Nursing to sleep is a natural and soothing practice for many parents and their babies.It provides comfort, will help bonding, as well as settling little ones before bed. Of course, this can be a peaceful routine, but, in addition to these conveniences, it also has its challenges. Some people worry about dependency or inability to wean; others wonder if it becomes detrimental to healthy sleep habits. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of nursing to sleep, the potential challenges, and offer practical tips to help you navigate this sleep routine with confidence.
Is Breastfeeding to Sleep Bad?
The act of breastfeeding to sleep is by no means bad; most babies fall asleep after nursing. For many cultures, it's just a thing that happens during the bedtime routine and helps the baby fall into a secure and comfortable sleep. But "good" or "bad" depends on the child, the family, and the approach.
Factors to Consider
- Attachment and Bonding
Sleeping with breast can make a mother bond with the baby. It is a comforting nurturing experience that assists attachment and enables babies to feel secure, which happens during an important period of early development.
- Sleep Associations
One of the anxieties of breastfeeding to sleep is that it often presents a sleep association. This would mean the baby might grow relying on only the breast for falling asleep. If this becomes the case, it can be hard for the child to fall asleep independently later on. This becomes an issue when babies grow older, especially if parents need to transition their child to a different sleep routine.
- Gradual Transition to Sleep
Breastfeeding to sleep is so normal and natural for infancy, that although accepted, some experts have suggested that sometimes, when the baby grows older, parents need to help gradually learn to sleep at night. It is occasionally necessary to rely on the breast less to fall asleep, but only as a gradual process.
- Night Wakings
Some babies will wake more frequently at night if they become conditioned to sleep. If a baby wakes and expects to nurse back to sleep, a pattern of night wakings can be created. This isn't "bad" per se, but it might be tricky for parents who are seeking longer stretches of sleep or trying to break the pattern of frequent night feeds.
- Different Baby Needs
Babies have different sleep needs and temperaments. Some babies thrive with breastfeeding to sleep and don't develop problematic sleep associations, while others may struggle with self-soothing if they’re dependent on breastfeeding to fall asleep. Every baby is different, so what works for one family may not work for another.
- Long-Term Sleep Patterns
In the long term, if a parent would want their baby to sleep independently, they may start to teach different sleep techniques, like letting the baby learn how to self-soothe, once the child is old enough; however, this is a gradual process and should be done in a way that aligns with the child's developmental stage and temperament.
What You Should Know about Feeding Your Baby to Sleep?
Even though nursing your baby to sleep is not inherently wrong, you might end up setting up a situation where your baby won't know how to fall asleep without it.
Here are some potential cons of using nursing as a sleep aid that you might want to consider:
- Suck-to-sleep association: When your baby becomes accustomed to nursing to sleep, bedtime can become a bit more difficult. They will wake up at night and have to nurse to fall back to sleep. This habit may be harder to break as they get older.
- Difficulty for others to put your baby to sleep: If your baby always requires nursing to fall asleep. If you're planning to return to work or have an evening out, this creates challenges. Bottle introduction early on allows other caregivers to assist in feeding as well as bedtime where you can really need a break.
- Emotional toll: New parents often face sleep deprivation, and if only mom can get the baby to sleep, it can be emotionally and physically exhausting. If responsibilities of feeding and soothing are shared with the baby, stress levels are reduced, and everyone is likely to recover better long term.
When Should You Stop Nursing Infants to Sleep?
When to stop nursing an infant to sleep depends on your baby and your family, but many experts recommend that you're done with bedtime feedings by the first birthday:
Around 4 months - Babies begin to develop the ability to self-soothe. You might try moving the nighttime feeding to the start of your bedtime routine so your baby doesn't associate feeding with falling asleep.
Around 6 months - Most babies do not need a bedtime bottle or breast for feeding. Most babies can sleep for five to six hours at a stretch without feeding.
At about 9 months - Very few babies need the extra calories and nutrients from feeding before bed.
Around 12 months - For breastfeeding, you may start night weaning.
What Can I Do Instead of Nursing to Sleep?
