26 month old won't give up the breast!

[lindy2003]

Hello,

I have a 25 month old boy who would literally be attached to the breast all day. I don't mind nursing him during the day, even though he sometimes just sucks and does not get any milk, the problem is at night. In 26 months this child has not slept more than 3hrs, 4 hrs, if I am very lucky!! I am exhausted and my marriage is being very compromised. He will wake up at least 4-8 times per night and will not go back to sleep without the breast. He is sleeping in the bed with me, as I am too exhausted to keep getting up. I am literally about to fall asleep at any moment during the day. He is relentless!!! Not sure how to handle. Too late for crib, he is way too big! Should I get my husband involved will this be detrimental, he seems so dependent!!! I feel so guilty because this is all he knows and I think a habit may have turned into the beginning of a sleep disorder. Please help. Thanks, Melinda"

[Nurseliz]

I know exactly how you feel.
I encountered this exact same scenerio with my 2nd daughter. She was 24 months and nursing 6+ times per night. I was a zombie. She was happy as a lark.
This is what I did.
I explained to her no more "na-na's" (she called it) at night. I told her mommy needed to sleep. I put on a top that she could not access easily ( a tighter top with a crew neck). The first few nights I allowed her to hold my nipples to fall asleep. She woke frequently and I simply snuggled her tight and she fell back asleep. I could feel her suckling on her own tongue those first few nights. It only took 3 nights then she began to sleep well. She continued to co-sleep without nursing until she was almost 4. Still comes to our bed alot at 5 but that is ok with us.
The days were harder to wean.
Mommy was done but she was not. It took us another couple months to wean out the days. But since I was getting better sleep at night, it was not so hard to nurse during the day.
Basically what has happened is everytime he finishes a sleep cycle and goes back into a light sleep he wakes to nurse back to sleep. What you are trying to do is retrain him to self soothe and/or not wake between cycles.
I hope this helps.
Liz
www.askthelactationconsultant.com