Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Update on Nightweaning and Dairy

Food and sleep... the two main topics of conversation in our house. As in "how did she eat?" and "how did she sleep?" (Parenthood is very romantic.)

However, there is good news in both categories. On the food front, you may remember that I had gone off dairy again, fearing that she was still having the gas trouble that dairy in my diet caused her during her first 6 months. My doctor tactfully told me, and I already knew, that a dairy sensitivity at 9 months is rare. So we decided to do a "dairy challenge" a few weeks ago. She seemed to pass (i.e., there were no screaming gas incidents), but she also threw up the first night of my dairy fest. We strongly suspected that this had nothing to do with dairy- she was getting a cold, and she tends to throw up from the congestion. (Parenthood is also very glamorous.) But I went back off dairy just in case. We tried again last weekend and I'm happy to report that I am now eating cheese and yogurt, and Pumpkin is showing no signs of minding. This weekend, I may try for ice cream. I really, really miss ice cream.

On the sleep front, the nightweaning is still going really well. Really, really well. Last night, I got her down at about 8 (after 45 minutes of laying her down, having her roll over and sit up, then laying her back down... but that is the topic of another post). She woke up briefly at 8:45 in need of a binky and a pat. And then she slept until 3:15. Without a peep. Hubby and I had set a goal of not nursing her until 2:30, and expected that he would have to spend some time bouncing an annoyed Pumpkin to get her to that time. Imagine my surprise when I woke up at 1:15 and realized that it was Hubby making noise and not Pumpkin! She finally cried at 3:15. I got up and nursed her, and got her back down quickly. She then slept until 5:30. I think she would have slept longer but her diaper was wet. I'll have to start changing her in the middle of the night again. We don't expect such a good night again tonight, but we are thrilled to know that such a night is possible.

Of course, now we are wondering if we could have done this months ago. I am choosing to believe that we would not have been as successful then, that we happened to choose to start nightweaning at the exact time at which Pumpkin was ready for the change. That is my story, and I'm sticking to it.

2 comments:

  1. No, no point in wondering if you could have done it sooner. Our nightweaning went swimmingly but I do honestly believe because it was at just the right time.

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  2. I really think it's a timing thing. You are between the fussy periods right now, so now is the time!

    I'm glad it's going so well! And glad you can start having dairy again, especially ice cream. I'm starting to realize that my lactose intolerance (which had gone away since pregnancy) is probably back. So, I'm going to have to reduce and use lactaid pills again (which don't always work right for me). Sigh... I was so enjoying my flavored ice cream.

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