5.5mo bf baby still being fed to sleep. Can't go on like this! Any ideas

[aaarrrggghhh]

Dd is 5.5months and has trouble falling asleep without being bf into her slumber (or in car or pushchair). I was happy with this for a while as I know this kind of thing will eventually sort itself but it's getting too much now! She is waking up to 4 times between 7.30pm and 9.30pm because she has fallen asleep not having taken enough milk (no lack of milk there). She is obviously too comfy. Is this common? Tonight I decided no more so when she woke after 10 mins, she only got offered a bottle and then let her cry it out with gentle head stroking which did eventually work

I am also wondering whether to just give up bf altogether at this stage. Or can someone reassure me that once dd is on 3 meals a day at 7 months or so that bf will be less demanding???!!!

hmmm, mulling this over, well all mine have bf to sleep for the first year more or less and it wasn't a problem once I stopped bf, so no worries on that score.
I'm tempted to say it is just a stage, they seem to change every week at this age. she could be waking more cos of teething or having a cold and then wants a bf to get back to sleep, in which case in a few weeks she'll be sleeping more soundly again. but it is very aaaaaaargh when you're back in that bedroom for the umpteenth time that night and not getting any time to yourself. if it's being trapped in the bedroom that's getting you down, you could always let her come back downstairs for a bit of a chat and then take her back upstairs later on. whatever you do, I wouldn't spend any energy worrying about setting a terrible precedent/training her into bad habits etc, she'll be just fine.
does she feed from both breasts last thing at night before you put her down? if not, after she's fallen asleep, wake her up again - sorry if that's stating the obvious

HMMMM bit of a nightmare eh? Try reading The no cry sleep solution by elizabeth pantley, she gives some NICE ways of teaching your nursling to fall asleep on their own. Good Luck.

I'm in the same position with DD - she feeds about every half hour in the evening, but then she generally sleeps through once I'm asleep. I'm pretty sure this will settle down once she starts solids, which is only a couple of weeks away now, so I'm going to stick it out. Good luck!

if makes u feel any better, i am having similar early evening wakings with 5 month old. teething possibly, definitely also has a cold

My mum's cure for falling asleep without feeding enough was to gently tap my DD's feet till she stirred and continued feeding. Worked a treat.