Breast feeding as a sleep aid

[joymaker]

HiAll

I know it is lovely and obviously natural for babies to fall asleep after being bf and DS has always done this as well as being able to fall asleep in the arms of my DP. However DP is now finding it more difficult to achieve.

I'm a bit concerned that our DS is starting to use the breast to fall asleep exclusively-Is this usual as my DS is only 9 weeks old? I would be so grateful for any advice/tips on(breaking?)this as a potential habit.

BF is designed to make them sleepy, DH has to work a little harder to get DS2 to bed (as he did with DS1).

It evened out for us with DS1 when he got a bit older. DH just goes for the bath, bottle of EBM, story with DS1, swaddles him up and then lies down with him.

We both like to hold our babies while they sleep, DS2 is having a "boob" sleep right now.

Not a problem long term DS1 goes to bed, no arguments at 8pm every night.

Hold your bubba close while you can and don't worry about "bad" habits, you can't cuddle them too much, really you can't.

Yes, your DP may need to use more than just a cuddle eg rocking / lying with him, walking around, singing etc. As babies get older and more interested in the world around them, they may well need more help to get to sleep.

I'd agree with not worrying about bad habits at this stage. Being able to feed your baby to sleep is great - when my DS was 9 weeks old I'd have given my right arm to have him feed to sleep rather than me having to fight a screaming baby for up to 2 hours every time he needed to sleep.

If you are worried about it, take a look at the No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, which has some suggestions for reducing the sucking-to-sleep association, although she recommends it for babies over 4 months old.

My ds is also 9 weeks old and I really freaked out about the suck to sleep association.
I read the no-cry sleep solution and found it really helpful, she reccommends every once and a while taking the baby off the breast while they are sleepy and not asleep (althoguh sometimes it's hard to tell the difference)
i do this with ds and sometimes he fusses so i whack him back on other times he accepts it and closes his eyes all by himself. I also sometimes put him on the shoulder if he is sleepy and he falls asleep that way after a suck on the breast of course!

No cry sleep solution is a great book I highly recommend it, it eased a lot of my fears about 'negative sleep associations' and had some great info in it.

Also i agree with Angeldog having him fall asleep at the breast isn't the worst thing, it's better than the walk, jiigle, dummy dance which one of my friends has to do three times a night!

Thank you all for your responses I'm so happy to know that sucking after feeding goes hand in hand with bfing and is just usual I just want what is best for my DS both now and in the near future. I shall definately take a look at the No Cry Sleep Solution although I think I over reacted a bit AngelDog my DP has aways done all that you suggested rocking / lying with him, walking around, singing etc.and gently bouncing him on the birthing ball that's why we were a bit miffed- I think it may be that he just needs the extra comforting as he had his first set of vacs on Friday. I shall just go ahead and enjoy the closenss while it lasts...
thanks again everyone x