Feeding to sleep for all naps, help!

[beggingforsleep]

Hi - my baby is nearly 5 months and since he was born he has fed to sleep at night, during the night and for all naps. So, he does all his naps on me. At night I can feed him to sleep and then put him down. His night wakings are increasing though so I'm going to try and wedge a book between boob and bed and see what happens. Expecting to do a lot of shushing.

My biggest problem is that during the day he'll only really feed if he wants to sleep. He won't feed when he first wakes up, he'll wait an hour or so till he wants a nap. Then he has a big long feed dozing on the boob (will wake if I try to unlatch him or put him down) and when he wakes up he's obviously not hungry and it starts again. I can't seem to break the cycle! Obviously I can't not feed him till after his first nap because he'll be starving and won't sleep.

This never happened with my DD. I followed the EASY routine roughly and she was happy with it. I have no idea for I've got to this point!

Anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you change the pattern? This has to stop as I'm on SMP now so need to take my DD out of childcare but I can't care for her if I'm constantly pinned under a baby!

He's a big baby. Was almost 5kg at birth and is tracking nicely on the charts so I have no concerns about volume of milk.

Thanks

My lo used feeding to fall asleep it wasn't until we stopped because he would wake every hour at night. We used little ones it helps you try to break the habbet and get them to self sooth. But it is hard because they protest. But now I feed my lo after naps.

@Rhi11 thanks, I'll have a look at them. I ended up using Andrea Grace with my DD as she started waking up every hour when she was 6 months. Andrea was great and she started sleeping through in 3 days! Was hoping that this time round I could sort it out on my own though and not spend any money, he really likes sleep so it feels like I should be able to do it myself, just not sure how to break the cycle.

I'm probably too weak willed though, probably need someone to tell me exactly what to do!

We had a routine 7am wake up 7pm bed. And had feeding times. previous to this I was demand feeding all over the shop just wasn't practical. Offered feeding 7am when he woke, 10:30 after nap. Half 2 after nap 4:30 and half 6. little one was on solids too as we started this at 6 months he would have breakfast at 8am lunch 11:30 and dinner 5. I found once I cracked the day self settle naps night time just become easier because he learnt how to sleep without my boob . We tried the pick me up put down method but lo got more worked up.. so I did the feed at half 6 change nappy (something that will wake him up) then put him down awake . He would cry and I mean cry protest this went on for hours I would sit in his room he was standing at this age so I would just lay him back down and say good night. He went to sleep eventually. Day 5 he could be put down and be left to just cry and have a roll around.then fall asleep within 10 mins. During the night if he woke I would leave it 10 mins because 9/10 he would re settle if not feed. Then change nappy then put back down to sleep . Hope this helps. It's been hard work with teething and regressions thrown in but having him able to self settle has helped loads.

He thinks feeding is the way to go to sleep. It's like he thinks it's the only door into a room when there are several others he hasn't found.

I'd sleep train using whatever method - it's not fun but he needs to learn that milk isn't the only way to fall asleep. He won't stay awake forever, it'll get easier each time.

I say this feeding DS to sleep in bed tho

@horse4course it's just the easiest thing to do isn't it! I like the door analogy though, I'll show him some more

@Rhi11 thanks, that's really helpful. Maybe I'll wait (wimp out) for another month till he's taking some solids as at least that would fill him up a bit before the first nap. I'm dreading the protests, it will probably keep the toddler up so it will be two overtired children to deal with.

It's so hard. And before I just give up but found it harder because he thought that crying louder for longer would get him milk. I was my own worst enamy but when your so tired and want sleep your do anything . Wish you luck. Maybe ask Santa for headphones for Christmas 😂

My DS also feeds to sleep for every nap. He's bottle fed, but won't take a bottle unless he's sleepy as he's so nosey and easily distracted that he won't concentrate on it! 7 months now, and have managed to put him down for 1/3 of daytime naps!

Problem is I think I enjoy the snuggle naps too much!

Hi I’m really interested in this thread. Have your babies always fed to sleep ? I have a 5 week old who is doing this. Breastfeeding on demand but if he is woken up after a feed eg to do a nappy he will stay awake a little longer then cry to be fed and fall sleep. I obviously can’t let him cry or sleep train him but just looking for tips to help gradually swap this around.

@Bigbangnerd sorry, completely missed your post, how are you getting on. I'm still stuck in a feeding to sleep cycle but determined to tackle it this week.

If yours is still very young it might be easier to form a better pattern when they're awake for longer periods of time. With my first I fed her after naps and rocked her to sleep which I gradually cut down on. She also took a dummy which made things easier.

Good luck!

If he's napping on you, I would give him a good feed, use great compressions if you want, then pop him into his pram and go out for a really long walk, every single nap. If DH is around he can take him. This won't stop the fed to sleep but once he's used to not sleeping in you in the day, you could try sticking him in his cot and have more time for yourself and your DD.

As for the nighttime, The No Cry Sleep Solution is very good.

•BigBangNerd• he sounds like a perfectly normal 5 week old. Nearly every one feed to sleep and it can be a useful trick for you, you know that if you feed him you can get him to nap.

If you want some information on newborn sleep, this book might be helpful