Problems with 5 Month Old Sleep

I breastfeed/fed both my boys and neither would take a pacifier. I personally think it has to do with the texture/taste of a synthetic material in their mouth since they are used to having "skin" to suck on and it is comforting but that's just a guess. Oldest boy sucks his thumb and littlest is trying to. Not sure how to stop her but just wanted you to know you're not alone. I nurse mine till they are about to drift off then burp and put right down so they are still drowsy but I'm not holding them. Good luck!

I didn't have the sucking issue, but my daughter wouldn't sleep at night without me there. At 8 months old, I couldn't take it anymore. I noticed she liked her Baby Einstein videos and looked for a crib toy that would play a "video" on the ceiling. I got the Fisher Price Flutterbye Crib toy that plays music and a bird/butterfly/bee cartoon on the ceiling. That did the trick. As she got older, she figured out how to turn it on herself if she'd wake up in the middle of the night. She just turned three and still has it in her toddler bed. We hear it go on at least once every night through the monitor. I don't know if it would be comforting to your daughter or not, but I thought I'd share what worked for us.

Good luck!
S.

PS I was able to breastfeed until 10 months (when the milk supply dried up), but my daughter took a pacifier and bottles as well.

I guess it seems only natural to want the things we love!! I take my sleeping pillow with me on car trips butI leave it home when traveling by plane. I sleep so much better with my own pillow!
I hear a lot of moms say their baby can go to sleep fine with other people but only nurse with mom.
I wonder what your real concern is? Is it inconvenient that you are the person who puts her to sleep every night? Are you worried she is too dependent?
A 5 month old nursing to sleep is very natural and often far easier than other methods of going to sleep!!!
One good book is the No Cry Sleep Solution. There is lots of good information about infant sleep. The author has a range of experience that prompted her to research and write the book.
Another book you might consider is Sweet Dreams by Fleiss.
It doesn't sound like you are having a "problem" per say. Your baby wants somethign and you are providing it. That's great parenting!
But if there is somethign about the situation that doesn't work for you, try to figure out what that issue is and then it will be easier to develop some strategy.
Have a good weekend!

Hi P.,
I hate to say it but I had the same problems with my first born and it didn't stop until she was 18 mths old!
One day she just didn't want to nurse anymore and started sleeping through the night....
I hope you can get some good advice on how to help her stop now but just know I was there and she will grow out of it.
She's now 6 and still want's to sleep with me which has become our "new" issue. : )
Good luck to you!