Thoughts about night weaning...

[Melody7]

What are people's thoughts regarding night weaning?

DS in 1 yr now and loves his boobie at night (and in the day). We sleep with him, so he's got it on tap! He's always gone to sleep with the boob, until recently when I've been giving it to him, but then taking him off and cuddling him to sleep. I did this as I thought it would be a gentle way of helping him go to sleep without the boob (think Elizabeth Pantley's bk). However, after 11pm, he wakes about every 2hrs for more.... (although he did do an 8hr stint the other day...)

I'm feeling a bit confused about what to do at night regarding his feeds. I've met his every need since birth, and plan to bf him for quite a while yet, however I haven't got a cycle back yet and would like to at least have the option of starting #2 - but I've been told that while DS is still feeding at night, that's unlikely to happen (getting a cycle back, that is).

Being a forum for infant-led bf/weaning and gentle parenting, does anyone have any thoughts or advice for me? Almost everyone around me has night-weaned (but they don't sleep with their babies and some do "controlled comforting" etc).

[Pretty Butterfly]

I co-slept with my bubbas, and I also let them feed at night too, so I'm probably not much help!!!

But I also was able to fall pregnant soon after too....

So I guess it comes to personal choice... let him keep going, or pull back on a few feeds and see if you can a cycle back....

Good luck babe, hard choice I know....

[Janie]

I'm in a bit of a similar situation ATM, so am looking forward to reading people's thougts........

[Melody7]

Just giving you an update - I've just got my first cycle today having not had one since my son was born. So even though my son has been co-sleeping with us and waking numerous times throughout the night - fertility can happen! Yay!
I've also been putting him to sleep on the floor next to our bed before his 1st night waking, which just removes him from the smell of the boob for a bit - thus giving him just a tad longer sleep. He then comes into bed with me

[bronners]

That's great news Melody7! I found having a little distance also helped us - when my DS was about 2 we moved him from sleeping in the middle of us, to his cot with the side off next to our bed (wedged between the wall and our bed). This eventually became a single bed, where he continues to be. My cycle didn't return until DS was 2, he loved milky all night on every waking, so I thought I would never get my cycle back.
But in regards to full night weaning, we have only managed this in the past 3 months or so (DS has just turned 3), now that he has an understanding "we''ll have milky when the sun comes up" and be able to cope with this idea. I guess all kids will get to this stage at a different time, and as they gradually learn to go back to sleep themselves. In the first week or so of actively night weaning DS, he would wrap his arms very tightly around me (or my neck!) to have a sense of security whilst falling back asleep. Now he is easy and just rolls over himself and nods back off to sleep.

I guess I have found it is about following their cues as to when they are ready for the next step, if they put up too much opposition or become more wakeful/clingy then maybe it isn't the right time.
All the best!