how do I change my baby's sleep-feed habit?

Question

She's a 6 months old baby who doesn't like to be fed when she's awake, and only let me feed her when she's drowsy. During her awake time, she likes to crawl around and play with her toys.

Recently, she wakes up 30 minutes after her night feed and cries until someone picks her up from her crib. After we calm her down and try to put her down, she refuses to stay in her crib. I have to nurse her to sleep almost every night. We already have routine for bedtime, but she used to sleep through the night after the last feed.

Please let me know what I can try to break her association between breastfeeding and sleeping. I really appreciate all kinds of help to improve her ability to fall asleep on her own.

Answer

I read somewhere to try to tank baby up before bed. The only way I can get her to nurse aside from prior to naps is by sitting her on my leg like a pony, facing me tummy to tummy. If she's awake she wants to be playing and she gets annoyed that I'm trying to hold her "like a baby" or put her in bed next to me to nurse. She's like "don't you sneak a nap on me!" This sitting up nursing has helped me fill her up during the day and, I think, satisfy her need to nurse/suck for comfort. Which doesn't get satisfied otherwise since she hates pacifiers despite my best efforts! Lol!

We bed share (on purpose because we like it) so it's not a huge issue for us to nurse at night but I do notice that if I don't nurse her as often as possible during the day she's up crying for it in the night. Whereas most nights she sleeps through, nursing only occasionally and cooing and reaching for it rather than actually crying.

So maybe if she gets the boob all day more frequently, or a good boobin' before bed, that will help you in your efforts.

Answer

I tried with my daughter when I know she's waking up for feed I give her pacifier and stroke her between eyes ,she would move and make some noise but settles down after and same when she wakes up for second feed. I did it 2 nights and it worked but then she got sick and had fever with diarrhea so I decided to feed her at night as she wasn't feeling well so I'm not sure how effective this method would be

Answer

Not going to lie it wasnt easy! It took many sleepless nights for us to break the nursing at night habit. We had to do "whine it out" and kee repeating the cycle for days until she understood that when we put her in her crib it meant that it was time to sleep. I hope it gets better for you soon

Answer

I'm in the same boat, my son only likes to nurse himself to sleep. However if he's extremely tired he will fall asleep in the swing (if we put him in there before he throws a fit) but I used to stress myself out over it, but I've learned to enjoy and embrace my little baby, because one day he's going to be too big for all of that. I know it sounds crazy but this is what has helped me. I try and keep him on a tight schedule as well.

how do I change my baby's sleep-feed habit?

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