Weaning from breastfeeding at night

Weaning from breastfeeding at night?

Are you up at night with your breastfed baby… again? Weaning breastfeeding at night does not necessarily equate to better sleep, but if you start resenting nursing your baby at night, perhaps a few changes are in order.

Sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone that, just like walking or crawling, all babies achieve according to their own timetables. But moms can’t be miserable until this happens.

The goal of nighttime weaning should be to maximize sleep for everyone, while still respecting baby’s needs. When your baby cries to be nursed, he or she may be truly hungry or in need of comfort. There are a few things you can do to gently wean your baby from nighttime nursing.

• Can Daddy take up the slack at night? Some babies just want a little extra nighttime comfort. Perhaps Dad can offer a bottle of expressed milk or cuddle and rock baby to sleep.
• Maximize nursing the day so your baby knows daytime is for eating and nighttime is for sleeping. Minimize any distractions during the day so your little one can focus on filling up.
• Don’t forget to stuff your baby with breast milk right before bedtime. Cluster feed (offer the breast several times in a short period) so baby is full.
• During the night, limit access to the breast and have dad offer comfort.
• Sometimes babies are just looking to cuddle so make sure to give your baby plenty of attention during the day. Using a baby sling may help your baby adjust to less nursing at night.

Lastly, is it possible for you to adjust your schedule during the day to accommodate nighttime nursing? Babies who breastfeed at night get about 30% of their calories that way. They also help keep your fertility from returning. That may or may not be a plus in your mind!

Can you take a nap during the day or perhaps go to bed earlier in order to make up the sleep? Babies are little for so little time! Some moms have learned to appreciate the night breastfeeding and snuggle sessions. You might find some more helpful tips from this book:

Tags: nighttime parenting