How do you comfort a baby that is not breast fed?

[Enid]

dd3 has a cold and keeps waking in the night crying and feeling rotten. I stick her on my nork and she falls asleep all happy and cosy. But I'd quite like to give up breastfeeding at some point so how on earth do you comfort a baby without breastfeeding it?

By patting her gently on the back and shushing in her ear. It might be better if someone else i.e. your partner could do it to begin with to make sure you do not give in and draw a boob .

It took us about 3 nights and from then on ds would be happy to go without the boob.

I know some people hate them, but I think they have their place .....

Have you tried a dummy?

I went for the easy option.Boob was always so effective,it seemed a shame to stop.

little finger in mouth,I used this despite breastfeeding aswell.Does make you want to cut your finger off after a while though.

do you always comfort with your boob? you'd comfort the same way you would if you were baby sitting a distressed baby

I starting given up bfing when ds was 14mo and even then I really missed the comforting aspect of it - much quicker than any shushing or cuddling ime.

that's not v helpful is it

why do you want to stop (if you don't mind my asking)?

um, you cuddle it ... it is possible to comfort a non breastfed baby you know ....
If sucking is a necessity but giving up breastfeeding is too then why not think of giving her a dummy?

Not really for comfort but creams like snuffle babe and baby vicks help them to breath and Karvol capsules on a cloth near the cot etc help. Also have you tried raising the head end of the cot? Sorry if this is obvious just suggestions. We did dummy/ musly for ds and breast (last night actually ) for dd.

joolstoo I have no idea how I would comfort a distressed baby that wasnt mine

can you see why I am never asked to babysit

I've wondered this too, Enid. I think that the baby gets used to whatever method you use to comfort them, so a bfed baby gets used to being bfed, but will get used to something else if they're not being bfed any more. That makes NO sense... Er. I don't know. Can you tell?!

Jools, aren't you meant to bfeed babies you're babysitting then?

i dont think I'll give up just yet

Nah, don't give up yet, Enid. Gets easier, honestly. I thought about giving up about three months in...

Didn't though

cuddle, rock and hum, and a dummy.

I think Hunker is right - each baby is different and probably has a different 'thing' that comforts them. If a breastfed baby is always comforted with a breast then I guess that's an issue when you stop and you need to find something else (obviously, I know this is what you are asking!).

When mine woke in the night they were comforted quite easily with cuddles or some milk or singing (ha ha!). Ds1 had a dummy so that always worked for him. The other two didn't. If I couldn't comfort them this way, usually bringing them into our bed for that night would work. That way they can snuggle and you can stroke them!

If they have a cold - it's the usual remedies isn't it - end of cot higher up, vicks, calpol etc. Usually if they have a cold you just have to put up with getting up for a couple of nights - it's not the end of the world.

Or good old MEdised if you are really desperate! I only found out about this with ds3 though.