Plan<br /> Your little one falls asleep at bedtime breastfeeding, and then he wakes in the night to breastfeed again until he is totally back to sleep. He follows this pattern each time he wakes up. The problem here is that when he experiences those normal wake-ups between sleep cycles he becomes confused and disoriented, looking for his sleep aid. In order for his very strong sleep association to change, he needs to learn how to fall asleep without the sensation of nursing so that he doesn't look to re-create that sleep condition when he wakes in the night. </p> <p>In order to take the steps to change your child's sucking-to-sleep association, you must complicate night wakings for a week or even a month. But in the long run you can wean your child from using your breast as his only nighttime association. I wish it were simpler, but you must be prepared to disrupt your own nights for a while to make some important, worthwhile long-term changes. </p> <p>How to Use Pantley's Gentle Removal for Toddlers and Preschoolers<br /> A helpful first step is to create a phrase that means, "We're all done nursing." You'll want to first use this during the day at the end of each nursing session. As you finish nursing and are moving your child off your lap and closing up your clothing, repeat your phrase two or three times. Choose your own phrase, based on your personality and your child's age, but it could be something like, "All done. Milk is all done. Bye-bye, milk." This becomes a cue phrase to close your nursing sessions and will be helpful in the middle of the night or too early in the morning, when you would like your child to stop nursing and go to sleep. </p> <p>When your child wakes up in the night and wants to nurse, go ahead and nurse him as you normally have. Remember that a toddler or preschooler is most likely waking not because he is hungry but because he wants comfort and considers nursing as his method of falling back to sleep. So what you'll do, instead of letting him fall asleep at the breast, is to let him nurse for only a few minutes until his sucking slows and he is relaxed and sleepy. Make sure your child is done "eating" (when she is not actively sucking and swallowing, but just pacifying). Then you'll want to take your nursling off the breast. There are several ways to do this, depending on what works for you.<br /> • Break the seal with your finger, and gently remove the nipple from her mouth.<br /> • Use a quicker, more confident break with your finger. If you are sitting and nursing her, then immediately move her up to your chest and hold her snugly while you swing, sway, rock, pat, shh, or otherwise comfort her.<br /> • If you are lying beside her, use the quick, confident release, and then shift your breasts away from her face (perhaps turn on your tummy somewhat) while patting, rubbing, or doing whatever soothes her.<br /> Don't use your closing phrase just yet! Often, especially at first, your child will be confused and want to continue nursing, because that's what she has always done. Try to shift your breast away from her. You may be able to very gently hold her mouth closed with your finger under her chin, or apply pressure or pat her chin just under her lip (this helps to ease her from sucking to stillness), and at the same time rock or sway with her and say, "Shhh. Go to sleep now." If she struggles or fusses and you foresee a battle, go ahead and let her nurse a bit more, since you don't want her to become totally awake and start crying, but repeat the removal process as often as necessary until she finally falls asleep. How long between removals? Every child is different, but about ten to thirty seconds between removals usually works. If your child is a young toddler and has slept five or more hours, she may be hungry and need a longer session. You'll be able to tell this if she is sucking strongly and swallowing regularly, so wait a few minutes until she slows her pace. You'll not want to remove in the middle of a letdown, either, unless you're prepared to hold your hand over your breast to stop the milk flow. It may take two, three, five, or even more attempts, but eventually your child will accept being off the breast and will accept the loss of the nipple, get comfortable, and begin to fall asleep without the nipple in her mouth. This is when you say your closing phrase! (Quietly!) This way you create a connection between the closing phrase and her actually being finished nursing. </p> <p>When you've done this a number of times over a period of days, you should find that the removals are much easier, and your little one's awakenings are less frequent. You can then begin to use your closing phrase earlier in the process and begin to be more persistent in ending the nursing session. As Pantley's Gentle Removal Plan begins to work, it's a good idea to pull off sooner and sooner in the process, and one day your child will surprise you by pulling off on her own. But to get there, you must have consistency on your part. </p> <p>At first, your gentle removal might look something like this:<br /> Your child wakes up and begins to nurse vigorously. Her eyes close, and her sucking rate slows. You gently remove your nipple. Your nursling moves her open mouth toward you, looking to nurse. You try rocking and hugging, but she'll have none of that! You put her back to the breast. Count: one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, … ten thousand.* You gently remove your nipple. She moves her open mouth toward you. You try stalling, shushing, and patting, but no dice. You put her back to the breast. Count: one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, …* You gently remove your nipple. Your sleepy child moves her mouth a little, and you gently hold her mouth closed by pressing lightly on her chin. She doesn't resist; she is nearly asleep. You say your closing phrase. You move your child away from you in bed, or place your child in her own bed, and pat her bottom to settle her. She goes to sleep. ________________ *The counting is really more for you, to give you a gauge to measure your time and a way to keep yourself calm during your repeated attempts. You can be flexible as you figure out what time spacing works best for you and your child. </p> <p>Repeat the gentle removal process every night until your little one learns that she can fall asleep without nursing. If your child is a relatively good napper or if you're dedicated to making a more rapid change, you can use the technique for putting her to sleep at naptime, too. If your child doesn't nap well or if you have the patience, don't trouble yourself with trying too hard to use the removal technique during the day for naps, since you both may end up frustrated. Remember that good naps mean better nighttime sleep—and better nighttime sleep means better naps. It's a circle. Once you get your child sleeping better at night, you can then work on the naptime sleep. As soon as you solve the nighttime association, however, and create a daily nap routine, the nap-time sleep may solve itself." