BFing question

twocents6708 · September 2012

I plan to continue to breast feed DD after her first birthday but I don't know when to night wean. She still gets up twice nightly to nurse which i am fine with. But does this need to stop when she gets teeth? She doesn't have teeth yet but can eating at night be bad for her them? I plan to stop pumping during the work day after she turns a year but not sure if we should also cut out night feeds or hope that she will wean herself from that on her own. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Not much support here from family for extended breast feeding.

penguinem · September 2012

I was suprised by the amount of flexibility I had with nursing as DD moved on to extended BFing. I stopped pumping at 12 months. At the time she was still nursing or bottle I think in the morning, lunch, dinner, before bed, and 1 time in the middle of the night. When I stopped pumping I could do all of those feedings via nursing if I wanted on the weekend een though I didnt pump then anymore or she would have soy milk if I needed to be out. I kept letting her wake at night but around 15 months I night weaned bc she started waking 2, 3, 4, times at night and it was to be with me and nurse for the lovey of it as opposed to eating. While I liked the snuggles enough was enough. I rocked her back to sleep instead of feeding and after about two weeks she slept through the night. She cried some during the rocking but it wasn't total freak out. She nursed until about 28 months or so, eventually just am and pm, then just pm.

pitterpatter129 · September 2012

There are some studies that say, unlike with a bottle, breastfeeding doesn't tend to cause pooling of milk in the mouth and is less likely to rot teeth. You should be fine doing what works for you at night. It's possible she will night wean anyhow. We did about 9 months just because I was done at night and I we rocked to sleep instead. Night weaning isn't a requirement at a certain age or because of teeth though.

pitterpatter129 · September 2012

Here's the KellyMom article I read about tooth decay not being linked to bfing... https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/tooth-decay/

sucredee · September 2012

Do what works for both of you. DD is 28 months and has been doing about 1 night feed pr night still. Occasionally it is twice but that's unusual. Knock on wood but the last 2 nights she has slept through the night so I'm sort of hoping that will start being the norm (of course we will be going abroad in 4 days so chances are she will be screwed up again Smile . I honestly don't mind her getting up once a night. She goes back down pretty quickly and she actually does eat (and not just soothe). She is on the small side (weight wise) so I haven't minded.

When she was 17 months old I had to work on her sleep (no formal sleep training though) because she was waking up every 2 hours. Then she was waking 2x a night for a a few months. Their sleep patterns change so much so I just sort of go with the flow. She was down to once a night around 12 months and then a couple of month later she started waking more frequently. She sleep in her own crib btw.

You have to do what works for you. If you are not OK with waking up once or twice a night then you can certainly night wean but it isn't a requirement.

ncbelle · September 2012

Whenever it feels right to you

I nightweaned Callum around 16-17 months (in part because I was trying to get my cycle back). I haven't nightweaned Eleanor yet - I'm ready to but she's cutting canines so now isn't the easiest time!

Angela814 · September 2012

I think the decision is really up to you. She may do it naturally on her own, or she may not.

I knew I wanted to nurse my kids until at least 2 years, and I'd read that night weaning can cause full weaning. I night weaned DD1 at 26 months and DD2 at 25 months. DD1 continued to nurse until just over 3 years. DD2 is still nursing 1-2x a day at 26 months.

resilient61 · September 2012

Great job for keeping it up even without the support! My son was still waking to nurse at his 2nd bday, and I was ready to sleep through the night

We were talking about starting to try for our 2nd, too. instead of nursing him when he awoke at night I would cuddle him & offer a sippy cup of water. He was confused at first, but handled it like a champ & after 3 nights he was sleeping through the night, and so was I! He would still nurse before nap & in the evening, but I got pregnant the next month & he completely weaned with little help by the time I was 6 weeks along. Her teeth should be fine (like the other posts said) so if you don't mind it, or even enjoy it, keep going!

twocents6708 · September 2012

Thanks for the helpful advice ladies. Kellymom was helpful too. It looks like we can just keep going along.

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