Nursing to Sleep

ludali · May 2014

DD is almost 11 months...and I'm still nursing her to sleep. Not purposely - she just completely zonks out while nursing before bed and off to dreamland she goes. And she seems to be transferring milk until the moment right before she's nodded off - so I wish I could just pull her off when she has slowed down, but she hardly slows down!

For Momma's that don't nurse to sleep - what do you do? I really want to try getting her to sleep on her own... Not making it the last step before bed will be a hard habit for me to break, but at 11 months, it can't hurt to try...

KatyKatMeowz · May 2014

We've bona back to it recently. Honestly, it's better than an hour of fighting him while I rock and sing.

TrueBeliever925 · May 2014

No advice but just wishing you some luck! Hopefully the transition goes smoothly!

ludali · May 2014

KatyKatMeowz said:

We've bona back to it recently. Honestly, it's better than an hour of fighting him while I rock and sing.

THIS I understand! For once she was awake after nursing the other night, she cried a couple times after and I went in to soothe her...the last time I went in, she just laid quietly for maybe 10 minutes and then went to sleep on her own. I'm HOPING that could happen, but likely not. ;-)

Snowbird7 · May 2014

I had to give up BF months ago, but we give LO a bottle while rocking before bed and he falls asleep during it. We're thinking about trying drowsy-but-awake in a few days or a week, just because he's having trouble staying asleep through the night. I think what we'll do is either give him a bottle somewhere more busy and loud, like the living room instead of his quiet nursery. Then we'll rock with a book or something quiet, then try putting him down in the crib.

Maybe you can try something like that? Nursing in a louder, more awake environment and then going into the nursery afterward?

KatyKatMeowz · May 2014

ludali said:

KatyKatMeowz said:

We've bona back to it recently. Honestly, it's better than an hour of fighting him while I rock and sing.

THIS I understand! For once she was awake after nursing the other night, she cried a couple times after and I went in to soothe her...the last time I went in, she just laid quietly for maybe 10 minutes and then went to sleep on her own. I'm HOPING that could happen, but likely not. ;-)

I'll cross my fingers for you that it does! It happens rarely for William, but only if daddy's putting him down.

EricaLee2013 · May 2014

From day one at home she's gone to bed with her night light on, rain sounds playing, and a bottle. She rarely actually falls asleep while the night light is on, it's kind of bright right by where I feed her. Maybe a light would help you? I also jostle her around a bit getting that last burp out. Then it's into her crib with seahorse playing while I turn off the light and exit quietly. I really like seahorse bc it's something for her look at while she's awake, she doesn't notice me leave, and it slowly dims off.

Good luck!

janneann1127 · May 2014

We have been doing this as well, and I've had the same worry. However, lately (last few weeks), he hasn't been falling asleep during the bottle but it gets him just comatose enough that I can put him down and he will put himself to sleep. He will usually talk for 15 minutes or so before he falls asleep. So, you may find that eventually she grows out of it?
We do a bedtime routine of bath, pj's, bottle, and bed. Plus white noise of course.

thoughtfulmommy · May 2014

No real advice because We have done the opposite and started nursing to sleep at nap time. I can't help it. His feeding lines up with his naps now (every 3-4 hours) and he is knocked out. I am thinking once his wake times stretch out and they don't line up with his naps I will worry about it and work on putting him down drowsy.

I am hoping as @janneann1127‌ says, that he grows out of it naturally. He has weaned himself from his swaddle, sleep suit and soother.

ELauren88 · May 2014

I nurse LO in my bed with the lights on and a movie playing. Then when shes done DH takes her and rocks her to sleep. She then gets put in her crib. That nursing session is the last time she sees me, otherwise she just wants boob.

Bunnyfer · May 2014

Dh puts LO to bed most nights, so nursing isn't an issue... But the nights I am home are beastly. Last night was just a total bitch. Hoping to wean her off the boob soon at bedtime

Michelle N · June 2014

Glad I'm not the only one! We're still nursing to sleep for all naps and bedtime. We're co-sleeping, which I must say I do enjoy .. I just worry about those being two really tough habits to break. It would also be nice to have an evening off. LO is still up a lot at night. Good luck to all having sleep issues!