Want to Stop Nursing to Sleep

I nursed on-demand, 24/7, day and night, for the 1st year...
then my kids self-weaned.... my son at about 1 year old, my daughter at about 2.5 years old.

Also though, for the 1st year, a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition is from breastmilk or Formula, NOT solids and not other liquids... and it is important to nurse on-demand.... because of a baby's "growth-spurts" which occurs every 3 months (ie: 6 months, 9 months, 12 months etc.). and they need their intake to keep pace with their growth and development..... at growth-spurts, they get hungrier and intake more.
This is per our Pediatrician as well.

others, say you don't have to feed at night.

Breastmilk also metabolizes faster, in a baby. Their tummies are also tiny.

all the best,
Susan

Don't worry mom! Why don't you want to have to nurse her to sleep at a year old? What a beautiful, peaceful way to go to sleep for a baby! You really can't go wrong with that. I nursed my daughter to bed until she was probably around a year old or so. It was just a gradual thing that she didn't need it to get to sleep. I too was worried because I didn't nurse my son to sleep past around age 6-7 months and he learned how to go to sleep without nursing. But she was much more attached to nursing and was thriving and comforted and relaxed at bedtime so why mess with that!?

I don't get why we think we have to make little tiny babies so independent so early. They are babies. They need us to guide, support and comfort them in these early days.

Mine almost never took a pacifier either.

It's important to understand baby sleep and how to teach them to sleep. You can't do it by leaving them to cry and popping back in every few minutes as others would tell you. By learning about baby sleep and some tips and tricks you can put together a good routine for baby so she learns what to expect and what is expected. And every baby is different. What worked for my son in about 6 weeks time took much longer for my daughter to learn. My son was able to sleep 10-13 hours a night but my daughter didn't consistently sleep for long stretches until she was just over a year. She still woke to nurse at times. And that was ok! By following baby's lead you give them what they need-and that's what they have right now needs not wants!

I nursed my babies for 16 and 20 months respectively. And both are great sleepers.

I highly recommend The Baby Sleep Book, The Baby Whisperer, and The No-Cry Sleep Solution. All have very valuable baby sleep info, tips and tricks that make it easier to teach baby how to sleep. The better you understand baby sleep the better you will be able to formulate a sleep plan that works for your family.

Best to you and baby!

I may be different than most moms but I nursed my little one to bed until he was 18 months! I loved that time that I got to spend with him, caress his little head, sing to him...That's how we ended our day and how we started the next one. When did start cutting out feedings I left those two for last.
Good luck,
L.

Most people here are going to hate me but I nursed my DD to sleep til she was 3 and she is a very happy healthy and lovely sleeper at 4 1/2. My LO is 2 1/2 still nurses at bedtime, but doesn't nurse himself to sleep anymore. Stops after a few minutes and rolls over and goes to bed. My kids sleep better and longer than most of the "sleep trained" kids I know and are both still nursing. It's natural the the right way to feed babies AND small kids. Enjoy it!

My daughter is only 4 months old and I have managed to break her of this habit by nursing her about a hour before her bed time. She normally takes 20 to 30 miutes to do this, and after she is done I swaddle her and put her in her swing. Sometimes I turn on the music that the swing has, but not all the time. I turn off the lights and leave the room, but if she continues to fuss, I sing to her until she calms down. It may take a little while, but eventually she will learn a new routine. There is nothing wrong with falling asleep nursing though as long as she is still growing and eating enough.

You have the general idea: you nurse till sleepy, then put down. If she protests, pick up and sooth. Eventually she will let you put her down tired but awake. It takes some time. I'd start practicing now, because many babies get addicted to being nursed to sleep, so if they wake in the middle of the night\ needing to be nursed back to sleep. If you don't mind not getting any sleep (or are one of those fortune souls who don't really need sleep) then don't worry about it. But if you need sleep, by teaching her how to put her self to sleep, she could be only eating once a night (4 in the morning feed) at 6 months.

Do what works best for you, don't let anyone tell you there is a right way or wrong way to feed your baby. As long as your baby gets fed, it's the right way. Have you thought about pumping and introducing the bottle? My little one usually doesn't fall asleep with out eating. Only a handful of times has he put himself to sleep. He drinks a bottle and he sleeps for several hours which allows us to sleep well too. Happy parents=happy baby! :)

I did exactly what Laura did. It worked GREAT for us. And if we were out late, it's not like he had to nurse to go to sleep then. But at home it was our routine.

I worried about that too, my daughter breastfed for 18 months. But she weaned herself. I would still do the same nighttime routine, but I gave her milk in a cup and made sure she was full at dinner. We read stories and then I would still sit with her and hold her close until she was sleepy. She eventually started pointing to the bed. Now at 21 months she will say I'm tired or I want to go to bed!

Why? What is wrong with nursing to sleep? I thank God that you are giving your baby the best. I am a planner too but some things you can't plan. Let your baby tell you when she is ready to fall asleep without nursing. She will let you know.

like most others, i don't think there's anything wrong with nursing your baby to sleep IF you enjoy it, it works for her, and fits with your overall parenting philosophy. i do think it's counter-productive to think it's fine now but won't be fine in a year, after she's completely 'trained' in it. if you love it, stop worrying about the future (don't worry, it'll hold plenty of challenges you have no way of preparing for) and go with it. if you think you won't want to do it for long, then stop doing it now. it's fruitless to think babies will be okay with switching up their beloved routine later on. some babies switch it up on their own, of course. but there's nothing fundamentally different about a 1 year old nursing to sleep and a 5 month old nursing to sleep. if it's okay for one, why not the other?
khairete
S.

I had the same worry. But it seems to have solved itself, almost. My 10 month old is choosing when to nurse and at times I just have to rock her and she will fall asleep. Other times, I do nurse her to sleep. She was an infant who 'had' to be nursed to sleep when she was younger. Without much work, she is weaning herself from the routine.

You may find that this happens for you when your baby is older. Five months is still really little and lots changes inbetween. Good luck!

With my older boys, at a year I gave a sippy cup of milk before bed and read them books. This created a new routine for them, that provided the needed comfort.