How do you cut the nighttime nursing sessions?

[Ontario14]

DS used to give me 4-5 hours of sleep, wake once to nurse, then go back down until morning. I was okay getting up at 3-4 am to nurse, but I can't remember when it changed...the time just kept getting earlier and earlier, until the middle of the night nursing was closer to 1 am, and then there were two nighttime nursing sessions... Yesterday, he was up right before midnight, and then again at 4 am. I know teething messes up the routine quite a lot, and my DH's solution to every nighttime waking is for me to feed the baby...but how do you eliminate night nursing sessions? DS#1 slept through the night (midnight - 8 am) at 8 weeks by himself, so I never had to figure this out before, help!

He doesn't take a pacifier (though I haven't tried in months, maybe he won't spit it out 2 feet now, lol), or a bottle, and is still pretty much refusing his solids - does he NEED the nighttime calories? He's pretty chunky, well over 22 lbs already.

[Sarah26]

If he's 22pounds, then he's way way past NEEDING the nighttime calories. I read they can go without night feedings if they are at least 11 pounds, which does sound harsh, but wow, 22 lbs! Of course, he wants to nursing comfort and time with mom, but it's not a vital necessity. I laughed out loud about where you said your DH's solution is for you to feed the baby at night. That is such a male response. My DH used to say the same thing, like here's the baby, I'm tired and need to get my beauty rest. Whatever.

When I started to get rid of the night feedings, I sent my DH in to deal with the baby during the fussy times, comforting the baby back to sleep, or rocking, etc. My first child didnt like pacifiers either. I couldn't even get out of bed without the baby smelling the milk source and perking up. I had to stay wrapped up in my multiple sports bras and shirts and blankets, in an insulated cocoon on the bed. When I decided to cut the night feedings, I did it one feeding at a time, trying to lengthen the amount of time from the bedtime feeding to the next feeding. After the bedtime feeding, if the baby cried, I'd send DH in to try to either get the baby back to sleep or at least push the time back a little before the next feeding. If/when the baby was inconsolable, I did the next feed. We got rid of night feeds around 4-5-6 months, I forgot exactly, but I was so happy when I started sleeping through the night (all by myself, no babies attached). It is a total lifestyle change, and it's so nice when it finally happens.

And yes, expect some sleep disruption during teething and growth spurts, but you don't care, because you should be cocooned up on your bed. This sleep disruption will be your DH's problem, not yours. Just tell him this is what the dr/LC/book told you and you MUST follow the protocol.

[J&FM2005]

Is he crawling or walking? It is possible that he is about to hit a major developmental milestone. Many pediatricians agree that this can cause a change in night wakings and usually passes quickly.

[Ontario14]

He's been army crawling for about a month, and been pulling up on everything lately (especially my pants!), and should be cruising around furniture soon. Oh, and the teething is nonstop - we can see the tooth, but the skin is sooooo stretched over it still, grossorama! And now we have a cold. So our nights are rough. I feel lucky if he goes 3 hour...

[Alexismith]

when Levi is teething it can be a nightmare night. every hour on the hour he'll nurse 20 mins to comfort himself. this leaves me 40 mins to get to sleep before the next wake up. when he's between teeth he goes back to once a night. twice if he didnt eat a good dinner but that isnt a huge deal as it isnt often. you may find that that tooth will pop through, he'll master cruising and the world will be right again....