Ten month baby nursing habits, a question, help

you might want to give this a read, http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleeppattern.html I haven't personally done it, my baby night-nursed a lot at 10 months but by 13 months he just dropped the habit by himself. I do know people who have done this though, or variations of it. The crux of it is simply refusing to nurse within a certain period of the night. You still give comfort, you stay with your baby and cuddle, pat, sing, kiss etc, you just don't nurse. Its not ideal, there is likely to be some crying involved but if you are unable to wait it out then its a softer approach than simply leaving her alone to cry. As it says in the article if it feels wrong to you don't do it, wait a few months and re-evalaute. (I think Dr Jay is not really suggesting it be done quite as early as 10 months but it could be something to keep in mind for the future if things don't change. Other even softer approaches are things like wearing tops to bed that make it harder to access the milk and sleeping with your baby but with a barrier (like a pillow) over your chest. Essentially making nursing slightly less accessible. Or sending your husband into comfort her instead. Also look at how hot her room is, turing down the AC a degree or two, using a humidifier, or putting less clothing on her might make her less thirsty at night. <em>edited by kiwispiers on 20/09/2012</em>

Twirl, I stopped nursing at 22 months as I was 4 months pregnant and there just wasn't any milk, so my toddler self-weaned (with me doing don't offer don't refuse). Although I felt the time was right, it was really sad for me the day I realised he hadn't asked to nurse at all for a few days and a lovely friend sent me this...... [i'>Wean me gently By Cathy Cardall. I know I look so big to you, Maybe I seem too big for the needs I have. But no matter how big we get, We still have needs that are important to us. I know that our relationship is growing and changing, But I still need you. I need your warmth and closeness, Especially at the end of the day When we snuggle up in bed. Please don't get too busy for us to nurse. I know you think I can be patient, Or find something to take the place of a nursing; A book, a glass of something, But nothing can take your place when I need you. Sometimes just cuddling with you, Having you near me is enough. I guess I am growing and becoming independent, But please be there. This bond we have is so strong and so important to me, Please don't break it abruptly. Wean me gently, Because I am your mother, And my heart is tender.[/i'>

Oh Twirl1, then don't. How long you feed your baby is only between you and her. It's a special thing. Don't stop 'till you're both ready.

Oh Twirl1, then don't. How long you feed your baby is only between you and her. It's a special thing. Don't stop 'till you're both ready.

Hi gaijind, I think babies keep changing their nursing habits with time.. my baby also started getting up around 4 to 5 am to feed when she was almost one and then kept waking up many times.. now she will be 2 next month and its still the same... i just give up by 7am and let her sleep with me on our bed... i feed her in afternoon as well to put her to sleep.. Although it can become trying at times but i just could not bring myself to stop breastfeeding my baby earlier and completed the 2 year period.. i felt i owed it to my baby... now that i have to stop i feel sad.. as if i will lose a special bond with her that only we share...

oh and in my case, my son probably nursed 3 times a night at that age, and by 13 months he had fully nightweaned and just slept the whole night through. (12 hours) without me taking any steps to nightwean, in his case I think he nursed mostly out of hunger/thirst as he had a dummy for soothing, if you "nurse to sleep" then the night nursing may last longer . I had planned to breastfeed 12 months but ended up feeding for 22, play that part by ear, breastmilk is definitely healthier than cows milk so if its not a hassle to breastfed, don't feel you have to completely stop.

How long have you back from holiday? its normal for them to take a while to adjust time zones etc and catch up on missed sleep. "How often does a 10 month old nurse?", thats a bit like "how long is a piece of string?" it really depends, babies nurse for comfort as well as nutrition, some like to take long feeds with large gaps, others prefer frequent small feeds, both patterns are normal. Many 10 months olds still like to nurse at night, for some its is hunger, especially if they are too busy during the day to nurse much, for others its more about sleep associations, and wanting to suck to fall back to sleep. Also when they go through emotional developmental milestones or get a bit unsettled (like when you have been travelling a lot) then they may temporarily need the extra reassurance that nursing gives them. Do you want to wean completely by 12 months or just nightwean? Does your baby accept milk (either BM or formula) from a bottle or cup? From 12 months you can give regular cows milk if you wish (or you can continue with formula or breastmilk) cows milk tastes more like breastmilk than formula does, so it might be an easier transition although it doesn't have the same nutirents as breastmilk and formula, so yo would want to make sure she is taking a good range of solids including plenty of meat, eggs etc if you were giving cows milk. The gentlest way to wean is to simply offer lots of milk or formula before the time she would normally want to nurse, and to keep the goods off show, by wearing high tops and not sitting down in your favourite nursing spot. Use a "don't offer, don't refuse" approach (I'm assume by now your daughter has a way of indicating when she wants to feed), the idea is you don't offer, and when she asks you can try and distract her, but if she persists then feed her. Hopefully this will be enough and she will gradually wean herself which is easier physically and emotionally for you both. As far as the sleep, if you've back from holiday more than a few weeks and she still seems very awake at night then maybe try changing her nap times slightly, she may be ready to drop a nap. Bringing bedtime earlier often helps too.