Sleep.
The past few days have been much better in the sleep department. Michael told me after this past weekend that he "wouldn't be upset" if I decided to wean kidlet. I don't think I'm ready to do that yet, but I definitely need to put my foot down about the all-night nursing marathons. I've changed things a little in that I won't nurse him lying down when he's ready to sleep, to avoid the dreaded volatile boob lamprey, and I won't let him nurse in the middle of the night any more. Michael has been putting him to bed, which has been going surprisingly well, and when I've come to bed later I move kidlet to his own little bed, waking him up, then I sit beside him and softly repeat, "It's time to sleep, Michael, put your head down and go to sleep," and offer to rub his back. Much to my surprise I've been able to get him to go back to sleep without much fuss, certainly not the all-out temper tantrum I've become accustomed to.
I'm still nursing him first thing when he wakes me up in the morning, and then first thing when we get home in the evening before dinner. That way he's still getting to nurse but it's not when he's tired so I don't have to deal with him falling asleep on the breast and freaking out utterly when I try to pry him off.
I was worried that refusing him boobie during the night would result in more tantrums - this is what would usually happen, but since Michael's been putting him to bed and not me I've been able to fend him off without too much trouble. He usually wakes up at some point and crawls into bed with us, looking for me. I turn my back and wrap the sheet tightly around my chest, and he's started to get upset, then grabs the cup of water we keep at the head of the bed and goes back to sleep after drinking that. Last night he didn't even whine, just took the cup and lay down between us.
It's been such a relief, I tell you, and I pray that it continues this way. I was getting so strung out and frustrated with him, you have no idea. I'm very proud of him, change isn't easy when you're two and he's dealing with it better than I expected. I'm thankful I didn't have to wean him completely and can start to enjoy that time with him again instead of dreading it.
I'm still nursing him first thing when he wakes me up in the morning, and then first thing when we get home in the evening before dinner. That way he's still getting to nurse but it's not when he's tired so I don't have to deal with him falling asleep on the breast and freaking out utterly when I try to pry him off.
I was worried that refusing him boobie during the night would result in more tantrums - this is what would usually happen, but since Michael's been putting him to bed and not me I've been able to fend him off without too much trouble. He usually wakes up at some point and crawls into bed with us, looking for me. I turn my back and wrap the sheet tightly around my chest, and he's started to get upset, then grabs the cup of water we keep at the head of the bed and goes back to sleep after drinking that. Last night he didn't even whine, just took the cup and lay down between us.
It's been such a relief, I tell you, and I pray that it continues this way. I was getting so strung out and frustrated with him, you have no idea. I'm very proud of him, change isn't easy when you're two and he's dealing with it better than I expected. I'm thankful I didn't have to wean him completely and can start to enjoy that time with him again instead of dreading it.
posted by Jen at
7:35 PM
1 Comments:
The first thing I stopped, with Arleigh, was nursing her back to sleep if she woke up in the night. I found that a drink of water and a few minutes of similar cuddling, minus boobie, in the rocker had the same effect and she would go right back to bed. After a few nights of this, she stopped waking up. Of course, soon after, she weaned herself from nursing entirely, before I intended, but I got over it! Good luck!
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