feeding to sleep advice

[Gardener11]

hi everyone, I’m just looking for advice on breaking the feeding to sleep cycle (breastfeeding) or anyone that does it post 6months and if they’ve found any issues with their child’s sleep as time has gone on?

Health visitors etc are encouraging to break the cycle after 7/8months but I have no idea how that would be possible or even if the stress of doing it to both me and baby would benefit us that much down the line.

The boob is really the only great soother I have so to lose that would be a challenge in an already challenging situation with frequent night wakings etc.

if anyone has any thoughts or recommendations I would appreciate you sharing them. Thanks!

[Idril]

Hi there, no much advice but I am in the same boat ! My baby is 7 and half month, I just can say that some nights are better than others with feeding at night but overall, it's getting better. I am managing to make her sleep on her own in the evening which seems to improve her sleep and less wake up. I think they just will eventually stop!

[Seb9]

I breastfed both of mine to sleep for over a year and I've no problems with them now. The youngest is nearly 2 and the only thing we're struggling with is dropping her nap. If she naps she's up late and ready to party, if she doesn't nap she's a ball of rage by bedtime 😴 if I was still breastfeeding her I'd be using it to try and get her to sleep on her party nights 🤣

[Gardener11 in reply to Seb9]

Thanks. That’s good to hear, how did you end up stopping? What happens instead of feeding? Was it just a natural transition?

Feels like everyone is just telling me I’ll make problems for myself if I keep doing it but surely the aim is to keep you and baby as calm as possible during the wake ups 🤷🏻‍♀️ My lo just screams if we ever try anything different.

[Seb9 in reply to Gardener11]

I went back to work at 8 months with my first so she was moved on to bottles during the day, I would feed her in the morning and then at bed time. When she was 16 months , i was only really feeding her a bit during the day and then to sleep at night. I got pregnant again and at my 8 weeks appointment found I already had gestational diabetes, so my diet changed, I was pregnant and on Metformin for the diabetes. I went to feed her to sleep and she took one suck and went 'yuck' so I got her a bottle of cows milk and that was the end of it. She never asked for my milk again. Second baby started having a bottle when I went back to work at 8 months, she took to food at 6 months completely different to her sister and eats like a horse, she started to not really be interested in milk from me around 13 months and I stated to dry up, we switched her to cows milk and she's never asked for boob since. I've just had to find other ways to settle her. My husband takes her to bed quite often, because he's had to settle her without boob always so he's got his technique down to perfection.

[Gardener11 in reply to Seb9]

Thanks for sharing this!

[Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

I never did anything specific with either of mine as they got bigger sometimes they didnt fall asleep while feeding and so then we would just be with them to they fell asleep. Now my 5 year old just goes to bed after a story and my 2 year old still needs someone to lay with them till they fall asleep but it doesnt have to be me. The thing I like to always think when people say things like this is there are no 20 year olds who need to feed to sleep. Children learn it when they are ready, we worry about way too many things and try to stop really natural processes. If you dislike doing it then definitely look for a way to stop but if your happy and babys happy why worry. I should also add I went back to work with both of mine at about 9 months and even though they fed to sleep with me they didn't need to with others everyone else worked out their own way.

[Gardener11 in reply to Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

Thank you, that makes me feel a lot better.

[LaurLaur21]

I breastfed for 15 months, DD now sleeps through 11-12 hours at night. HV’s would probably discourage, but I give her a bottle of blue milk & a cuddle before bedtime and that works for us. The only advice I can give is go with what feels right. Why fix what’s not broken as they say! Xx

[PenguinBlue]

hello, I’ve had no issues when feeding my son to sleep post 6 months. I bf until 10 months and he was sleeping through around 6.5ish months. We did a dream feed around 10pm with a bottle of milk too up to 8ish months.

Even Now he is a great sleeper. Not really sure why your HV told you to break the cycle, if it works for you, it works! If you’re struggling and want to change, then of course you can look at methods to settle to sleep that work for you and your family.

[Sparklylife]

My baby is two in a couple of weeks! 🥹 We breastfed to sleep at bedtime up until I gave breastfeeding up! He was around 16-17 months and we have no problem at all with sleep now! I would say sleep was so tricky for us to start with, and it wasn’t until he was just over a year until it started getting a little easier! Breastfeeding to sleep was so cosy and the easiest option for us! He weaned himself of breastfeeding in the daytime around 8-9 months old. So we just fed at bedtime and overnight if he woke up. When we stopped breastfeeding .. I felt ready, but I think he must have been too because it wasn’t too hard! We waited until dad had a week off with us - between Christmas and New Year. Dad did all bedtime and wake ups over night that week. Two days he had to go in and resettle a bit more, but then little one got it and just started settling himself! Dad did same bedtime routine I had been doing, but instead of breastfeeding he read a story with a cup of milk, brushed teeth and said time for sleep! We still try follow that routine now 🥰

I would not worry about sleep yet, it does get better!!! Eventually! They still need you from time to time, but we cannot complain about sleep at all now! It is great - the only hardship is the early mornings - every day 😂! But you get used to waking at 6-6:30 😅 just have an earlier bedtime!

Wishing you all the best! 🧡

[Gardener11 in reply to Sparklylife]

Very reassuring to hear thanks. Very useful tips as well re Dad. 😊

[Maggie85]

Feeding to sleep is so natural and I find it sad that health visitors are encouraging you to break the cycle. I feed my wee girl to sleep (she's nearly 2yrs). She started sleeping through the night around 9 months so she can absolutely self settle. I find feeding to sleep absolutely amazing and it has been so helpful for us as a family, especially when she's ill... It brings her so much calmness and I love the quiet and closeness. It's a win win.There are so many schools of thought about breastfeeding and sleeping....it's a minefield and so difficult to know whats the best route to take. So whatever you decide to do, someone will say its right and someone will say its wrong!

You do whatever feels right for you, your baby and family xx

[Gardener11 in reply to Maggie85]

Thank you so much for this. Really positive to know it works so well for you and your family 😊