How to wean?
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Topic: How to wean?
Posted By: peanut butter
Subject: How to wean?
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:33am
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I have decided I want to wean James. He is starting to really hurt my nipples and its just not pleasant anymore. I know he gets enough nutrition from his food and he happily drinks water. Not a fan of cow's milk and wont take anything from a bottle.
I only feed him before his afternoon nap and before bedtime...and maybe in the night if he wakes. A few weeks ago I could put him down without a feed and he was fine but now he senses that coming and clings beyond imagination to me tugging frantically at my top. He just wont let go of my nipple either. I'd love to give all the settling over to DH who can successfully get him to sleep during the day but not in the middle of the night. I have tried offering him water when he wakes and that used to work...but not anymore..its boob or bust (he he he....that was kinda clever). During the day I tend to feed him to sleep so that its fast and then I can move on to settling Tom to sleep. Tom is currently needing to be read to sleep otherwise he faffs around and doesnt end up sleeping during the day. so feeding is working from that perspective. Any ideas??? |
Replies:
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 8:38am
I can't help, sorry 
But I just wanted to giggle at your "boob or bust" joke 
I hope you can get the advice you need  ------------- 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 9:12am
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he he he..it was good...and quite unintentional.
I'm actually thinking that he is sucking only on the nipple now..little toad!..but he's the cutest little toad IMO 
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Posted By: mumzrule
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 1:39pm
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I would work on the settling to sleep without being feed to sleep first and no night feed.
When Lilly was 11.5months she was having 3bf a day and one in the middle of the night, plus needing to be feed to sleep at bed time. I dropped the afternoon bf and just gave her a bottle of milk. At night I would bf, bath, story then bed. Leave her for 5min go in and resettle, leave for 10min go in and resettle (leaving her an extra 5mins each time). You need to be okay/comfortable with leaving them to cry (A good support person is handy). The first night she took 7mins  but it can take upwards of an hour. In the middle of the night it took 45mins. The next night it was 30mins I think and 15mins in the middle of the night. The third night she went down no problems and slept right through.
When Lilly was taking the milk in a bottle fine (which took about 3-4weeks i think) I then dropped the last two over about 2weeks with no problems. Don't know if I have been any help  -------------  
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 1:49pm
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Some other things to try ..
Lots of non feeding cuddle/on the knee time. It' can be hard for them to get used to that, but when he goes in or "assumes the position" just gently say no James and distract him with a cuddle/song/story. Don't offer, but don't refuse either... Sounds silly, but if he "asks" and really wants a drink, give it to him - but if he's not drinking, take him off. Try to distract him when it is coming up drink time with a game/toy etc. Make sure you have lots of sippy cups or bottles or whatever he will drink out of dotted round and offer him those outside of "feed time". He will eventually "forget", and stop asking. You could cold turkey him, but it is painful both literally and figuratively. You will need DH to step in here and take over for a bit. As for feed to sleep., I did this too, so I dropped these feeds first and got her used to going to sleep without me, then I did my first two suggestions once she was fine to settle and then i was free! Took a few weeks, tho, but it was pain free, as in not many tears and we both were good with the decision. Good luck, and any Q's please feel free to get in touch! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 1:51pm
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Oh and maybe you could try "read to sleep" together? Make that the new bedtiome routine? We have been doing that for abotu a year now, they both hop into Jakes bed and we have one story then night night jake and Charl goes to bed no worries too. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |