nursing to sleep and daycare

ILoveRunning

Hi All, I normally lurk but was needing a bit of confidence/advice.  My DS is almost two months old.  I currently nurse him to sleep for almost all naps and at night.  Most of the time I swaddle him, snuggle with him and let him nurse (often just comfort nurse) until he goes to sleep.  I'm afraid that once he starts daycare part time he won't be able to sleep because he is used to comfort nursing.  At this stage I still enjoy comfort nursing and don't want to give it up.  Will he be able to sleep at daycare even though I won't be there?  Am I setting him up for failure?  I always read that you should put baby to bed sleepy but awake.

aglenn

I had the same concerns when DD started daycare (she was 4 months at the time).  DD is still a huge comfort nurser, and to be honest we are still working on setting boundaries on that at nighttime, but she naps like a champ at daycare and did from the beginning.  I was kind of jealous of them, to be honest, because she naps a lot more easily there than she does for me at home!  You will be amazed at how much your DS will adapt to the environment.  Hugs to you; I know how hard it is! 

Oh, and the "sleepy but awake" thing really depends on your kid.  DD would not go for that at all when she was that young, but she did eventually learn to do it.  Some babies reach that milestone earlier than others, but it is nothing to worry about too much in my opinion.

Meegs10.13.06

aglenn:

I had the same concerns when DD started daycare (she was 4 months at the time).  DD is still a huge comfort nurser, and to be honest we are still working on setting boundaries on that at nighttime, but she naps like a champ at daycare and did from the beginning.  I was kind of jealous of them, to be honest, because she naps a lot more easily there than she does for me at home!  You will be amazed at how much your DS will adapt to the environment.  Hugs to you; I know how hard it is! 

This exactly. Gwen still nurses to sleep for most naps with me... but at daycare she goes down for them without a fuss, and sleeps great. Babies are pretty quick to learn that mom = nurse to sleep, daycare = sleep after bottle (or whatever she ends up doing). 

jgb2000

My DD figured it out and DS is fine as long as he is swaddled. Kids adjust surprisingly well and they know what to expect from the different environments and caregivers. Good Luck!

Angela814

Charlotte nurses to sleep most of the time at home. At daycare they put her in her crib, and she falls asleep. I'm not sure why she does this for them and not me. Also, when she was younger, they'd put her in a swing or rock her to sleep and then move her to crib.

jshf

I read in a sleep book to let your LO fall asleep in different situations, so they are not too dependent on just one sleep pattern.  So I nursed DS, wore him and eventually he even fell asleep in the car.  I don't send him to daycare, but at least DH could put him to sleep when I'm not around.  You might try that too.  GL!

C-Charm

Babies learn quickly & behave differently with each caregiver.  I wouldn't worry abou tit.

 My DD's teachers can put her in a crib and rub or pat her back 'til she falls asleep.  She'd NEVER tolerate that from DH or me.  DH can rock DD to sleep when I'm not around.  There's no way that she'd sit still and let me rock her to sleep.  With me, she only falls asleep if I nurse her or wear her in a wrap.

I think it's funny that I have to jump through hoops to get her to sleep while everyone else gets is so easy.