Questions regarding co sleeping and feeding to sleep

[NicNac]

Hi,
just after some feedback for those of you who co sleep.

We are part time co sleepers, in that some nights for part of the night we will co sleep. Until about two weeks ago, I was feeding DS to sleep for day sleeps, but since then we have moved to him doing some self soothing (rubbing his face with his wrap) and then me giving him a couple of rocks to finish the job. I've noticed on the nights we have co slept, he roots more when I rock him for day sleeps, and so I think he is getting an inconsistent message re settling.

I love the co sleeping, but the feeding to sleep during the day is difficult as it means I have to leave DD alone for periods of time (I lay on the bed to feed to sleep as he won't go to sleep if I am sitting up). The self soothing and rocking work much better all round IMO as DS is chucky and filling his belly with milk before bed doesn't help with his digestive issues.

Just wondering if you co sleep and feed to sleep at night, how do you deal with your little one's day time sleeps? Do you still feed to sleep or do they/can they self settle (or use some other method to get to sleep) during the day?

[Arimeh]

Mine fed to sleep in their bedroom and my other kids entertained themselves in the loungeroom. I usually put on a movie or something to keep their attention, and if they are still reasonably young - give a plate of food too LOL

[Eenee]

Gosh I wish mine fed to sleep during the day but that only works at night! For day sleeps I just hold DS until he falls asleep (he usually has a feed before hand though) and then I transfer him to his cot. DD sometimes wants to sit there with me while I put DS to sleep so she usually watches peppa pig or playschool on my iPad and she knows she isn't allowed to talk, then we sneak out.

[PumpkinZulu]

Wow I'm really lucky at the moment. DD2 feeds to sleep wherever. Usually on the couch in the lounge while DD1 runs around like a nutter. Then I transfer her to whichever baby holding device I want her to nap in - cot attached to bed, swing or rocker. The swing is in the kitchen and the rocker is in the lounge.

[Heaven]

I did the same as Arimeh

[Saffy]

I dont' cosleep but have a bassinet right next to my bed.
I feed to sleep during the day every nap unless we are in a situation where she is put to sleep by the car or pram movement. If I put her in the bassinet and tried to rock her to sleep during the day it would not work, she'll feed even if its a few sucks.
The thing that made our naps easier during the day was putting her in her swaddle bag each time, so she knows it is sleep time. I was winging it before and it was really all over the place, once i started doign that her sleep pattern improved a lot.
I agree that feeding to sleep can be a pain as DD does sometime wake up with a spew not long after going down, I'm too lazy to sit and persevere with other settling techniques though cos BFing works quickly.

[Arcadia]

I used to feed ds to sleep in the day while dd watched tv, or played on the iPad. It got to a certain stage though where dd wouldn't leave us alone so I started walking each day with the double stroller and ds would have a nap in there (he only got one nap from around 8-9 months).

Even now at two I feed to sleep and ds can sleep up to 2.5 hours in the day. He still feeds once overnight too.

Good luck. Juggling the older child's needs while breastfeeding can be tricky.

[veus]

I'm very similar to saffy. Feed to sleep for naps or if she's in car or pram she might fall asleep. Having said that she goes for nap no problem at child care. Apparently they tell her its time for nap & she just goes to her spot. When DH has to put her down for nap, she can go down too, but not necessarily quickly the first time. After that she gets it.

To be honest I've never tried too hard to let her self settle. Just easier with booby power.

[Saffy]

my DH can get her to sleep too on his chest- she refuses with me , must smell the milk

[Jellyfish]

I just feed DD2 to sleep laying on the couch while DD1 plays around us or I'd have her sleep in the pram/car/carrier while out. We live next to a house being built so she has been pretty used to noise while falling asleep though lol.

[Snacks]

Just thinking about the chucky thing, do you have a rocker seat he could sleep in for day naps?
What about settling in a sling if you're not going to feed to sleep in the day? He may find the motion/cuddle-like position conducive to sleeping. I could on occasions transfer my kids from soft sling to bed (though admittedly sometimes that didn't work).

[trishalishous]

I feed to sleep if needed, but DD used to just jump in bed and 'have a little rest' (fall asleep 99% of the time)

[NicNac]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I guess I was just wondering if people fed to sleep at night but then did something totally different during the day, but looks like most of you go with what is obviously working the best!
We are heading into a big wonder week so think I'll be doing that too!
Thanks again.

[Saffy]

Good luck! We just got through a BIG wonder week it was hardcore