how do you get them to sleep?

602 Views 16 Replies 15 Participants Last post by almadianna, Apr 22, 2009

Honey693

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2009

How do you get a baby to sleep without nursing? DD is 6 months old and I've noticed that at some of her night feeds she's not really hungry (she'll take 4 or 5 sips and pass back out). Most of the time I don't mind this, but some nights I'd like to be able to put her back to sleep without the whole having to unclip my bra, pull up my shirt, scooch her down to chest level, etc. Trouble is I have no idea how to help her get back to sleep without my boobs

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boatbaby

· #2 · Apr 20, 2009

At that age, she needs your boobs. She wouldn't do it if she didn't need it, even for a short nursing session.
If the bra is an inconvenience, then either don't wear one at night or get one that just moves over to one side (I wore one of those soft cotton ones at night for a long time with DS)

LCB

· #3 · Apr 20, 2009

My LO is the same. I just don't bother with bras at night. I haven't found anything else that puts her back to sleep either, so we're in the same boat as you. I'm trying to find other ways to help her learn to go to sleep, but it's still very much a work in progress. Good luck!

alegna

· #4 · Apr 20, 2009

As long as the boob works, why try anything else? That's always my motto.

Boob is always easier than getting up, walking, bouncing, rocking, etc.

-Angela

MLA

· #5 · Apr 20, 2009

I'm working on this, too. You should check out Elizabeth Pantley's "No Cry Sleep Solution." She has gentle methods to break the sucking=sleeping association. I'm seeing some success with it.

There's a thread in this forum about the book, too. Good luck!

nightmama

· #6 · Apr 20, 2009

I'm facing exact the same challenge with my 6 mo. old, minus the bra issue. The reason I'm concerned about this issue is that I still can't help worrying about some of the bed-sharing scare stories (my father heavily promotes them and has therefore not been informed that we are sharing our bed with our son), in particular when my baby is down at breast level and I doze off, I feel that my top arm often migrates too close to his face for my own comfort, but with him wanting to suckle on and off fairly constantly, it is difficult for me to either move away from him or to move him up higher in the bed.

Any advice?

PassionateWriter

· #7 · Apr 20, 2009

dont even try anything else...so much easier than any alternative.

Mal85

· #8 · Apr 20, 2009

DD is only 7 weeks old, so our results may vary... but she has always refused to eat unless she's hungry, she doesn't nurse to sleep and hasn't since she was about 2 weeks old. She will nurse and go right back to sleep after most of the time but doesn't fall asleep at the breast.

On nights that she doesn't go right back to sleep, I make sure she's swaddled (if her arms are out, she will stay awake). I will cradle her in my arm laying next to me and pat her back and gently bounce her (the best I can while still laying down). Usually she will go back to sleep.

velcromom

· #9 · Apr 20, 2009

I know there are phases where it is so tiresome. I agree with the pp's suggestion to make it easier for yourself by changing your nighttime attire. Wear something you can pull down, not up, along with a soft bra or no bra, and it will be a lot easier right there.

The fact that it has nothing to do with hunger is not the point - a bazillion other things besides hunger wake babies so that they need help getting back to sleep. Remember, she's going to need parenting to sleep after night-wakings for some time - could be til two which is average for most kids - so you need to decide what is more disruptive to you. Would it be more bother to have to spend time awake in the night doing something else to soothe her, perhaps less effective, or would it be more logical to continue using the best tool you have for the job?

Also consider the future - having a near-perfect sleep transition tool like nursing is worth its weight in gold when you have a crawler or toddler who fights sleep as if it's the plague - think carefully before you give up this particular superpower!

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LadyCatherine185

· #10 · Apr 20, 2009

i wish for me it was as easy as just nursing that got him to sleep.. usually it is quite a production of nursing/rocking/walking/shusshing/white noise.... but once he is out for the night, a little nursing is all it takes to get him back to sleep which is nice..

try wearing a sports bra at night, if you have to wear a bra. you can just lift it up easily without hooking, unhooking.

poiyt

· #11 · Apr 20, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by velcromom

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think carefully before you give up this particular superpower!

this is just awesome!

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Honey693

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 20, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by velcromom

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Also consider the future - having a near-perfect sleep transition tool like nursing is worth its weight in gold when you have a crawler or toddler who fights sleep as if it's the plague - think carefully before you give up this particular superpower!

This cracked me up and did make me think more about why I don't want to nurse her sometimes when it's for comfort. I think it's b/c once we get pregnant with the next munchkin DH is going to have to take over some of the night time parenting (the first 12 weeks kill me and I barely function on 12 hours of sleep) and I don't want to suddenly be like Ooops sorry kid the boob has closed for the night.

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alegna

· #13 · Apr 20, 2009

But she's just 6 months. A tiny baby still- really.

When are you planning to get pregnant? Remember that *most* women lose their milk during pregnancy and many babies/toddlers/kids wean at that time.

-Angela

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Harmony08

· #14 · Apr 20, 2009

Same boat here. Let's just say it is the easiest thing. Why oh why would I try anything else when it is so easy. I don't wear a bra at night. Most of the night he is sleeping right there at it so I barely have to move. I don't think I would even stay awake long enough tp clip myself back up.

zoeyzoo

· #15 · Apr 20, 2009

I wanted to add that my LO now doesn't want to suck or eat to get to sleep. This happened naturally at around 10 months for my DD.

When I was nursing I used to wear those camis with the built in bras. Made things easy to nurse for me.

ann_of_loxley

· #16 · Apr 20, 2009

chloroform

No I am just joking!... They don't sell it on ebay...

Thats a joke too! lol

almadianna

· #17 · Apr 22, 2009

at this age the boob is what they need. no reason to change it.

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