[Filulah]

My youngest weaned himself at just over 14 months. Coincidentally, the same night he refused a breastfeed was the first time he'd slept through the night. The next night, he had a breastfeed & was back to waking up & screaming for hours. The next night, and every night since, he has refused the breast, and slept through from 7pm until at least 6am. Starting to think there was something in my breastmilk/diet that was affecting his sleep. He was down to only one feed though (his choice), and has always easily drunk cows milk from a sippy cup (since 12 months onwards, obviously). I wish he'd wanted to feed longer, to about 18 months, but heck, if he's sleeping, I'll roll with the weaning.

[meggs1]

You could try night-weaning at this age I think.

I nightweaned at 8 months, which did stop the numerous overnight wake ups. He wasn't hungry, it was a sleep association. For example he would have a huge bowl of lamb stew, a bowl of pears and a BF at 530-630 and wake at 830 for more milk. He wasn't feeding in the day much at all. I don't think he could understand why sometimes he would wake and get a feed, and sometimes (like 40 mins later) he wouldn't. He'd just scream until I fed him again. It was a bit harsh for the first couple nights but I couldn't see another way (cosleeping didn't work as he'd just want to play). I also tried a dream feed, but it didn't make a difference.

We are still doing 4 feeds a day (or more if he wants) but he's mainly attached to morning and bedtime. He mostly sleeps 630-530.

[Pocahontas]

I night-weaned DS2 at 11 months because I was over it and he was waking often and I was clutching at straws. After 3 nights of using other re-settling techniques he stopped fussing and slept-through the night. I wish I had done it a couple of months earlier.

[cinnabubble]

My older daughter self-weaned at 2.25, and didn't reliably sleep through the night until five. Despite having been night weaned since 18 months. Sigh.

[laridae]

My DD still has 2-3 feeds a day. Usually first thing in the morning and as soon as we get home after work, on weekend she'll have another after lunch (but that's mainly to help hr take a nap).
Constant wakeups were killing me too at about 9 months, so I made the decision to night wean. It took about a week (of wakeups, crying, playing her music and resettling without feeding or getting her out of the cot), but since then she pretty much never wakes up at night any more.
Once that happened I found it all so much easier and was happy to continue feeding during the day.

[Jekaho]

I chose to wean just before 25 months. Partly because my goal had been two years (if we'd both been happy with that) and partly because I had an interstate wedding to go to and wanted him to be adjusted to not needing boob for when he stayed with my parents. Thankfully it was all a smooth transition for us without any problems (and only tears from me!). I had to drop every single one of my son's feeds. He never dropped any himself! (besides when he started sleeping right through without a feed - that was consistently around 10 or 11 months, although he only woke for one so I didn't have the pressure of numerous feeds and figured it was just easier to feed him because he obviously still needed it)

[mylittlemen]

I weaned both my kids when I got the OK from my GP to transition them to full fat cows milk. Essentially, two weeks before and one week after their first birthday.

I loved breastfeeding but to me it is just a way to feed my babies. Once cows milk is ok, and they are on a good and varied diet, I have no issues moving them to cows milk.

Weaning helped both my boys sleep better at night but I also made a conscious decision to actively night wean them around 10 months. With one of them, this involved a stay at Tresillian

[roses99]

I think I feel bad to consider weaning because DS is SUCH a boobaholic. He loves his boob but it's just starting to take toll. I think I might battle on until 12 months and then reconsider.

That's why he's waking, OP. Because he loves you and loves the nighttime cuddles/boob.

It's certainly not because you've failed at anything.

[roses99]

I think I feel bad to consider weaning because DS is SUCH a boobaholic. He loves his boob but it's just starting to take toll. I think I might battle on until 12 months and then reconsider.

That's why he's waking, OP. Because he loves you and loves the nighttime cuddles/boob.

It's certainly not because you've failed at anything.

[kabailz13]

I weaned my first at 15mths due to family pressure to do so and regretted it soon after.

I weaned DS1 at 10mths for purely selfish reasons! I wanted to proceed with a strict diet that wasn't considered safe for breastfeeding.

DD2 self weaned at 22-23mths when I was pregnant with the twins. I was pretty happy that she had weaned then because I was shattered physically!

DS2 & DD3 are now 18mths old and feed a LOT! They are in daycare 5 days a week and don't even have milk there so during the week it's a morning feed, night feed and then overnight. On the weekends, they feed as often as 2-3 hourly! Drives me batty but I'll continue - they handled me being away for 4 whole days in May and went back to feeding like I hadn't left lol

With DD1, my Mum came and stayed and distracted DD whenever she would normally have had a feed. It only took a few days so I think she probably would have weaned by around 18mths anyway. With DS1, I was lucky and he took a bottle. I waited for my then FIFO DH to be home for a week and for that whole week, DH put him to bed and dealt with him when he would normally feed.