Teaching a breastfed baby to sleep on her own

Teaching your kid to sleep on his/her own could be a parent’s worst nightmare. Aside from a few moms that I know who have no problems in this area, I’ve read some entries from mothers who fell asleep from exhaustion while their little one is still wide alert. Some of them wake up at 5AM to find their angels snoring noisily while Barney is still on. I even read about someone who needs to go to the mall at 11PM just so the kid can run around and tire herself.

Well, those are the weaned toddlers. How bad can it be for nursing two-year-olds? Worst, I tell you.

Due to unexplained stroke of luck, Sandy has been sleeping on her own for the last three days. Last night was different, though. It was exhausting, frustrating, to the point that I wished I could go back time. Back to the exact moment when our old helper nagged me that I shouldn’t let Sandy get used to breastfeeding to fall asleep. I remember muttering under my breath that she should mind her own business and that I’m comforting my child. But she’s right, you know. It’s so hard to train Sandy now because she’s been nursing for two and a half years before going to sleep.

Last night, she seem to have trouble sleeping on her own. I let her nurse for an hour (imagine that!) and just when I thought she was sleeping, I slowly removed her mouth only to hear her small whimper. Not the quiet, whiny type but the im-so-lonely-i-need-you cry. Of course, no mother can stand seeing their kids feel that way. The Husband and I took turns carrying her but when I saw that her eyes are still open at 12:21 AM, I told her we should just rest on her bed. We embraced each other for another 10 minutes and then I heard her yawn. I wanted to try Tricia’s technique and let her stay awake because she will sleep eventually. But I had visions of Sandy still wide awake at 2AM and we can’t have that since her Papa needs to wake up early. I told her to close her eyes instead while I kut-kut (her lola scratches her head whenever they’re watching TV and she loves it) her hair. Five minutes of “kut-kut” and she’s asleep. Thank God!

When she woke up around 6:30AM and wanted to nurse, I told her, “no, how about a kut-kut on the head?”. She closed her eyes and instantly fell asleep.

How wonderful. Will this new trick last though? I doubt it.

May 1, 2008 | Filed Under being a mom 

comments

10 Responses to “Teaching a breastfed baby to sleep on her own”

  1. Mich on May 1st, 2008

    hi Joy, kelangan talga meron silang “ritual” ano? si alex naman i dont know kung matutuwa ako pero nakaka-sleep sya while she sucks her thumb. problem na lang namin is pano tatanggalin. she can’t sleep without sucking plus lampin. naku partner talga yun. LOL!

  2. dzoi on May 1st, 2008

    Hi Mich. OO kailangan talaga ng routine kasi si Sandy nagiiba iba kada gabi bwahahaha. Okay na yan Mich at least nakakatulog mag-isa LOL. I’d choose that over having to breastfeed pa. Matututunan nya rin tanggalin yan paglaki nya hihi.

  3. N!cE on May 2nd, 2008

    Hi Joy! Were on the same boat. Nahihirapan akong patulugin si B.boy kasi dede yung pampatulog nya. I tried to replace it by hug na lang. A lot of times it works.

    Saka maganda nga na may routine. I asked the yaya not to allow him to overnap in the afternoon. Kasi mahihirapan shang matulog sa gabi.

    Kelan mo i-we-wean si Sandy?

    N!cE
    http://www.nicemorning.net
    http://www.mommastuff.com

    N!cE’s last blog post..Cruises

  4. Weng on May 4th, 2008

    i so get you joy! :) abby was weaned from breastfeeding quite abruptly, at 2 yrs and 9 mos. 3 weeks after we got to texas. i got sick kasi and really had to take antibiotics. so the first few nights, kailangan kargahin at isayaw para makatulog or tatabihan talaga. ang bait nga kasi pumayag sa ganoong arrangement. at higit sa laht, nasolve naman ang problem ko sa pagtigil na magpadede! aleluya! tapos nasanay na din siya matulog mag-isa. but that was for about a week or two of puyatan. but i can assure you, it will get better. konting tiis na lang! :)
    Weng’s last blog post..PH #9: Time

  5. Joey on May 5th, 2008

    Ethan’s about the same age as Sandy and he was weaned when he was 1 year 10 months kasi I had to undergo chemotherapy. Pero hanggang ngayon he has to sleep with both of us pa. Pero minsan I don’t know kung sya ang ayaw or kami ang ayaw mahiwalay sa kanya. Oh well :)
    Joey’s last blog post..Becoming a Parent — Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival 1st Edition

  6. Joey (ulit!) on May 5th, 2008

    Siyanga pala, I would like to invite you to join the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival. Details here: http://the-working-mom.blogspot.com/2008/05/pinoy-parenting-blog-carnival.html

    Hope you’ll join us!

    Joey (ulit!)’s last blog post..Becoming a Parent — Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival 1st Edition

  7. dzoi on May 7th, 2008

    nice, di ko na iwewean si sandy hahaha. hay naku, ang totoo di ko pa alam talaga :) hinahantay ko muna magwean si Tricia (Zoe) and Apple (Austin) :D

  8. dzoi on May 7th, 2008

    2 yrs and 9 mos? may 2 months pa ko ibig sabihin? hahahha. hay naku weng, wish ko lang mawean ng kusa si sandy coz I don’t think I can do it. thanks for the visit!

  9. dzoi on May 7th, 2008

    joey it’s probably us who can’t let go of our babies hehe.

  10. Mai on May 13th, 2008

    naku dzoi…my asher and I are guilty of this too. Two months pa lang baby ko and we still have a long way to go. Pampatulog niya ang breastfeeding which is quite favorable din for me lalo na sa madaling araw. :) At least di nakakapagod kargahin at isayaw-sayaw.

    Mai’s last blog post..Tuesday.

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