How Can I Get My 9 Month Year Old Baby To Stop Breastfeeding At Night For Comfort?
January 31, 2010 by admin
Filed under Breast Feeding Supplies
I am still breastfeeding my nine month year old baby to get her to fall asleep at night and when she wakes up. The trouble is that she is still waking up all through the night and the only thing that will get her to sleep again is being breastfed. I know that this is purely for comfort but what else can I do to help her sleep through the night better?
can you express some milk during the day?
Don’t let her fall asleep nursing. Doing this has caused her to associate nursing with sleep. Try giving her a little rice cereal, then nursing her for only a few minutes, then putting her in her crib still a little awake. Eventually she will learn that nursing is only for food, not sleep.
You could also try putting a snuggle toy in with her when you put her in the crib, if you would rather transfer her dependence to an object rather than your breast.
BTW: she will fuss about this for a while, but just reassure her and eventually she will be alright. Or you could just go on as you are: she won’t start school still doing this!
i had the same problem with my 6wk old. i was pumping to a bottle for day feedings and nursing at night. i then had to go on medication and had to stop completely. it sucked so bad, but what i did for at night was hold her up against my shirt in a breatfeeding position and used a pacifier. now not even my hubby can comfort her like that cause she thinks thats my nipple so we have the same bond as before. anyways, a 9mo old you can cut cold turkey because shes older and can adapt faster.
stop breastfeeding
get her into another routine.
“I know that this is purely for comfort…”
How? I’m still hungry when I wake up in the middle of the night, and I’m in my 30s…
And comfort is a real need for a baby, too.
While I wouldn’t do it at 9mo, there is a useful page on night weaning here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weani…
stop breastfeeding!
Calm her another way-stroking her facce, lullabys etc.
it worked for meand my daughter’s slept through for 5 months (she’s now 1). Ignore the cries aswell – you know when she needs you. I used controlled crying-ask your hv for more info. it worked a charm-hard work though you have to put the effort in to get the reward. dont give in if it doesnt work straight away-its either carry on like you are or do something about it-she’s not going to change unless you do.
I got some BRILLIANT info through on email today from one of the websites I subscribe to which talks about this exact issue. I’ve attached the link below.
Basically, it gives lots of different techniques to suit the individual parenting styles, which is quite good.
It may not be for comfort, some babies and children will always need a snack in the middle of the night well into their life. I breastfed my son until he was 13 months old and when he started to want to nurse just for comfort in the middle of the night I would allow him to, but would cut the session shorter and shorter every night until he no longer wanted to nurse for comfort. He then realized that in the middle of the night nursing is for food only. After about a week he was sleeping through the night without nursing.
Good luck!
My little girl is also 9 months and feeding frequently throughout the night. I have resorted to sleeping with her on a mattress on the floor so i can sleep and feed.
Your milk has a higher fat and nutrient content in the night as your body is resting and many babies need those extra calories and nutrients. Also yes babies do comfort feed, they are babies. Your baby will let you know when they have had enough of feeding. My eldest daughter stopped all feeding day and night at 18 months. She is now nearly four and has just stated to sleep through the naight all the time. Before that she would wake a couple of times and most mornings be up at 5.30am! My little baby is the opposite and could sleep all morning but hates going to bed.
They are all different. It would be a shame not to carrying on feeding when you have come so far.
P.s. I work full time too so i understand about sleep deprivation, but it doesn’t last forever!
Good luck and all the best