How to stop nighttime feeding?

[Octoberbaby2019]

Hi there,

My son is 15 months old and to be honest, I just hoped he'd eventually magically sleep through the night and no longer wake up wanting the boob. At one point I did manage to get him to sleep until sometime after 3am before he'd wake wanting milk,but then he got ill and we're back to multiple wakings a night. The nighttime feed and first in the morning are the only time I bf him now, in the evening he gets cows milk. I think it's time to stop breast feeding or what I really mean time to not be totally reliant on me and hopefully sleep through the night or be able to accept daddy for comfort as I am full time working and some nights I barely get 2 hrs at a time of sleep.

Sorry for the long ramble needed that off my chest. What I'm asking is, how do I stop? Do I just go cold turkey with him and just refuse to boob him? Do I try offering milk or water to him, just cuddles? Let him cry and cry? Is there anyone that's come to the same point as me and gone through this? Should I just carry on another month or 3 and he might stop by himself? Any advice appreciated, thank you all x

[TheBearsInFargo]

I tried a range of things to cut out night feeds gradually without success-I tried cutting down the length of time that I was breastfeeding each time so she got used to having less milk (she just kept waking up for the milk, they get into a habit of waking up at certain times) I tried resettling her when she woke up without giving milk (she wouldn’t settle). It probably depends what kind of baby you have, mine is very strong willed and knows what she wants. In the end what worked for us (I think at around 11 months): I left a non spill sippy cup with some water and another with formula in her cot every night to reassure myself that if she was really hungry or thirsty then she had access to milk and water without needing me. From information I had looked into online I reassured myself that she no longer needed milk at night-she was getting everything she needed during the day (for example-babysleepsite.com/sleep-tra... Then I had one night where I just decided to not go into her when she woke for milk-reminding myself of the above-and she did actually go back to sleep fairly quickly. The next night she didn’t wake for the milk and that gave me the confidence to carry on without night time feedings if she did wake up during the night after this. If she did wake up I could then go into her to check in her if needed without her expecting a feed. Hope that helps, it’s not easy and I appreciate that many wouldn’t feel comfortable not going in when their baby wakes, you have to do what you feel comfortable with but the gradual approach didn’t work for us.

[Octoberbaby2019 in reply to TheBearsInFargo]

Thank you so much for sharing! I know exactly what you mean by strong willed, I've tried a gradual approach with my son but if I do he'll just wake up even sooner. I know he shouldn't need the milk but he seems to be guzzling it at midnight. I actually have a miracle cup in the cupboard I'll get that out now and get him used to it and leave that in the cot with him tonight and just see what happens....When do you think in the morning they need milk because he always wakes at 5/5.30 and sometimes goes back to sleep for an hour after

[GM99]

My daughter was formula fed, but was still waking for a bottle during the night when she was 12 months old. I was listening to a podcast about sleep and it said after 6 months, babies get enough nutrition during the day to not need milk during the night- it’s more often a comfort thing, so just to cut it out and then they won’t wake up for it anymore. We went cold turkey and had a few bad nights where she cried out for it, but just left her and she went back to sleep. Literally after those 2/3 nights she stopped waking up for it and slept through the night and has done ever since which was such a relief as now we have our second baby to keep us up at night 😂 xx

[LeoDays]

Well my daughter is 9 months old and we did not cut her night feeding but we changed from breast to bottle and give her another close to midnight. We put her straight back in bed after milk and a cuddle even if she is awake. In the beginning she cried really bad but now she sleeps from 8 till 8 with only a feed at around midnight. Maybe you can try that and then from there take the feed and just cuddle

[Sooikim]

My son is turning 2 yrs old in few weeks time I told myself my birthday to him is that he will not rely on me to get through the night. I want him to have a prolong sleep. Prior to this, I have tried ‘sleep-to-wake’ method but that was not easy method to deal with as I need to track his last wake and calculate the next wake and ..etc..

Anyway I decide to give Lucy Wolfe method a try. He manage to wean off night feeding on the first night and it’s night 10 today. He does stir and his usual time but will get back to sleep on his own with me doing ‘Stay & Support Method’. The difficult section now is the 5am and it’s still a work in progress.

There is a lot of details on the book so it’s best to go through it yourself if you’re interested.

Weaning of night feeding is like a rehab bit their are toddler and it’s still doable to condition their situation.

Best of luck and I hope you find the right method that works for you and youR LO

[Hidden]

I though babies just did it themselves I’m sure mine were around 4 mths so last feed at 10pm then drop the 2am then sleep to 5.30-6am at 15 mths not really sure as mine would have a dummy or comforter as they were younger which helped them to stay asleep. What does he eat through the day maybe filling him up just before bed with supper and milk. I’m not sure if I’m right my kids are 15&13 so been awhile since I’ve done baby but I’d send in your husband to try settle him or you and not offer breast he doesn’t need it for food it’s for comfort and has become routine, it is hard to break some kids routines and can take a while trial and error. I’m going back to baby soon not looking forward to sleep deprivation so feel your pain! Good luck x