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Parenting

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Original poster

Breastfeeding to sleep

31 replies

Catarinah · 28/08/2020 18:57

This post is not for any tips or advice because I've basically tried it all. All I'm after is some reassurances that I'm not the only person breastfeeding their baby to sleep at 8 months. I am exhausted. He's not even fussed with weaning because he constantly wants breast. Surely I'm not alone? :(

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Lolalovesmarmite · 28/08/2020 19:03

I was feeding to sleep until about 18 months!

porger80 · 28/08/2020 19:18

I did it for a year. DD then went into her own bed when I was ready and took a bit of effort but not loads. Do whatever you need to survive. It will also be one of the bits you miss eventually!

Sunflowertall · 28/08/2020 19:26

Currently feeding 8 month DD2 to sleep. Did the same with her sister but it doesn't last long so I'm enjoying it for now!

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burritofan · 28/08/2020 19:33

I’m feeding 16mo DD to sleep now!

Yesterday she fell asleep in the cot on her own (well, with my hand on her) for the first time ever. We’re now away on holiday so can’t capitalise on that progress. Plan to keep feeding to sleep (DP cuddles to sleep) until gently night weaning at 18 months.

TheUpholder · 28/08/2020 19:35

Fed DD to sleep until around 18 months. She’s 3 now, gets a bedtime story and is usually asleep within a minute. I wish I hadn’t worried so much about “bad habits” as it all worked itself out and she learnt to fall asleep when she was ready to. Do what works now, until it stops working.

june2007 · 28/08/2020 19:37

Yep this is a hard one to break. Is there an other half around to do the bed time routine? But also don,t worry if you are doing this you wonn,t be doing it forever.

GlumyGloomer · 28/08/2020 19:42

Dd1 fed to sleep until she was a couple of months past 2. At 4 she goes to sleep by herself in her own bed no problem.
Dd2 will sometimes feed to sleep, and sometimes need to be rocked in the buggy. Sometimes I think I must get this fixed, I can't do another year. Then I think I just don't want to deal with the screaming. My conclusion is that I am shite at getting babies to sleep and this is my biggest reason for not wanting any more.

mrscatmad31 · 28/08/2020 19:47

Currently feeding my 7 month old to sleep, with my older DD I fed her to sleep until she was 18 months, we did then have a horrendous time with her getting her to sleep properly until she was 'cough' 4 but I think that was just her tbh

melis123 · 28/08/2020 19:57

I've been feeding DD for 10 months to sleep day and night and just started to change our routine. Breastfeed downstairs before bath and relax on the bed with a story and a tippy cup with milk. Then into the cot and tell DD to lay down and I'll pat her, when she stands I go and do some jobs where DD then gets upset and lays down on her own and I come back and pat her. Working well so far and hopefully dad will be able to take her to bed to once she fully used to the new routine.

Original poster

Catarinah · 28/08/2020 19:58

Glad I'm not alone, although the thought of doing it at around 18 months is disheartening because it's all on me (won't settle any other way at night and cries when boyfriend tries until I return and whack a breast out). I even unlatch him when he's drowsy and try shush/pat/cuddle but he literally headputs my chest and cries until he's back on the breast! Very determined little boy!

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StillMissV · 28/08/2020 20:05

Currently BFing my 2 year old to sleep! I almost stopped during lockdown as it was getting too much but since she's been back at childcare it feel less "all the time" and I'm not entirely sure how to get her to sleep without it now ha

melis123 · 28/08/2020 20:11

Mine was exactly the same screamed even louder when dad went into her. Really exhausting being the only one who can console them. Honestly since doing our new routine she sleeping well and not waking until about 1-2 and I'm still feeding her back to sleep then as I don't think she quite ready to be completely weaned.

tootiredtothinkofanewname · 28/08/2020 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertieBotts · 28/08/2020 20:20

I am breastfeeding to sleep at two years. Not a second of regret. It's what it's for :)

BTW I fed my eldest to sleep too and he did eventually stop needing it and also stop breastfeeding. He is now 11 and has not needed breastfeeding to sleep for many years!

BertieBotts · 28/08/2020 20:21

I did find the Pantley Pull Off (no cry sleep solution) helpful for reducing the reliance on it, but honestly, the easiest thing is to just keep doing it.

They will eventually go to sleep for other people.

WhiskersPete · 28/08/2020 20:22

I still breastfeed DD 20 months to sleep.

NationalBust · 28/08/2020 20:30

Just weaning DD 19m from feeding to sleep now. I start shifts again soon so she needs to be able to be put to bed by DH. Tbh I do it mostly because it's usually efficient (not tonight funnily enough 🙄) but we know she can do it without me. Sometimes we think they're more reliant than they are. It's not forever

NationalBust · 28/08/2020 20:31

*LESS reliant 🤦🏽‍♀️

NationalBust · 28/08/2020 20:32

Oh fecking feck. MORE made sense in the first place. Ignore me.

Go to bed you silly woman.

Babs709 · 28/08/2020 20:35

My 14 month old is never fed to sleep during the day/at bed time but he can’t settle overnight without BF. Whereas some of his baby group peers are always fed to sleep and are sleeping through the night fine. It seems to go against all the millions of internet pages I’ve found.

TakeMeToYourLiar · 28/08/2020 20:38

No you aren't the only one.

I've just finished cuddling my little one to sleep

Melabells · 28/08/2020 21:14

My little one is only 5 months ( still very young) and I am going back to work In January. I work back shift so miss bed times. She refuses bottles/ dummies and occasionally will suck her thumb but on her terms only. I've been wondering about how to approach this in a few months to help my DH get her to bed. I have never had to think about this before as both her older brothers loved dummies. Feeling clueless. I love feeding her and she loves it too 🤷🏼‍♀️

Fivebyfive2 · 28/08/2020 21:24

Following! My 8 month old also feeds to sleep and I'm starting to look to change this, even if it's just for naps and bedtime, with feeding to sleep in the night if needed.

Those that fed to sleep long term, how did you handle if you had to leave them for work? I'm going back in Dec when he's a year old and ideally I'd like to stop bf then. I worry about him being able to settle in nursery and at my mums while I'm working. He'll nap in the buggy and car, but that's not always practical!

TheUpholder · 28/08/2020 22:30

Fivebyfive2 as she got older my DD settled ok for her Dad if I wasn’t there, and she napped at nursery when all the other little ones did. I was worried about it all too but it worked out fine. I went back to work when she was 10months. I’d send a ready made bottle of formula with her. Sometimes she’d drink it, sometimes she just had water, and then a big feed when I got home. She was a good eater by then so I wasn’t too bothered whether she too the formula or not.

Catarinah he sounds just like my DD was. It was exhausting at the time but it did get easier, and feeding to sleep at 18 months was not as hard work as at 8 months.

carringtonm · 28/08/2020 23:33

My son stopped feeding to sleep at 15 months and weaned completely at 20. They get there in the end!

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