How to break feed to sleep cycle

[booklover164]

I wondered if anyone had any tips about how to break the feeding to sleep cycle that I have found myself in.

DS ( nearly 7 months) was previously quite a good sleeper ( up once or twice a night to feed) but since Jan he's been up nearly every 2 hours and the only thing that helps him go back to sleep is me breastfeeding him. I know I'm getting myself into an awful habit but I can't see a way around it. Cuddling, shhing, patting etc seems to make him worse. It's almost like he knows I'm there and gets more frustrated that I'm not feeding him.

He's breastfed and has a bottle of expressed milk from him dad at nighttime. He's initially put down awake. He has no teeth yet ( we were both late teethers) and doesn't appear to be in pain.

Thanks in advance :)

I’m not sure it’s an awful habit, why do you feel this way? I imagine it’s probably because of a lot you read on the internet telling you this is wrong. In my view, babies were made to fall asleep on boobs. It meets so many needs, hunger, thirst, comfort, warmth, protection, yada yada. I think you’re doing great. I know waking up two hours is incredibly difficult though, I am doing it with my 6mo old much of the time, and my first was worse. That’s not to say I don’t think you should persevere with putting down awake and trying to teach him to fall asleep himself by trying him with other methods, but my advice would be to look at the situation from his perspective, try to meet his needs in a way that suits him, and make adaptations yourself and in your life that help you cope with this really rough bit. All other advice is a variation of controlled crying, which I’m sure you’ve read about too.

If your DP can do it get him to get up and tend to your son. My daughter is 14 months and is the same - we are making a concerted effort to stop feeding to sleep. For final feed before bed mum feeds her then I put her down awake and she goes to sleep in her own time If she wakes up I try to settle her and if she shows no sign of settling after 15-20 minutes I call in reinforcements! As PP says feeding to sleep isn't bad in itself but it sounds like you're ready to make a change and if DP can help that will help greatly. DP might appreciate you more as well - I know I do - was so tired last night I fell fast asleep on the floor. Good luck!