all the keys to do it in the best way for the baby and for you

According to the midwife and certified breastfeeding consultant, Clara García Lumbreras, “There are as many causes of night weaning as there are mothers, and they are all valid.” Among them, “they do not feel comfortable with breastfeeding at that time, the belief that your baby will sleep more if you take him off the breast at night, encourage the return of menstruation to seek a new pregnancy, a breastfeeding agitation, a separation, labor incorporation”…

It is a process that some women may consider during breastfeeding, but it It is usually more common between one and two years of age. “Around one year, when the famous crisis of the year occurs, babies begin to increase their demand on the breast, which can saturate mothers and cause them to consider weaning at night. Weaning is often accompanied by feelings of ambivalence, They want to wean but at the same time they would like to maintain breastfeeding. “Maybe, in these situations, partial weaning (such as night weaning) is the solution for these mothers,” she says. We went over how to do it with her.

Can night weaning affect milk production?

It is true that Night-time breastfeeding has a lot of weight in overall milk production, but in the case of night-weaning, the age of the child will also be important. It must be remembered that in children under one year old, milk (breast or artificial) is their main food and from six months onwards the diet that will complement that milk intake begins. “Children under one year old need to wake up to eat, It is a physiological need and, even if the mother decides to wean at night, it is very likely that the baby will continue to wake up to eat,” highlights Clara García Lumbreras, who also publishes on Instagram as @planetamatrona.

If we talk about those over one year old, “the awakenings are no longer due to nutritional needs and become physiological awakenings between sleep cycles. Here I would like to point out that It is not until 5-6 years old that children acquire a sleep pattern similar to that of adults. so nighttime awakenings are normal.”

Thus, “if a child under 6 months of age is weaned at night, it is possible that milk production will be compromised and over time it will decrease and it will be necessary to introduce artificial breastfeeding. But it is not all black or white, it also depends on the number of daytime feedings that the child performs because, although it is rare, there are also 4-month-old children who sleep 6 hours straight at night and who maintain exclusive breastfeeding and adequate weight gain,” he develops. For its part, yesIf night weaning occurs after the first six months, and above all, after the first year, there does not have to be so much influence on the total milk production.

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Top tips for night weaning

During night weaning, it is common for the child to cry, since he does not understand why his mother’s breast is not present as before, therefore, the key is in support. “We could define a respectful weaning as one in which We do not leave the child crying alone and without comfort, but we are there with him, containing his crying, being present and offering him a lot of love and many kisses, “Let them know that, although breastfeeding at night has ended, their mother’s love is still and will continue to be there,” advises the midwife. In this sense, she points out these recommendations:

• Do not wean and stop co-sleeping at the same time. “It is best that changes are always made one at a time. If we are in a situation of change (such as a move, the arrival of a new sibling, the start of kindergarten) it is not a good time to start weaning. Not because it can’t be done, but because it will be more expensive than usual.”
• Maintain the first feeding at night and the first in the morning. “So the part of putting the child to sleep at the breast, one of the most comfortable and quickest ways to achieve this, we can continue to maintain and we only have to manage the nighttime awakenings.”
• The other primary caregiver will calm the baby during nighttime awakenings. “This is what is commonly called the “father method”. Here, patience, love and kisses and caresses for the baby are essential, making him feel that he is not alone.”
• The mother can move to another room for the first few days. This will be done “until the child has consolidated weaning and is able to fall asleep without the breast. Another option is for the father or other main caregiver to be placed next to the child in bed, acting as a barrier between the mother and baby so that the breast is not the first thing the child encounters when he wakes up.

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A faster, but more explosive weaning

Night weaning It is faster if we compare it with the daytime, although “more explosive”, as the consulting firm defines it. During the day, the baby uses his mother’s breast to eat, when he needs affection, to calm down, to console himself… “During the day you can negotiate feedings with the baby, try to postpone them, replace them with games, songs, etc. “A night weaning is more abrupt and more emotionally intense, since the child has to learn to fall asleep without the breast,” points out.

However, at night, the child’s tiredness is joined by the parents’ tiredness and it is much more difficult to manage that crying that asks for breast. “The positive thing about night weaning is that it is achieved much faster, It usually takes about a week to achieve and the first three nights are the worst, the most intense,” reveals.

For it to turn out as best as possible, it is important to surround yourself with people who provide support and help. Here, The couple’s participation is essential. You also have to choose the best time: “If you start night weaning on a Monday, it is likely that you will go to work without sleeping all week. Choosing vacation periods so you don’t have to go to work, especially the first intense nights, will help you.” to help them face it better, with more courage and, above all, more rested,” says Clara García Lumbreras.

And, as with everything that has to do with parenting, changing your mind is possible. “Night weaning can be paralyzed because the emotional demand is very high and the mother is not yet ready.” or, during the process, you realize that it is not what you wanted. We can also be very clear that we want to wean but the child becomes sick and we want to provide milk during the night to calm him down. And everything is fine!”, reassures the expert.