breast feedings at night

Dear SGS. You can breastfeed your child upto 2 years of age along with three meals and two snacks a day. If you wish to wean her off, you could introduce her to regular milk (full fat) in a sippy cup. Sippy cups differ from bottles as babies do not need to suck for milk, the liquid will flow on its own at a slow pace. May I ask how many times does she nurse during the day and night? You may slowly introduce regular milk by replacing one feed at a time. If she likes it then gradually increase the quantity and give her 2 to 3 times a day, one being at bed time. This way she may not wake up out of hunger at night. Hope this helps.

Dear Parent! Nursing ur child for so long is indeed a difficult job n not many mothers are able to do so especially ay night keeping in mind the distracted sleep, tiredness, problems with posture n other issues. I wud Suggest u cud apply honey or any bitter juice which ur child mite not like for 2-3 days. The baby on her own would not want to have it. U cud introduce the child to full fat regular milk with any health drink powder like bournvita, horlicks etc for kids as suggested by Anurima in sippy cups, tumblers or attractive glasses before sleeping. There should be at least two hrs gap between dinner and milk. The child mite cry for initial 2-3 days but wud soon get used to and accept the other milk. U have to be strong and firm not to give up. Once the child gives up breastfed she mite not wake up so often at nite.

Hi Anurima, thanks for responding. My daughter takes just a cup of milk a day. She takes 3meals and fruits during the day. I tried sippy cup but she would only take water in the sippy cup. I am working so I feed her once in the morning and evening ( only when she demands). However, she wouldn't sleep without my feed and would demand whenever she gets up at night (even when her sleep is disturbed) and early morning. We tried feeding her with bottle during night when she gets up but she would cry a lot and would never take bottle. I am in a difficult position how to wean her off breast feed. She seemed like has developed a habbit. Hope you can give me more suggestions. Thanks.

Thanks, Shika. What should I feed her post dinner other than milk. She doesn't like milk. It is so hard to feed her milk with a small cup. I typically give her a cup of puree (mashed veggies, chicken piece when available, one chapatti) at dinner. She has only 4 teeth in the upper jaw and 2 at the lower so it is difficult to give her a solid feed. I hear from few people about applying neem but I am worried how to handle if she is hungry at late night or early morning. You also mentioned that she may not wake up once she gives up breast feed. If that happens I guess it would be good for both of us.

Dear SGS! Once she is weaned off there are chances she would start liking milk. U just need to be firm n keep giving milk in different forms during day time like custard, suji kheer, rice kheer, sabudana kheer, curd, etc. n I believe if u try different flavours like chocolate bournvita, at night she should like it. Child has an option as she knows that she can get mother's feed but once she realizes tht mothers feed is no longer there she will have to switch over to other options available. It might take some time n requires ur patience n persistence. Also regular full cream milk is heavier if child has even half a cup it should filling n will serve the purpose. hope this works!