Um actually I would only do one thing at once, to be gentle. And I'd cut out the feeding to sleep first so that your LO can learn other ways of settling before going through the night weaning ordeal.
Pantley's "No cry sleep solution" is helpful for this - there's also a toddler one too but I haven't read that one.
We did the night weaning thing as DS was waking up and wanting BFs 7 times a night in the end and I was absolutely STUFFED. We used Dr Jay Gordon's site as a guide - it was helpful in helping us devise a plan. We didn't follow his exactly but it really was helpful so I'd recommend googling him.
None of it is an easy, quick process but I found it so worth it in the end! Good luck!
We night weaned long before stopping the feeding to sleep with DS. He was co-sleeping, and I just offered him water and a cuddle instead. He just needed to drape his arm over my neck as we lay together and he played with my hair and went back to sleep.
i cant remember exactly what we did, but i used Pantleys no cry sleep solution too. it was really practical and i was able to set out a good plan of action.
Until recently, DD still fed to sleep occasionally before bed. We night weaned at about 16-17 mths. I replaced the overnight bfs with a drink of water and told her bbs were asleep. We gave plenty of cuddles and were happy for her to co-sleep, just stopped the bbs. Make sure you wear pyjamas she can't access easily and give plenty of comfort. It only took Lucy a few nights to stop asking and surprisingly there were few complaints. I wouldn't bother stopping bfing to sleep at night-time, for Lucy it was a part of her routine for three years!
Yay! Thank you all so much for your replies! This is all great info and advice I was getting myself confused with different options
Rahjah, the dr gordon site looks really great, thanks for this!
wish me luck! Lol
We managed to stop feeding to sleep 2 weeks ago at 17.5 months. I decided enough was enough and it was amazingly easy. She was waking 4 to 5 times a night at this point.
I brought forward the feed (breastfeed) to about 6pm - after dinner - and let DD2 have as long as she liked then when it was time for bed we did normal kisses and lots of night nights to everyone at around 7.30pm.
Then into the bedroom that was already dark and ready. I put her in bed and tuck her in tight. She then cried (in protest as she was expecting another breastfeed) for about 1 min (felt like longer!) whilst I sang Twinkle Twinkle and then lots of 'shhhhhh shhhhhhhs' whilst her crying subsided. All this time I was close to her with my hand on her and my face close to her. She was fast asleep within 5 mins from getting into bed (including calming down then playing with my face!).
It took her 3 days to get the idea now after 2 weeks she whinges for about 15 - 20 secs then rubs her eyes and off to sleep whilst I do lots of gentle 'shhhhh shhhhhs'.
It's been so successful that her night wakings have reduced to just once at around 4am (from 5 times a night) which i'm still happy to breastfeed at at the moment. ( i think that as she can settle to sleep at 7.30pm without booby it's meant when she stirs around 11pm and 2am she can get herself back to sleep without me anymore!! yippee!)
I've noticed too that she drinks a big cup of water when she wakes at 6.30am so I think DD2 just gets really thirsty in the night - her dad is the same!
And for the first time EVER DH was able to put her to bed by himself tonight whilst i went out to see friends!!!! First time he's done it in 18 months!!
I found being really consistent and gentle worked really well with us and it's meant that DD2 actually sleeps better now too. Good luck!
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I was getting myself confused with different options
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