If you're considering alternatives to nursing your baby to sleep, there are several gentle methods you can try to help your baby fall asleep independently. It's important to approach these alternatives gradually and based on your baby’s developmental stage and temperament.
There are several things you can try instead of nursing to sleep, including:
- Establish a bedtime routine. A consistent routine can help your baby prepare for sleep. You can try dimming the lights, playing lullabies, or rocking your baby.
- Offer a substitute. If your baby wakes up at night, you can try offering a sippy cup with water.
- Get your baby to fall asleep without nursing. You can try not offering the breast immediately, and instead try walking, rocking, or patting your baby's back.
- Wear your baby in a sling. After feeding your baby, you can wear them in a sling around the house or outside. When your baby is deep asleep, you can ease them into bed.
- Involve your partner. You can try having your partner help with the bedtime routine or getting your baby back to sleep in the middle of the night.
- Share a room. Some families find it comforting to share a room with their child for a while.
Babies often seek comfort from nursing or a bottle as much as nourishment. While it's okay for the first few months, there may come a time when the drawbacks of pre-bed nursing outweigh the advantages.
Other Tips for Getting your Baby Sleep Well
Here are some easy-to-implement tips to guide your baby to be well-rested:
- Develop a bedtime routine: Give your baby activities that will create a calmed mood like giving them a warm bath, reading a book, or gently rocking him/her.
- Dress your infant comfortably: Have your baby wear soft, cozy pajamas appropriate for the room temperature. It keeps them warm all night. Momcozy Baby Pajama is made comfortably for your baby since it is made from soft cotton and bamboo viscose. This pajama is gentle on delicate skin, providing a safe and cozy sleeping environment for your little one.
- White noise machine: There is a white noise machine that has helped in curbing the noise causing your baby to wake up and soothe them to sleep. Momcozy Smart Baby Sound Machine features 34 soothing white noise sounds and a gentle LED lamp with seven color options. It can help your baby have a peaceful night’s sleep.
- Consistent sleep schedule: Put your baby to bed at the same time each night to make them have a regular sleep pattern.
- Prepare a dimly lit, quiet place: Calm the sleep environment by lowering lights and noise levels.
- Provide a comfort object: If your baby is old enough, offer a soft toy or blanket to provide comfort and security as they fall asleep.
- Allow self-soothing: Allow your baby to learn to settle themselves to sleep by giving them a bit of time to themselves before helping to settle them.
- Feed well during the day: Make sure your baby's having plenty of feeds in the day so they're not waking up because they are hungry at night.
By following these and bedding down to a calm, consistent bedtime routine, this baby is likely to sleep better and sleep more independently.
FAQs about Nursing to Sleep
Will the baby grow out of feeding to sleep?
Yes, babies will grow out of feeding to sleep, but it may take some time:
About 4 months: Babies can start to self-soothe, so you can move nighttime feedings to the beginning of your bedtime routine.
About 6 months: Most babies have outgrown the need for a bedtime bottle or breast for milk.
Around 9 months: Few babies require the additional calories and nutrients that are provided by feeding at this time.
Around 18 months: Some families find it easier to reduce night feeds at this age.
Around 1 year: Most specialists advise that bedtime feedings be stopped by this age.
Do formula-fed babies sleep better?
Formula-fed babies may sleep for longer stretches at night because formula takes longer to digest. However, overall sleep quality depends on many factors, not just the feeding method, so formula-fed babies don't necessarily sleep better than breastfed babies.
When should I stop taking night nurses?
You can consider stopping a night nurse when your baby is around 3-6 months old, at which time your baby's sleep patterns tend to stabilize and you're confident in handling nighttime care by yourself.
Conclusion
Nursing to sleep offers comfort and bonding for both parents and babies, but it can create sleep associations and challenges with night weaning. As babies grow, their sleep needs change, and around 6-12 months, parents may need to gradually stop nighttime nursing to encourage independent sleep. With the right approach, including consistent routines and gentle alternatives, parents can support healthy sleep habits while respecting their baby’s temperament and their family’s needs.
