When Audrey was 12 months old we decided to night wean. Because I work outside the home, it was important to me to nurse her whenever she wanted because I felt like I missed out on so much nursing time when at work. But at 12 months my husband had had enough and took it upon himself to do the nightweaning.

We moved the crib to his side of the bed and he was in charge of all wake ups. The first few nights were torture. I would roll over and be as still as possible so she wouldn’t realize I was there. He would calm her down and get her back to sleep, much the same way he got her to sleep at bedtime. He’d then put her back in her crib.

After about a week of this, with the wakeups getting further and further apart, she was sleeping in her own bed through the night. She realized she wasn’t getting what she wanted and would just sleep. I still nursed on demand during waking hours and whenever she was sick. She reverted back to co-sleeping a few times over the next 9 months, but mostly when there was a stressful event (the birth of a baby sister) or she was sick

I suspect we’ll do the same thing with this one when she hits 1 year (only 2 months to go).

I’m happy for you. However, I agree that all bets are off when they get sick. You have to start all over again. But, hopefully it will be easier the second time. It’s just hard having small children, period. I write this having been up with Abby 3-4 times at night for the last two nights due to ear infection/pain…and I’m ready for a good night’s sleep!

Around 13 or 14 months, I found myself in the same position. My LO would sleep well for the beginning of the night (in our bed by himself). Once I went to bed, he’d wake up and nurse. He was just snacking and didn’t seem to be sleeping well and I certainly wasn’t! I did a modified version of Dr. Newman’s advice. I didn’t want to worry about looking at the clock (sooo blind without my contacts!). I decided that I was willing to nurse him if he woke up in the first hour or so after he went to bed (usually happened if he fell asleep quickly and didn’t nurse long before bed and I was up anyway) and then I wouldn’t nurse him again until it was light out. He was VERY, VERY mad at me the first night, less so the second and hardly fussed by the third. We have set backs from time to time (he’s 16mos now). He wasn’t eating solids well while his molars and canine teeth came in, so some nights I’d let him nurse if he really wanted. Sometimes, I nurse him because it just seems like that’s what he needs right then. But, at most, he fusses a little bit and rarely cries at all. We’re both sleeping much better. I don’t see him weaning totally anytime too soon (he still LOVES nursing!), but the nights are much better for everyone! I too thought there was no way I could do it and expected it to be much rougher. It was hard to hold my ground at first, but it was worth it.