6 Month old baby is finding it difficult to nurse to sleep

[mumtoadam]

I have been nursing my baby to sleep since he was born. However over the last 7 - 10 days have been finding it hard to nurse him to sleep at bedtime (and for naps). He seems to empty my breasts before he's suckled long enough to be suffciently drowsy. He pulls off and trys to self settle for a bit before starting to move around and complain. I don't want to leave him to cry, so I end up trying to settle him in his cot, stroking his hair and patting him untill he crys then picking him up and rocking etc. until he takes the breast again about 30/40 mins later and gets to a drowsy state so I can put him down in the cot.

Is this a sign that he's ready to move on in his sleeping pattens or just a phase?

Any suggestions?

I'd say strike while the going is good and move on. At that age we were teaching self-settling by gradual withdrawal and it worked fine. I'd suggest picking a minimal technique (eg sit there in silence no eye contact) and sticking with it. In retrospect I firmly believe the problems we'd had trying to settle DD prior to that time was because we couldn't decide what to do so did 10mins stroking, 10mins rocking etc... I think it just confuses them. Good luck!

Tis a phase

I've had some better nights after I tried giving some calpol 15 mins before bed. He has a cough at the moment and might be teething. I plan to move him into his nursery once his cold is gone and then might start with gradual withdrawal.

Thanks