Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Baby uses the boob to nap

8 replies

Flopsy2807 · 14/10/2023 12:28

Hi All,

My 10 week old little girl is EBF and since she was born, she has always fallen asleep on the breast. However I'm having trouble getting her to nap throughout the day and I'm wondering if it's because she's using feeding time to have a little cat nap. Does anyone else have experience of this?

Please help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gamerchick · 14/10/2023 12:33

Yeah, breastfeeding was how I got into console gaming.

She's still in the forth trimester and likes a body to snuggle up too. I just went with it.

Sorry that's probably no help. It does change eventually, but when they're little it's whatever works.

UnravellingTheWorld · 14/10/2023 14:08

I fell into this trap because it was the ONLY way to get mine to nap. It was a total bitch to break the habit - I sleep trained him the second he turned 6 months.

However, your baby is still really tiny. I guess my advice for now is to just go with it. Between 4-6 months is when they start to form sleep associations, so that's the time to gently encourage "better" habits. Right now it isn't going to do anyone any harm: what's important is that she's napping.

Libmama · 14/10/2023 14:10

My almost 10 month old dd is currently boobing to sleep for her nap.

I feed her for all naps and night time sleeps, it works and it gives me chance to sit down for half an hour. I usually transfer her to her cot once she’s asleep. If it ain’t broke…

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old Babies & sleep Families General parenting

BuffaloCauliflower · 14/10/2023 14:12

Feeding to sleep is the biological norm for our species, and cat napping while feeding is too and counts as nap time not a separate kind of sleep. Nothing wrong with any of this. When you say you’re struggling to get her to nap, what exactly is happening?

BuffaloCauliflower · 14/10/2023 14:13

@UnravellingTheWorld feeding to sleep is not a bad habit, it’s just a normal baby thing and the easiest way to get most babies to sleep.

Howmanynamechangesistoomany · 14/10/2023 14:13

As above.

your other option is to use a dummy to help her get to sleep. Worked well for us, and stopped the dreaded thumb sucking.

she’s tiny though, and also bear in mind that sucking while she’s napping will be stimulating your supply, so it could be you both need it.

Cowlover89 · 14/10/2023 14:13

Nothing wrong with it. My son naturally stopped feeding to sleep. X

Xmasbabyxmas · 14/10/2023 14:15

I did this with both of mine and they naturally grew out of it (from memory maybe around 5 to 6 months). At this age I wouldn't worry as they change so much.

I still feed 10 month old to sleep at night, but DH can also soothe her to sleep if needed so I'm not too bothered.

Flip