night weaning: an update.

Sep 29th

A few weeks ago I shared with all of you my struggles and concerns with Kolt still nursing during the night. I did a lot of research and read a lot of articles about night weaning. I wanted to ensure that I was initiating night weaning in a way that would be an easy transition for Kolt. I came across this wonderful article called Sleep, Changing Patterns In the Family Bed. I loved Dr. Gordon’s suggestions and felt that I could trust him after I read all of his credentials.

There are a lot of different suggestions and methods out there. But there are a few things that made me choice to try Dr. Gordon’s method on night weaning…

1. He supports the family bed.  I love the family bed, child-led weaning and cuddling all through the first, second, third year or more if it’s working well and if the family is doing well.

2. He is a huge supporter of breastfeeding.  Dr. Gordon is the first male physician to sit for and pass the International Board of Lactation Certification Exam and has served on the Professional Advisory Board of La Leche League for twenty-four years.

3. He doesn’t recommend night weaning during the first year of life. I don’t recommend any forced sleep changes during the first year of life.

4. He doesn’t support letting babies alone to cry it out. I have a better alternative to completely weaning or to letting the baby cry it out.

5. He recognizes that it won’t be easy. It’s not easy, it’s rarely quick and it’s usually a little loud and heartbreaking for a few nights . . . or more.

Here is how Dr. Gordon recommends going about night weaning…

1. Choose the most valuable seven hours of sleep for yourselves. He personally prefers 11p.m. through 6 a.m.

2. During these first three nights, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., cuddle and feed for a short period of time, put baby down awake, rub, pat, talk until baby falls asleep and repeat this cycle only after baby has slept and reawakened.

3. During the second three nights, again, the nursing to sleep stops at 11 p.m. When baby wakes up, hug him and cuddle him for a few minutes, but do not feed baby, put baby down awake. Not feeding is the big change during these three nights.

4. Nights seven, eight, nine and ten. Don’t pick baby up, don’t hug baby. When baby awakens after 11 p.m., talk to baby, touch baby, talk some more, but don’t pick baby up. Rub and pat only. No feeding either, obviously. Baby will fall back to sleep.

With Kolt, I made it through the first three nights, then Kolt got sick. And just like Dr. Gordon recommends, I allowed for the demand of more nighttime interaction; nursing. Kolt is just starting to feel back to normal, and I plan on starting things up again here soon.  Kolt did very good during the first three nights. We had some rough times, but for the most part, it went better than expected. This reassured me that night weaning is the right step. Kolt seems ready and so am I.

If you are thinking about night weaning, please, please, please take the time to read, research, and find a method you are comfortable with!

This post was written as part of the weekly Breastfeeding Blog Hop, hosted by My Life with Levi, Slacker Mom, and ME! Want to join in? Read the rules here and link up below! Next week’s topic is: Multi-tasking.

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