DD just likes to hang off me (what seems like) all night long.
I have cut out her bf's by day (sometimes she'll ask)... But night time is another story.
How can I gently wean her from night feeds? We co sleep, does this make things worse? She's not a big eater during the day either, so I think I'm a bit stuck in a catch 22 situation there. Should I just go back on the regular pill to drop my supply?
Help! What to do!! Your valuable advice is necessary!
She will be probably be able to maintain a supply despite the regular pill, and will be feeding regardless of whether there is much milk there, so that's not the greatest option.
Can you encourage more feeding during the day (both BF and food), and warn her that boobies sleep when the sky is black? Co-sleeping makes it worse, but without cosleeping you could be up several times in the night to provide food and water, so it is a catch-22 there.
What happens if you cut her night feeds short so that she has to go to sleep by herself, rather than sucking-to-sleep?
Yules, you sound very tired Night owl feeders can be exhausting.
What are your intentions with bfing? If you really feel ready to move on, then there are ways to wean gently - such as replacing one feed at a time with water or cuddles or setting time limits on bfing - e.g. only feed between midnight and 4am and other times are another drink or resettling, or limiting the time or number of sucks at each feed and then reducing this over time. These can work well with some children at your DD's age especially if there is lots of talking about what's happening and talking about "big girl" etc. Otherwise if you would like to keep feeding for a while longer but with fewer night feeds, then feeding during the day again might be one way to achieve that. What are your thoughts?
It's really hard to get her to unlatch when I want her to. She can 'suck' for Jersey AND Australia. I'm just feeling sore and used.
Manta, my intentions were to BF as long as I could deal with it, and I feel the time has come. I just want my boobs back now. Selfish!
I'm not sure about increasing BF during the day. When she's been sick, or getting teeth, I've done that but it's made no difference to the night.
She's also not really got anything to replace BF with. DS had his dummy and loved snuggly cuddles, so night weaning him was relatively easy. DD isn't as cuddly, and would just push me away if I was trying to give her a cuddle in replacement for a boob! She's a feisty one!
She talks and asks for 'boo' pretty much every time she comes to the surface of sleep. Sometimes she'll curl up on my arm, but that is only early on in the night, when I'm still awake. I'll just roll over and she'll just have me in her mouth! I'm pretty much un-disturbed..... Just tired OF it.
During the day she shoves her hand down my top for comfort, but they're sore so I'm starting to resent that too.
If she actually fed at set times, I would be able to pinpoint and drop feeds one by one, but it's just like a big fat comfort feed through the night.
I have had to do a count down for my DD, so "10,9,8,7,,5,4,3,2,1 ta da! ok, no more milk" when feeding gets too much for me. I also used the Pantley Pull-Off techniques (from no cry sleep solution) to stop all night sucking.
DD was sick a few months back with a fever and my milk just couldn't keep up (i was pregnant), and so i introduced a drink bottle of water over night. When she would wake, we would offer the drink bottle first. She still has a drink bottle and when she wakes (she is now in her own bed), we show her where the drink bottle is. I think she must now find it herself now.
Could you make it more difficult for her to attach without it being a conscious act- wear a tighter top or extra layers. At least then you are both deciding to feed rather than it being automatic.
You could choose to make set times for feeds, try that for awhile and then if you want to cut these down.
19 month old booby monster!
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Night owl feeders can be exhausting. 
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