I can't do it. I wouldn't call myself a softy, I would just say something doesn't feel right about night weaning Piggie Smalls right now. Like the above quote says, I'm following my heart. It's not time yet.
And actually, I didn't end up doing Dr. Jay Gordon's method but Elizabeth Pantley's instead. Hers just involves unlatching baby before they fall asleep so that they get used to falling asleep without you. Interestingly enough, Piggie can easily fall asleep without nursing. Most times that I unlatched him, he simply rolled away and fell asleep. But his feelings were hurt, and he was mad at me in the morning. He screamed when I changed his diaper and then hit me in the chest 3 times, before looking up at me and hugging me. (And no, I don't let him hit me but he is still learning right now that hitting isn't okay).
He woke up hourly even though he would go to sleep on his own. It was an exhausting night, and I realized that yes, he likes to reconnect with me when he wakes up, and that it doesn't feel right to me to stop that right now. It is annoying and it is a pain (figuratively and literally) to nurse while pregnant, but I can do it. Besides, I made the decision to get pregnant knowing full well that Piggie is no where close to weaning, so for me it feels like it would be wrong to do it.
I will just need to force myself off of Pinterest and start going to bed earlier so I feel more rested the next day!
Anonymous
Hi. How's the night nursing going now? I have a 13 month old who sleeps next to me and nurses to sleep for every nap and every bedtime. I feel like you do in the last post because I'm not all that tired or sleep deprived as I've pretty much learned to nurse her while not quite waking up, but I do miss sleeping more than 3 or 4 hours in a row. I also miss my hubby as I often fall asleep with her and he's still up until later. I tried tentatively to night wean at 11 months and I think I had some progress but after 7 days I was so exhausted from the getting up and patting/rocking via Dr. Gordon method that I just gave up. Sorry for the long post, guess I was just happy to find someone who feels like I do. Still deciding whether to night wean. We'll see.
Jessica@MakingHomeSw
Well, he's 21 months and not night weaned...YET. I've decided that I'm going to do it before baby #2 gets here, which is in January. I went to a LLL meeting today and they told me it's easier when the baby can understand more, like if you tell them that milkies is going night night with the sun, etc. And at 21 months, my son can definitely understand what that means. It makes me very upset, but he gets it lol. So I'm going to do Dr. Gordon's night weaning plan again, because I really won't be able to handle being up all night with a newborn and a toddler who nurses like a newborn. I hate to do it but he will still be next to me, he will still be able to nurse whenever he wants during the day, and I'm hoping it even helps him sleep better. Keep me updated with what you decide to do too!
Santie
Jessica, your little boy is probably weaned by now, and you new baby born. I Just want to tell you, as a mother of two wonderful young adults, that you are absolutely right to do what feels right. In the great scheme of thing it really doesn't matter how you raise your children, it only matters that you do the best you know how to do. When I think back to my daughter's(she is the eldest) babyhood, I cant believe how I got bogged down by silly things. It doesn't matter now that she was an extremely picky eater, or that she slept less than an normal adult- she survived unscathed, and she is a healthy, well adjusted married woman of twenty two now. When my son arrived three and a half years later, I gave up the millions of notions other people planted in my head, and just trusted my instincts. Funnily enough, he ate anything you put in his mouth, and weaned himself at 18 months, and might I add, he slept like the proverbial baby. He is just as well adjusted as his finicky sister 🙂 So, keep on loving and enjoying your sweet children the way you do, you are clearly a caring and capable mother.