Advice Needed Please

[ckersten]

I have a 11 month old that still wants to nurse all the time. She is eating table foods (never liked gerber type food). I don't mind nursing her at nap and bedtime but don't want to have to keep waking up 3 or 4 times a night to pacifier her. I don't know if I should just wean her or if there is another way. She will only fall asleep on the breast and even my husband has trouble putting her to sleep. She will only sleep for him when I'm not around but only after crying for almost an hour. He has tried the bottle and sippy with breast milk and formula but won't have anything to do with them. Can anyone help us? I need a break:p Thanks
Colleen

[Jacksmommy]

What you're describing is very normal for an 11 month old. Seperation anxiety and teething combine to make baby want to night nurse often because it's the best way to be comforted. I recommend giving baby Hyland's teething tablets before bed and bringing baby to bed with you once she wakes up the first time. She'll likely sleep better if she's close to you, and if she wakes to nurse you don't have to get up to go and get her. You'll all end up with better sleep.

Baby crying for so long is very bad for her. Do you work nights?

[ckersten]

Thank you for the information. It's nice to hear sometimes that its normal. She is usually in bed with us after she wakes up so its easier to nurse her when she wakes up again. No I don't work nights, just the very few times I have gone out and she gets sleepy. I think I've only been out a handful of times. He tries his best but just not the same for her. Again thanks.

[threefunboys]

Okay, I know the "cry it out" method isn't for everyone. It only works if you stick with it, and if your baby will actually fall asleep (some babies just get madder and madder until they throw up). If you do have an instance where she has cried herself to sleep one night, perhaps try letting her cry for a while the next night. In my experience with my older kids, the first night was like an hour of crying, the second was like 20 minutes, and the third night they only cried for like 5 min or less. After that the night waking was over (until they got sick, which wasn't often for my kids). It's a hard 3 days, but afterward I felt it was worth it. Not every baby and mom are cut out for it, but if it works, it works. It gives you the freedom to be able to recharge your batteries without worry, which makes for a happier mom, and therefore a happier family. I guess I'm a little on the fence about the CIO method (even though I've done it with two kids)...so I'm not necessarily recommending it, but if you've tried everything else and you are losing sanity, it might be the answer.


I would not recommend bringing an 11 month old to bed with you (except perhaps on occasion) if you object to having a 3 year old in your bed. It's just another habit to break, and in my opinion, a harder one. I've never been big on cosleeping, for me it's because I don't sleep as deeply and restfully, baby actually wakes up more, etc. Plus DH is a big guy, and he worries he might accidentally hurt a baby. But it works for some people, and you do what works.

Good luck!

[Jacksmommy]

Thank you for the information. It's nice to hear sometimes that its normal. She is usually in bed with us after she wakes up so its easier to nurse her when she wakes up again. No I don't work nights, just the very few times I have gone out and she gets sleepy. I think I've only been out a handful of times. He tries his best but just not the same for her. Again thanks.


She will outgrow this nighttime neediness. They all do. It can seem like it takes forever, but really it's a very small amount of time.

[Jacksmommy]

Okay, I know the "cry it out" method isn't for everyone. It only works if you stick with it, and if your baby will actually fall asleep (some babies just get madder and madder until they throw up). If you do have an instance where she has cried herself to sleep one night, perhaps try letting her cry for a while the next night. In my experience with my older kids, the first night was like an hour of crying, the second was like 20 minutes, and the third night they only cried for like 5 min or less. After that the night waking was over (until they got sick, which wasn't often for my kids). It's a hard 3 days, but afterward I felt it was worth it. Not every baby and mom are cut out for it, but if it works, it works. It gives you the freedom to be able to recharge your batteries without worry, which makes for a happier mom, and therefore a happier family. I guess I'm a little on the fence about the CIO method (even though I've done it with two kids)...so I'm not necessarily recommending it, but if you've tried everything else and you are losing sanity, it might be the answer.


I would not recommend bringing an 11 month old to bed with you (except perhaps on occasion) if you object to having a 3 year old in your bed. It's just another habit to break, and in my opinion, a harder one. I've never been big on cosleeping, for me it's because I don't sleep as deeply and restfully, baby actually wakes up more, etc. Plus DH is a big guy, and he worries he might accidentally hurt a baby. But it works for some people, and you do what works.

Good luck!


CIO is considered very old school and very very bad. Co-sleeping with a baby doesn't automatically lead to co-sleeping with a 3 year old (not that co-sleeping with a 3 year old would be a bad thing). Babies have different needs at different ages.