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586405 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:35:45 +0000 Iced Tea 2586405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: We were in the same boat from about 9-14 months. Here is what worked for us to gently reduce nursing and waking: the Pantley Gentle Removal Method from the book The No Cry Sleep Solution. I was surprised at how painless and quick it was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586393 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:26:00 +0000 MrsADS 2586393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@alphagam84 thanks for the feedback. The sleep crutches are definitely a problem! </p> <p>@peaches1038 that's EXACTLY how I feel. I would almost feel better about CIO/more crying at night if I was with him all day. I feel like if I let him cry and he's crying because he wakes up and wants me because I'm gone all day... I feel like the worst mom ever and it totally breaks my heart :crying: I know it's probably more in my head, but that's how I feel.</p> <p>@hellobeeboston thanks!! I have plenty of pumped milk in the freezer so DH could give a bottle, but I might just be trading one sleep association for another. And I like nursing him at night...</p> <p>@mrsbrewer thanks. I don't want to do CIO but I also think the night BFing is a lot of the culprit. DH tries to rock him with his paci and it used to work and it doesn't anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586388 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:21:42 +0000 MrsBrewer 2586388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will say that we went through this at about 10 months with LO. Her sleep was crap, and she was nursing 3-4x per night. I was going mad!!! I was totally against COI, so I 100% get you there! </p> <p>I night weaned though at that point, and that was a night and day difference for me. Since you are still nursing that many times at night right now though, maybe for the next week or so, slowly just skip one. Still go in there and maybe rock the baby with a paci, and see if that works. Also if you have a monitor, I used to always run in there the first time I heard my LO make any noise. I would slowly let her grunt/fuss a little bit, and a lot of the times she would fall back asleep on her own actually! Granted I would always go in there if she was crying though (obviously you can tell a difference!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586356 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:00:00 +0000 hellobeeboston 2586356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: can you have your DH give a bottle at bedtime instead? not sure if you have time to pump, i know it's hard. we also supplement with formula since my supply is measly - maybe too late in the game for that for you guys since your LO is almost a year... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586353 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:56:10 +0000 hellobeeboston 2586353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: oh, i hear ya... my first struggled with solids too and it was a loooong time before he was eating a lot. luckily he was my better sleeper! this baby REFUSED bottles for so long he was forced to eat foods early since he would wait for me to get home to nurse... anyway - keep trying with the food, he'll get it eventually. I totally hear you on him going hungry - i was OK with nursing 3x a night since I didn't think he was eating enough during the day! anyway, you could give some sleep training a try - with both of mine i was so stressed about it and it ended up being much easier than I thought! good luck - you'll get there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586347 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:44:20 +0000 peaches1038 2586347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I feel your pain! I'm going through this now with my 8 month old. I also really really do not want to sleep train. I'm ok with crying if we are there but won't let him cry hysterically to sleep. I Was also feeling like he was waking up so much because I'm gone at work all day and he wanted to spend some time with me. Cue major mom guilt. Ugh it's so hard. We introduced a lovey like yesterday, and surprisingly, he only woke up once last night. I have my fingers crossed for tonight! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586344 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:38:03 +0000 alphagam84 2586344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you need to start letting him cry it out at night. We feed Emma right before bed and then do a dream feed between 10 &amp; 11 to top her off for the night and that's it until she wakes up. 5 am is the earliest we will go in and feed her and then she goes back to sleep. She's 8 months old. We did minor sleep training with her a few weeks ago when I think she had the 8 month sleep regression and it worked. We would go in the first time she cried to make sure nothing was wrong (like vomit or stuck) without touching her and talk to her calmly for 30-60 seconds then leave and shut the door. At each 10-15 minute interval we would stick our heads in the room, but not physically enter it, and speak for another 30-60 seconds telling her it wasn't time to wake up and she was ok then leave again. Repeat as needed. You need to remove all the sleep crutches you've created so he can learn to self soothe and go to sleep on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586343 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:35:14 +0000 Pumuckl 2586343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I speak German with my kids so it probably doesn't help you much. It roughly translates to "sleep tight, sweet dreams". