Community› The Bump Message Boards› Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
New Discussion

best sleep/nap techniques for EFB babies?

RachelCA29RachelCA29 member
in Breastfeeding
We are still struggling with nap times and overall getting LO to sleep at nearly 6 months. He will only nurse to sleep really, and it's really hit and miss with naps. I've read 2 books on baby sleep thus far, but many of the methods rely on scheduling eating and sleeping, which don't really work that well while BFing on demand.

Does anyone have any suggestions for books on sleep that worked well for their EFB baby?

Thanks!
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
When Fluff Mail Arrives:
image
Report Reply to Post

Re: best sleep/nap techniques for EFB babies?

  • vvvvvfeevvvvvfee member
    Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family, which was recently published by la leche league, is awesome and probably just what you're looking for. :)

    another good one is The No-Cry Sleep Solution.

    the happiest baby guide to great sleep also has some interesting no-cry or minimal-crying techniques, but i think most of them are more useful for toddlers.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • nebraska84nebraska84 member

    I followed "Baby Wise" and the idea here is to try not link nursing and sleeping together...

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Report Reply
  • opheliainwadersopheliainwaders member
    I'd second @vvvvvfee‌ above, and caution you not to use baby wise.

    Also, it's really normal for babies at that age to fall asleep nursing. DD just kind of gradually grew out of it around 10 months, so if you find a way that works, but still nurse to sleep sometimes or all the time, don't worry too much about it.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • RachelCA29RachelCA29 member
    Thanks all. My library has most of those books so it looks like I'll have a few strategies to try out!

    My biggest concern with nursing to sleep is that if he isn't hungry it makes putting him down for a nap hard! But our night time routine with nursing seems to work okay.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    When Fluff Mail Arrives:
    image
    Report Reply
  • jenn43jenn43 member
    I liked "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child".  It's one of the few sleep books that has no problem with nursing to sleep.  My LO also nurses to sleep frequently, so that's part of our pre-nap routine.  We do sleep-sack, white noise, nurse, song, then down for a nap.  When we first started out he wouldn't always fall asleep.  The book recommends leaving them for 1 hour, then try again when LO seems sleepy again.  I never really left LO longer than a 1/2 hour before getting him, but over a couple of weeks LO did learn to put himself to sleep during naps.
    Report Reply
  • flclflcl member
    We also have the Healthy Sleep Habits book and it's been really helpful.  Our experience was similar to @jenn43.  LO nursed to sleep for naps and night time every single day until the 4MW.  Then, everything fell apart.  Once things got back to the new normal, nursing to sleep no longer worked for us.  Nursing is still part of the routine, it's just not the last step before we put him down.  For naps, we do nurse, sleep sack, book, white noise/black out curtains, down.  We add a bath and massage at the beginning for nighttime sleep.  LO was more than ready for the new routine as he was asleep by 30 mins the first night, 10 mins the next and 5 mins on the 3rd night.  (Same for naps, we introduced this for nighttime first.)  For MOTN feedings, I nurse him to sleep.  
    Report Reply
  • nunzchucksnunzchucks member
    We used Baby Wise to get into a feed, wake, sleep cycle at first, but now we are using The SleepEasy Solution starting at 4 mo. There's a thread on June 14 discussing SleepEasy.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"