Did you feed them to sleep?...stories Please!!!

[jackrose]

I always just did what felt right with DD, some of which involved feeding to sleep, most of it was self settling in a hammock though. My DD was always a really great sleeper and always settled to sleep really well. A very lucky mum here .

As time went on I realised I was beginning to feed to sleep as DD often fell asleep during her evening feed. She did not really need this as I mentioned, she self settled well on her own without it, but I really enjoyed watching her blissed out and drifting off to sleep on the boob. I checked some BB threads on the topic and decided that it would be fine as so many women explained that their children weaned themselves off the feed to sleep habit in their own time.

In addition to using the hammock, we co-slept. DD was able to feed whenever she wanted during the night - but that was only really 2-3 times in a 10 hour stretch so no big deal for me.

I ran into an issue at about the 6 month mark though and for me, the feed to sleep/co-sleeping feeding was creating an issue. DD developed a breast/sleep association where she lost the ability to self settle and needed a breast in her mouth to go to/go back to sleep. She began to wake every sleep cycle looking for a breast in her mouth and would cry. When I fed her, she would suck for a few minutes and then fall asleep again or wriggle/feed/wriggle for ages. After a month or two dealing with this she was waking up to every 1/2 hour some nights - so every sleep cycle. I was at my wits end so I had to work at breaking the habit as we were both a mess and miserable. It took a bit of work and some other methods but I have managed to help her relearn to settle herself and she is back to her normal 'good sleeper' self.

FWIW, I am still a big fan of feeding to sleep and co-sleeping and would do it again if that is what my child needed. Every child is so different and not all babies who do what my DD did would end up in the situation I was in. I just hope my experience helps you recognise if it is happening with you as I wish I had figured it our earlier. The period between 6-8 months when I worked out what was happening with us was really really not fun!

All babies seem to go through a 'bad sleep patch' at some stage and there are so many factors that could possibly be behind it. The most important thing though is that you feel comfortable about the path you take.

As for the nay sayers, "you shouldn't do that" and "you are teaching them bad habits", in my opinion the only bad habits you can teach a baby is through not giving them what they need. You really are teaching them that you are not there for them and that they need to 'toughen up' and fight for their own survival on this earth. *Shudder*. How can feeding a baby to sleep show them anything but you are there to meet their needs!


ETA: I just remembered that I did read something once about the physiological benefits for babies when they fall asleep on the breast.... just wish I could remember the details.... anyone??

[~clover~]

I still feed DS at sleep at 14 months.
It can make things difficult with 2 other kids, but rarely.
Sometimes he won't have boob, but 98% of the time he does. The nights he wakes we co sleep, but mostly he's starting to sleep through, so sleeps in his cot.
I put him to sleep on me, or laying in our bed, then he goes into the cot. If he wakes, he comes into our bed, if not he stays in the cot.
Its working out ok for us. He's still sleeping well. Still having 2 sleeps a day (a few are cutting down now & earlier, my girls were down to 1 day sleep).
He's also starting, on rare occasions to finish boob, then roll over & sleep, or he'll even toddle off & fall asleep on the floor.

[Smoke Jaguar]

If it makes you feel any better, I still feed DS to sleep He's going to be 3 in June. He will sleep for others if I'm not there, but if I'm around it has to be ME putting him to sleep and it's definitely with the help of Babu (boob), even though there's not much there at this stage of the pregnancy. So, it's comforting to him still, and the only problem I have is when he wakes overnight wanting more. This is what I'm weaning him from now, though if I don't get much support from DP, then I just give in to keep the house quiet and to get everyone to sleep asap!

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Doesn't everyone feed their baby to sleep? It really just makes so much sense. When babies suck they release a hormone called CCK (for short) It makes them sleepy. And as they suckle, mums get a burst of the same hormone, making us feel sleepy.
Mums breastfeeding older babies know they have the natural advantage - a few sucks and baby is out for the count. Beats all that rocking, patting and pacing.....

[*charmalea*]

I ran into an issue at about the 6 month mark though and for me, the feed to sleep/co-sleeping feeding was creating an issue. DD developed a breast/sleep association where she lost the ability to self settle and needed a breast in her mouth to go to/go back to sleep. She began to wake every sleep cycle looking for a breast in her mouth and would cry. When I fed her, she would suck for a few minutes and then fall asleep again or wriggle/feed/wriggle for ages. After a month or two dealing with this she was waking up to every 1/2 hour some nights - so every sleep cycle. I was at my wits end so I had to work at breaking the habit as we were both a mess and miserable.

THIS is exactly my DD atm and has been for a loooooong time , i just cant break the cycle !!! its dirving me bonkers !!


BUT i really have not troubles to feeding them to sleep ... dont feel guilty about it .. .

my dd is young and if i dont do what i feel i always think "you'll never get this moment back".. i just give her a massive snuggle while feeding her to sleep .. and the rythmic sounds of her sucking are soothing to me aswell !!!