Night weaning a breastfed 18m old - improvement in sleep

Sharing just in case it helps anyone!

We’re currently in the throes of night weaning our co-sleeping 18 month old (second attempt - first attempt at 15 months went well until he got a gastro bug and I started to feed in the night again to help him get over it!!)

The impact on his sleep has been huge! So before night weaning, he would wake every 1-2 hours for a feed and had done so for his whole life. I accepted it for what it was, but was really starting to struggle with the sleep deprivation.

We’re now on day 2 of night weaning, and he woke once last night! Once!!!! My mind is blown!

My husband has done all the hard work… out of sight, out of mind when it comes to the boob. I literally moved to the spare room, and they worked through it together. On the first night, there were tears at bed time and a couple of times in the night. On the second night, no issues at all and just one wake up for water. The key for us has been me leaving them entirely to it. Hubby will do all bed times and night wakes for the next couple of weeks until it’s safely bedded in!

Sharing this for all the breastfeeding mums at the end of their tether who are not sure what else to try. We didn’t want to try any sleep training, so to find something that seems to be working without too much upset has been like a weight has lifted for me.

Love to everyone in the same boat ❤️

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

Thanks for sharing your experience, this gives me hope!

Thank u! Amazing to hear!!!

Sharing hope that it does get better :)

What do u guys give for milk before bed? Cows Milk? Thanks! X

Nothing at all, just a normal dinner and water. I have a theory that a heavy dairy load right before bed makes him unsettled, so I’m trialling doing his Greek yoghurt at lunchtime. (Neither of my children have taken cows milk as a drink, they’ll eat in cereal etc but not in a cup!)

I was following thinking oh there’s hope, until I got to the you sleeping in the spare room bit and having your husband to take over. I don’t have that so on I will go lol…just read to my almost 13 year old and shes like “awwww mum sorry do you want me to try sleeping with him” bless her 🩷🤣 I’m glad you’ve found something to help you, sleep deprivation is something else isn’t it, i’ve got 2 toddlers in the bed with me and look like a zombie most days 🤣 xx

We did exactly the same! As if I was reading a post written by myself haha enjoy your sleep mama - we deserve it! 🥰

in our community

Help

My 5 week old is always up from 1am every hour grunting and squeaking and just won’t sleep. I end up having to bring him with me and I’m worried I’m creating a rod for my own back. I’m exhausted. First half of the night he’s okish. But from 1/2 it’s absolute hell. He farts a lot then as well but I just dunno what to do. Last night was the worst it’s been.

Naps!

My lo is 7.5 months and has recently struggled to be put in her cot for naps/sleep. She will sleep on me but as soon as I lie her down wide awake! Help!

Not sure what’s wrong- 5months

Has anyone experienced any of the below problems with their baby?
He’s always a happy baby so this is completely not him. He’s a terrible sleeper but now it’s worse, if it could.

He’s was EBF but now on formula for the last 2 weeks. 2 days in a row now he’s vomitted a lot of milk out everywhere in the evening and just before bed.
For example I was walking around the room with him around 18:45 and it just came out of no where everywhere.

He’s very miserable and takes ages to get to sleep. Crying lots.
He’s been dribbling a lot, flushed one cheek but I can’t see any teeth coming.

All night he just won’t settle in his cot. Sometimes just starts crying hysterically and I can’t settle him at all.

A very tired mama.

Any advise on what it could be?

Sleeping through

If your baby is sleeping through the night are you ever nervous about saying that to other parents with babies of the same age? My toddler no longer sleeps through without coming into our bed but did until about 11 months old and now my 11 week old has been sleeping solid for 3 or 4 weeks now. I always feel like I can’t say it to other mums because it comes across like I’m showing off…I know what the sleep deprivation feels like and how you can just resent anyone for anything🤣 but I kind of feel like I can’t relate sometimes.

Pregnancy insomnia??!

Hey, I’m 28 weeks and this is my 3rd baby. For the past 2 weeks I am able to get to sleep fine but really struggling with 3-4am wake ups. Once I wake up I cannot get back to sleep, meaning come 9-10am I am absolutely exhausted. Has anyone gone through this and is able to shed some tips on what might help
Xx

Changing pram

When is everyone planning on moving baby from carry cot to the upright pram? Mine is nearly 4 months. Theres lots of different advice online.