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586342 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:31:11 +0000 MrsADS 2586342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tofuwad ugh. Thanks for the commiseration. We've never tried any kind of sleep training... and I keep hearing about these magical babies that you do sleep training or something and then they start sleeping so maybe I need to try? I don't know. But, I also sort of thing that babies sleeping through the night is sort of a milestone like walking or potty training - they'll do it when they are ready. Can't imagine not sleeping til my son is 3 or 4, OMG. :crying: </p> <p>@hilsy85 that's definitely a good point. He might not want to eat solids b/c he's getting so much milk during the night. He's super persistent - DH rocked him and tried to get him to sleep for an hour last night and he just fought and fought until I gave in and nursed him so we could all go back to sleep. I guess that is counterproductive, though.</p> <p>I also wonder if he's waking up so much partially because I am at work during the day - I know young babies can "reverse cycle" and although he's getting milk during the day, I wonder if he's waking to get more TLC with me since I'm not there. Which makes me really sad and makes me not want to sleep train and want to quit my job and feel like a horrible mommy. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586332 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:16:17 +0000 hilsy85 2586332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I think if he is taking in so many calories overnight, it' sgoing to be hard to get him to eat more during the day--he needs to be hungrier during the day so he eats more then. Maybe try decreasing the length of nursing sessions by a few minutes at a time? And then using whatever soothing mechanism you pick when he is upset after you stop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586329 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:11:28 +0000 tofuwad 2586329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No help here just commiseration. My daughter turns 1 this month and I've been trying to keep her in the crib until at least 5am. It's been a week and I think we're giving up. </p> <p>She has put herself to sleep for all naps and night for months but still wakes to nurse 2-4x per night. i know from experience that extinction works best for my daughter (checks make her hysterical). I've done all the methods (no-cry, pick up put down, hush pat, Ferber, and extinction). She has a paci and a lovey. She has a routine. She gets good naps during the day. She eats a ton of food. She gets plenty of activity during the day. I'm tired. </p> <p>So I'm just saying I feel your pain. Kid sleep is so hard. And I've got all these people coming out of the woodwork and telling me about their kids who didn't STTN until they were 3-4. Anyways good luck! We've tried so many different things I now think about it as gently trying to find what she's ready for, rather than "training" her to do something. She's clearly not ready for either sleeping alone or night weaning. Sorry this is so rambly I'm tired! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586327 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:09:27 +0000 MrsADS 2586327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston I am trying with the solids but he is just not super into it. He had VERY bad reflux and really fought/refused solids because he was so sick up until only maybe a month ago. So we're a bit behind the curve. He eats pretty small amounts. I also can't give him any dairy, soy, nuts, etc. due to his GI issues so I struggle with what to feed him that is a bit more higher calorie. He doesn't seem to really like avocado. I do give him oatmeal made with breastmilk which he really likes. </p> <p>I am worried if I cut out night nursing sessions he might still be hungry or not get enough calories. Although at almost 11 months that is crazy right?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586321 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:03:50 +0000 hellobeeboston 2586321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think increasing the solids foods could really help you out. My LO (9 months now) started finally sleeping MUCH better once he was eating two solid meals a day, he was getting up 3x a night, then after the solids went down to 1x or none.... </p> <p>As you're getting close to a year increasing those is probably a good idea anyway! we do a lot of oatmeal mixed with full fat yogurt and/or peanut butter with a fruit --- or oatmeal mixed with a veggie, but he's starting to eat more table foods now as well. I usually add breastmilk or formula into the oatmeal for the extra calories too.... </p> <p>we also allowed a little bit of crying when he was up - but not screaming, it was more of that wimpering cry that would only last a few minutes that we would wait out. If he was really crying i'd usually go in &amp; nurse, and still do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586204 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 10:38:48 +0000 MrsADS 2586204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shootingstar that's the other thing. He's not a huge solids eater. His pediatrician really wanted him to switch to table food, so we have basically switched to all table food (with an occasional pouch), but he eats a pretty small amount. I think he got more actual calories from purees. He is so active now (cruising, crawling, pulling up), he's definitely leaning out. So maybe needs more calories?!</p> <p>I BF him on demand, when I am out of the house at work (usually gone 7:30-4:45), he usually drinks about 15 oz plus his solids. So he may need more milk at night. I am okay with nursing him at night some... just not 4+ times a night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586199 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 10:31:03 +0000 ShootingStar 2586199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is he eating enough during the day? My DS didn't really start sleeping well until he was eating a TON. We also attacked one wake up at a time and let him cry for a few minutes and usually he went back to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586159 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 09:40:31 +0000 Portboston 2586159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done sleep training here and there throughout LOs almost 12 months. I'm not into extinction CIO but I wasn't completely against crying. So we did crying with checks. I never let him cry hysterically EVER and we never let him cry for more then 10 min. I call it cry but it's more of a whine.<br /> I think the biggest piece of the puzzle is getting him to fall asleep on his own without nursing or rocking. That realization made me super sad since I actually liked nursing to sleep. In the end my desire for a full nights sleep won out. The first time we sleep trained he cry/fuss/whined for 7 min and was asleep. (Like I said, never full out hysterical crying) We're now down to one nightly wake up and in the past week my husband has started giving a small bottle at that wake up. That has resulted in LO waking up once around 3/4am to once around 5/6am. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel!<br /> Good luck. Having a crap sleeper is no fun!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586155 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 09:34:45 +0000 MrsADS 2586155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pumuckl what key sentence/phrase did you use? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586137 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 09:17:32 +0000 MrsADS 2586137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pumuckl wow. that's amazing. How old was your baby when you did this? I am worried that it's harder now that my son is older, but I like the general idea because he's SO reliant on sleep crutches and we have to rock him alllll the way to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586127 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 09:09:41 +0000 Pumuckl 2586127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used the method Mrs. Oatmeal described here: <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2016/02/12/sleep-training-changed-my-life-part-one/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2016/02/12/sleep-training-changed-my-life-part-one/</a></p> <p>We didn't get rid of any sleep crutches but the sitting there and the key sentence had my 12m old STTN within one night. I really liked this method since it meant no unsupervised crying. (I didn't wait 10 minutes to go in either, more like 2-3). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586086 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 08:11:54 +0000 hilsy85 2586086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: have you looked at the pick up put down method? </p> <p><a href="http://www.babysleep101.com/2014/04/sleep-training-series-part-four-pick-up-and-put-down/" rel="nofollow">http://www.babysleep101.com/2014/04/sleep-training-series-part-four-pick-up-and-put-down/</a></p> <p>he might be too old at this point tho... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586079 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 07:58:26 +0000 MrsADS 2586079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85 yes he takes a paci but I would like to introduce a lovey. I should have said - I am ok with some crying but not like leaving him to cry a la Ferber. I am okay with him crying if we are there and he knows he is okay and he's crying because he's mad and wants to nurse. That is ok with me. If that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586076 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 07:48:26 +0000 hilsy85 2586076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does he have a lovey or take a paci? You might want to introduce one of those things so you can "trade down" sleep associations. </p> <p>Also, it sounds like you want a method that will work without any crying--unfortunately, I think some crying is to be expected, regardless of whether you do CIO or more "gentle" sleep training methods. So I would try to get comfortable with that idea as it will make the process easier on you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/night-weaning-or-at-least-cutting-back-for-11-month-old#post-2586074 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 07:45:37 +0000 MrsADS 2586074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all.</p> <p>My almost 11 month old (will be a year on 8/24) has always been a crap sleeper and we've never done any kind of sleep training. He's been teething a lot lately (but seriously, does the teething ever end?!) and now wakes up 4-5+ times a night to nurse and can't/won't go back to sleep without nursing. (We've also been traveling quite a bit lately so I know that messes everything up too.)</p> <p>I nurse him to sleep at bedtime which usually works okay. He goes down for naps without nursing while I am at work (babysitter rocks him to sleep!). As recently as a month or two ago, DH could sometimes go in at night and get him back to sleep without nursing (rocking/ shhhing). Now, DS is NOT HAVING IT. He will fight DH for an hour (crying/fussing) and will not sleep until I nurse him. That's a long time at 4am. </p> <p>But I know he doesn't *need* to nurse 4-5x a night. I think it's a sleep association thing. We both work full time and I am so tired and frustrated I am seriously about to quit my job, which seems ridiculous to do over this issue, but I just can't do it anymore. I have a long commute and I'm so exhausted.</p> <p>CIO is not on the table. I don't even mind nursing him 1 or 2x a night. But not 4 or 5x. AND I can't just nurse him and lay him down kind of drowsy - he has to be ASLEEP or else he starts crying. I know that is the idea behind the Dr. Jay Gordon method, so I don't know how we get there.</p> <p>Any suggestions? Please help me!!! </p>