Weaning and night feeding

[Tinsel]

My DD is one on Thursday and is going to child care in January so I thought we would start dropping feeds to ease her off the breast (and because I am almost 12 weeks pregnant and it is taking it out of me). She isn't usually too interested in the feed before lunch so we have dropped that feed and I didn't give her a feed mid afternoon today and she didn't indicate she wanted any. The only thing is the last few days she hasn't been drinking much water. I have given her a little bit of cows milk in a bottle (she has it in her cereal anyway) but she doesn't really drink it. What can I do as I'm worried she will get dehydrated?

The other issue is that she wakes at least 3 times a night and she will only usually go back to sleep if I give her a little feed and sleeps in my bed. I tried to give her water but she slaps it out of my hand. I think having milk overnight has become a habit for her and I'm usually on auto pilot and give it to her. She doesn't really suck much and isn't on there for long. I don't know how I'm going to break this habit as she screams the house down if I try and settle her without feeding. Any ideas?

[Nelle]

I remember breastfeeding while pregnant, and we ended up weaning too, it can be exhausting can't it (although some people make it work!).

Have you tried watering down the milk? That worked for us. Breastmilk is quite thin, so adding water to cows milk created a similar consistency I think.

As for nights, can you send your partner in? My son knew that dad didn't have the breasts, and he didn't smell like milk, so I think that helped with us. Could you give a bottle of EBM at night, and then eventually switch to water, and then nothing? It might have to be gradual.

[Tinsel]

Hi Nelle

Someone in my baby buddies forum mentioned they watered down the milk but I forgot so thanks for reminding me. We will try that and see how it goes.

That's a good idea about the bottle of milk, then water then nothing. We might put a plan in place.

Poor DH has had trouble settling DD lately as she only wants mum but we might have to persevere.

Thanks

[Ezz]

Hi Tinsel - Congratulations! I got rid of DS's night feed by cuddling him in my bed without the feed. It took a few nights for him to get used to it - he got pretty cranky at first! - but I just kept patting & cuddling him & shhh-ing him & eventually he went to sleep without it. Now when he wakes at night, we generally can leave him in the cot & DH just gives him a quick pat. HTH