Nine month old biting nipples/ sleep training

[Maizie83]

Hi all,
I am currently mixed feeding my nine-month old DD. I'm hoping/ trying to wean her off the breast gradually so that I can stop when she is one. She is very much in the 'feed to sleep' mode.

She has about two formula feeds a day now (before morning nap and bed) instead of boob and sleeps better on the formula generally. However she usually still needs to suckle on the breast for a short time to fall asleep because its a deeply engrained sleep association for her.

I'd like to find a new way for her to settle, and I've failed miserably at controlled crying and pickup / put down (absolutely not into her crying it out). I always gave, and it feels like it goes against my instincts, personally.

Based on this, I was happy to just go with the feeding to sleep until she started biting persistently on my nipples when teething. And lately she's been less interested in the breast, but still unable to fall asleep on her own, even from rocking. She has never fallen asleep on her own in the cot, drowsy but awake. So bedtimes have been a bit stressful for her.

I'm sure I've made all the first time parent mistakes of bad sleep associations etc, but there we are. I am wondering if anyone has had similar experiences, finding themselves in this middle ground/ stalemate type situation. A friend has said to me that the breastfeeding just petered out, and gradually cuddles replaced feeds. Anyone else have this happen?

Also she won't even take a bottle from my partner, who is eager to get involved in the settling before bed, but she won't have it!

Sorry this is a marathon post. Not looking for judgement or lecturing (as has sadly been my experience on here sometimes), just anyone who relates or could share any tips. Thank u!

[Maizie83]

Sorry that was a typo "I always cave" not "I always gave" :)

[Horsebox36]

No advice I'm afraid, but am in the same boat. 11.5 month old still feeds to sleep. Don't know how/when it's ever going to stop

[Hellothere19999]

8 month old and the same lol. Sorry I haven’t got any advice, it just seems natural to me but I am trying to get her to fall asleep in the cot or whilst cuddling. I read another post where people were moaning because they can no longer feed to sleep and they miss it coz it was so reliable 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Maizie83]

@Hellothere19999 @Horsebox36 oh dear i guess I'm not alone, and this is normal which is somewhat reassuring.

Re: missing the 'feed to sleep' I totally get that. My fear is that its losing its potency and I am basically screwed without it! Wish me luck! She's literally just woken!

[SRK16]

Same boat with a nearly one year old... though I have noticed recently he is struggling to fall asleep on the boob/doesn’t want it, and have started being able to sometimes cuddle him to sleep or put him down drowsy... I’m hoping we get there eventually!

[Hollywhiskey]

Do you want to wean her or just stop the biting? I found giving my daughter bonjela and sometimes calpol as well stopped her biting so much. Kelly mom website has a useful article about when babies bite.
My husband got mine off feeding to sleep by settling them for naps in the day. He wore them in the sling and sang to them. Daytime is easier than night time until the association is there. Mine never had a bottle so I don't know how you introduce that, I gave expressed milk in a cup if they needed it.

[BananaPie]

My daughter started biting during night feeds. I took that as a sign to stop breastfeeding her at night. I think I ended up rocking her to sleep instead until she got too heavy. She’s 8 years old now, settles herself and sleeps through the night.

[Maizie83]

@SRK16 that's interesting, I hope you're right - sure sounds like it!

@Hollywhiskey I guess both, hoping to be finished BF in December when she turns one, certainly at night. I do give her baby nurofen when I think she might be teething badly, but I don't want to rely on it too much. The Dad daytime nap thing is a great tip, thank you, only thing is his work is quite sporadic so it's hard to maintain that consistency. She's been really funny about taking the bottle from him lately, but it has happened and once she fell asleep in his arms after a bottle. Maybe we need to persevere with that. She's possibly just in a clingy phase with me... who knows!

[ikphillips]

My eldest started biting when I introduced formula as I believe my supply began to dry up and she was frustrated. Unfortunately it was the beginning of the end of breast feeding for me. Are you in a position to feed with a bottle before bed?

[Maizie83]

@ikphillips I suspect that's whats happening here too. I do give her a 4 oz bottle before bed, and then she suckles on the boob for a short while before drifting off. Thats what usually happens, but the biting is making that a lot less straightforward! I might try a dream bottle feed at midnight, and see how that goes - if I can stay awake!

Thank you all!