Bub is 7 days old and I am feeding and putting her straight down (after a burp usually) A friend of mine just said I should play with bub after feeds and then put her down so she will sleep better/longer. But I worry that if I don't put her down straight away she won't go down as she is a little unsettled. And i need all the rest I can so sooner to sleep the better.
At seven days old? Yes. Whatever works for both of you. In a few months' time if you decide that you don't want to feed to sleep (I have done with both and haven't had an issue but if it's not for you) then you can maybe encourage a bit of feed-play-sleep cycle. But in my opinion, you and bub know best and a nice warm full tummy and a body full of happy hormones is relaaaaaxxxxxing!
yup do what you need to now. recover, learn and grow as mum then later when your out of the baby/birth haze decide for your self what is or is not working.
The best advice is: listen to what other people tell you, nod politely and then do what you feel is the best thing to do. Oh, and refrain from telling them that you didn't go with what they said.
FWIW, I think our routine was eat-sleep-eat-play-eat-sleep-play-eat-play-sleep.... well, he just did whatever he felt like doing. If he finished feeding and was all alert, sure we'd have a play. But if he was nodding off I took it to mean he wanted a sleep - who was I to complain?!
Go with your gut instinct. You are your baby's mum and you know what works for you both.
Wow playing with a 7 day old? Heaps of time for that! Just enjoy your baby snuggles and if she falls asleep while feeding, then so be it! My DD3 (the only one I successfully breastfed) took all her day naps on me and fed to sleep up until about 7 months. Then I used to feed her to sleep on the bed and escape after she had fallen asleep.
She weaned when I fell pregnant with this one, so just before 23 months. Make the most of it I say - you'll miss it when they grow up!
Whatever works for you is THE best thing to do. Don't worry about the feed/play/sleep thing yet - plenty of time to worry about that later.
Feeding to sleep is the best trick in the world! My eldest did till she weaned (3yrs 3mo) and never had a problem transitioning to falling asleep without so I don't really believe the bad habit hype. My youngest is 18mo and currently asleep at the breast as I type, I like it because it forces me to sit/lay down and rest. And catch up on the world lol.
Do what works and enjoy, don't spend time worrying about books or rules or habits and mistakes. It all works itself out, listen to yourself and your baby and you'll find your own groove together.
No, she is only 7 days old. She's likely too tired for 'play'. Feeding to sleep is the most natural and easiest way to get a baby to sleep ever!! Just keep doing what you're doing, you know best xx
At 7 days old I was so sleep deprived, there's no way I was waking up DD for a play after a feed before trying to get her back to sleep again! If she's tired and falls asleep, let her
The rule of thumb is feed, play, sleep, but it depends on your baby's rhythms!
With DS1, nothing but nothing would keep him awake after a feed. I would actually spend a significant portion of the feed unwrapping him, ticking his toes, blowing on his face, stopping for a nappy change etc, just to keep him awake long enough to *have* a proper feed.
So the feed, play, sleep thing did not work for him - not for ages.
As long as they're having time doing all three over the course of a day, don't stress.
And in those first few weeks, "play" just means interaction. It could be you talking to her while you're changing her, or cuddles, or anything like that. It will be a while before they're actually interested in toys and books.
I still feed Amelia to sleep - no way would I at with her after a feed That sounds awful, how do you get them back down afterwards? I'm genuinely confused here, is that a normal practise?
Your baby is transitioning to being part of the world. I would minimize play and concentrate on getting breastfeeding well established and resting. Play comes later and for my kids never, ever just before sleep. Boobs are the best way to put a child to sleep. No crying, no fuss. Not many babies can self settle, and I'm not sure why we try and achieve it when they are so tiny. As others have said, there is plenty of time to worry about all that.
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Ok to sleep straight from breast?
That sounds awful, how do you get them back down afterwards?
I'm genuinely confused here, is that a normal practise?
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