Nursing to sleep

[Liloosmum]

My DD #2 is now 17 weeks and we're still breast feeding. The past few days she won't sleep unless she falls asleep whilst feeding and yesterday I had to lie down with her and feed her to get her to go to sleep. This hasn't bothered me because it has been quite quick and easy.

Last night she woke at 10.30, 2.15, 3.45, 5 and 6 before getting up at 7. She fed like normal the first couple of times, but definitely for the last 2 she was just using me as a dummy to go back to sleep again. I thought it might have been because of feeding her to get her to nap during the day and her being unable to settle herself, but then just after 7 she dozed off by herself so I'm not sure.

When she's grizzly I've always tried feeding her to see if she's hungry before trying anything else, my theory being that if she feeds more during the day then she'll sleep at night. I don't think I'm very good at spotting tired cues (I never was with DD#1 either!) We don't really have a routine which doesn't bother me as long as she sleeps at night! Do you think feeding her so that she has a nap can mean she wants the same during the night?

Liloosmum - I was about to post a very similar question regarding my 12 week old DS - we have recently switched from mixed feeding to EBF after a horrific difficult start to breastfeeding but whereas he used to happily nap and go to sleep at night of his own accord, he now insists on feeding until he's in a deep sleep - I have resorted to using a dummy (oh the horror!) just to try and give my poor boobs a break! I have the same trouble as you through the night also - it's relentless and again the dummy has been the only solution. It's now happening in the day too - no nap unless he's feeding, leading to tantrums when he's so full he's being sick but still wants to feed. Aaaargh!
So, in short I am of no use to you whatsoever, except to say that I understand the problem, dont rule out dummies if it gets awful and I will wait with you to see if anyone else has had and (pray) solved this problem!

17 weeks is nearly 4 months isn't it? I think there is a big growth spurt at 4 months which is well known for causing sleep regression which could explain why DD is waking so much at night? It could be that the sucking which looks like she is using you as a dummy is in fact her trying to increase your milk supply.

I sympathise because I'm experiencing something similar with my 12 week DD. She has gone from sleeping from 9pm-4am to refusing to sleep until 11pm then waking every couple of hours. Last night I had to feed her from 8.30pm to 11.30pm to get her to go to sleep, my nipples felt absolutely shredded by the end :(

Definitely the 4 month sleep regression. It's related to a big developmental spurt at 19 weeks (adjust according to whether your LO was born late / early).

I just kept feeding every time DS woke and he went back to his previous waking pattern after a couple of weeks. You can't fix it but it does end.

More info here, here, here and here.

Some sleep books reckon that night & day sleep is controlled by different parts of the brain, so feeding to sleep in the day doesn't necessarily mean they need to feed to sleep at night.

I always found that when DS was working on a developmental spurt I could only get him to nap by feeding to sleep (not rocking or anything else). Basically their brains are so buzzing that they find it hard to nap as well as waking lots at night.

HTH

She's been nursing to sleep today and then waking as soon as i put her down so we've had a tough day. i've now got a horrible sore throat so think she might well have too. i hope we get back to some kind of normality soon

Maybe she is feeling a bit poorly then? This will complicate things as she may want the comfort as well as the soothing milk on her throat. Difficult for you if you are feeling rough and not sleeping much. Would baby calpol help?

How about a duvet day where you both hang out together in pyjamas in the bedroom with the TV, food and drink and naps when you both can? This way she can feed as needed and you can both try to recover while having a day officially "off sick"! And get the nipple cream on after every feed. Has worked for me when my lo was poorly.