This was originally a facebook status but it works for a blog post too....
Today is one of those days where I feel overwhelmed with the things I don't know how to solve. I have tried every kind of bottle and sippy cup and Emily won't take them so I am worried how I am supposed to wean her. She still sleeps w me at night and has to be swaddled to put her down for naps. I know that all has to change soon but HOW? She doesn't cry it out and fall asleep. She just gets more and more upset. I have to nurse her and/or bounce her to sleep for naps but I obvs can't do that forever. Things that have worked for us for 9 months are going to have to change soon and I just don't know what to do. :( I just had to put this out there. Feel free to give advice.
5 comments :
That's how Abigail was until we stopped cold turkey, but she was ready (15 months), I don't know if Emily drinks out of a straw yet, but if she does that helps a ton!
She never took a bottle/sippy or pacifier, so I was her only comfort.
With Abigail we started with cutting out a night time nursing, before bed, I just poured Vanilla almond milk in a cup and let her drink it with a straw until she was ready to go lay down, (still in bed with us).
She doesn't CIO either, I know it's frustrating but I completely understand how you feel! We went through the same thing!
I don't want this comment to be too long, but I have tons of more stuff that I read & things we tried if you want anymore advice!
Don't worry about weaning now, if you're not ready to start. For my girls, it's just happened naturally around 12-ish months. Keep offering her sippys and one of these days, she'll probably take it :) Also, the swaddling to sleep should start to taper off once she can break out of the swaddle, then you help her to learn to put herself to sleep (I really liked the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child for that topic). Anyway, try not to worry so much about what is supposed to happen at some point down the line...nature usually takes care of itself :) Just trust your natural mothering instincts and you'll be great. The great thing about babies is that things change so often! Good luck!
I know it's easier said then done, but I would try not to worry about it. Brayden didn't take a sippy cup at all...straw or regular until closer to a year. He still prefers straws and just drinking out of a regular cup with our help. Also he refuses to drink milk out of a cup and he still gets his milk in a bottle. We are working on weaning him of that right now. Until he weaned himself from nursing he didn't even want milk in a bottle and I should have just gone straight to a sippy cup but I convinced myself he wasn't getting enough to drink. As far as sleep, oh gosh was that a hard battle for us. But eventually with alot of patience and no CIO we got him to be able to fall asleep on his own around a year. Until then I put him to sleep by nursing and he napped in our bed until 10 months and was in our room at night until around then too. So I would start with something like a nap vs. night time and work your way to night time. If you ever want to e-mail me you can. I know this is getting long. :) But bottom line, try not to worry about what everyone is doing or what the books say they should be doing by then. Follow your heart. I don't regret anything that I did with Brayden because that first year flies by SO fast! He now sleeps great in his crib all night long and for naps with no crying.
honestly, i don't really have any advice for you! i still rock H to sleep and sometimes i just hold her through her naps so that she will at least take one! BUT, i hope you get some good advice and i will be praying for you sweet friend! this mommy thing is tough stuff!! :)
I have so been there! I think I might write a tips and tricks tuesdsay post about how isolating being a mom can be. Are you kind of feeling like Em is the only kid that is still swaddled and won't drink from a sippy cup? I have those days! I definitely think you need to trust your gut. Honestly nothing HAS to change. If it works for you guys then don't worry about it. I've been through everything you just said. I now have a little boy at 14 months that drinks from a sippy cup, and doesn't need to be rocked or nursed to go to sleep, and isn't swaddled. He ends up in our bed when he is sick or teething but seems to transition easily back to his crib when he is feeling ok. Have you picked up the book I suggested? Baby whisperer solves all your problems? Healthy sleep habits is a cry it out book.
Post a Comment