Should you opt to night-wean, here are a few resources for doing so with an attachment parenting approach:
- The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers by Elizabeth Pantley, has a chapter on night-weaning
- AskDr.Sears.com has a message board with some helpful tips on night-weaning in the “All Night Sucker” section
- Dr. Jay Gordon’s website has an article on night-weaning
I cannot speak (yet) from experience about night-weaning, but I can say this: Night-weaning is a capital-P Project. It takes a significant investment of time, energy, and emotional stamina up front to get past the hump and begin to reap the benefits. Ideally, it requires the full support of two nighttime caregivers. There is no quick fix.
This is why child-led weaning appeals so much to me. Its pace is often imperceptibly slow, but the way is smooth. Night-weaning – at least for our family – would be a bumpy road. We may travel there anyway, but for the moment, I’m employing some of the techniques from Pantley’s book and consciously not putting pressure on my daughter or myself to completely night-wean.
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