Feeding to sleep

[Floral581]

Hi :)
I'm just wondering how other mums have broken this cycle 😪 my baby is 14 weeks old and feeds to sleep every time, at night and for naps, which I normally don't mind...however I think she's now hit sleep regression! So she is waking up every 90-120minutes throughout the night and will not go back to sleep unless she's given the breast, she absolutely shrieks until she gets it and then immediately settles down. She isn't even feeding some of the times, just wants to hold it in her mouth 🤦🏼‍♀️
I'm wondering how to break the feed to sleep cycle during the sleep regression...if I can 😬

It's normal to feed to sleep

Depending how you feel about mixed feeding, you could try a bottle of formula (or expressed milk) before bed so you can tell how much she's had. She might sleep longer if she's definitely got a full belly.

I think/ hope my baby is coming out of the regression and I didn't do anything differently - suddenly he just started to sleep through/do long stretches again after weeks of 1/2 hour max stretches. I was super glad to be able to feed to sleep as it sends him back to sleep quickly at night! Didn't want to potentially reduce my sleep even more by having to try a less effective soothing technique... hopefully it passes for you too!

It's hard! You're in the thick of it so sending love. Mine started sleeping longer chunks when my partner gave a bottle as I think he liked the boob for comfort. We also did some "sleep training" where I wouldn't be in the room to settle back to sleep (he slept on floor to give all comfort needed). I personally think they get very attached to their mum / boob and wake up for that comfort. Still very young though, I did this at 9 months. Xxx

• he being my partner that slept on floor not my baby 🙈

I fed to sleep / co slept with both of mine and stopped when I stopped breastfeeding - gradually they just slept longer stints and were happy in bed without me from around a year - 1.5 year old. My youngest is nearly 2 and sleeps right through. I am glad I did it this way and gave them comfort when they needed - then gradually weaned them off the boob/co sleeping. Not saying it’s easy, there were some nights I wanted to tear my hair out - but it’s not forever and one day it will feel like a distant memory!

If there is a way, I'd love to know. Still feeding to sleep at 16 months here. Of course, it is only natural. It's just tough on us mums!

My baby is 5 months and I’ve been trying gently to encourage her to settle with the boob. A lot of the time I still feed to sleep though! You could try feeding her until sleepy then swap your boob for a dummy, pop her in her cot, lie close to her with your hand on her chest and do long slow shushing. I sometimes pat a soft heart beat type rhythm with my hand on her too. It can take a while but does often work for Lola

I feed to sleep. I can't figure out how not to. It's not ideal but I guess not forever?