Is it bad to bf 9 month old to sleep?!

[chestnut1982]

Hi, my 9 month old boy is a good sleeper and has slept through the night since around 5 months. We moved house a month ago and he has a new cot in his new room. I have always breastfed him at night but would put him down usually drowsy rather than totally asleep. But recently if I put him down in his new cot awake (at night or for naps) he will often scream and refuse to sleep, occasionally he will fall asleep on his own after 10 mins but usually I have to go back in and feed him to sleep. What I want to know it, is this a bad habit to be getting into? He still sleeps well at night and rarely if ever wakes before morning. Should I just carry on feeding him to sleep or am I making a rod for my own back ie no one else being able to do bedtime?! Any tips welcome Thanks so much

I think it depends how you judge ‘bad’. I bf my dd to sleep until she was 14 months old, when she just refused in her own time. It seemed like the most natural, calm thing to do and looking back at it now, I wouldn’t change a thing!
I did stress out about it at the time, usually because of pressure from others telling me it was a bad habit. I remember trying to keep her awake during a feed to put her down drowsy, but in all honesty I didn’t try too hard with this. You could give that a go?

No, it’s not bad. I fed my DS to sleep until he was 2 because it was the calmest, quickest way to get him to sleep. When he was ready, DH took over bedtime and he now goes off on his own listening to an audio sleep story. There were tears, and sometimes as late as a 10pm asleep time during the transition but I wouldn’t have said it was any harder at all than trying to get a 9 month old to sleep without support, if that’s what he needs right now. Personally, it didn’t feel right to do it before DS was 2, but it’s a very personal decision.

Do what feels right for you but it is not bad and it is not creating a rod for your own back.

No. You can break the habit when you decide to do so. If it's easier to do it later than now, do it later. I found it much easier when mine was a bit older and could understand more of what I was telling her.

No. It's the perfect way in my opinion and experience. Bf is the ultimate sleep aid. Ds was always fed to sleep. It made for a happy boy, happy mum, and good sleep for us all. 9 months is so young. Ds fed until he was 4.

Like a pp pointed out, they are either going to cry now if you stop or later if you stop. I prefer later when you can explain what and why and talk a bit of sense into them!

Is it bad? No, it’s wonderful and natural.

It will end when you wean him.

@MsChatterbox

DS didn't cry about stopping as it was explained and done very gradually. It doesn't have to mean tears.

I'm still feeding my 18 mo to sleep. At nursery and her dad's she's perfectly capable of going to sleep on her own but she obviously likes feeding to sleep with me because she won't entertain the idea of going to sleep by herself at home. I'm sure she won't still be doing it when she's 18!

It's not bad, it's a super power 😎👍

Both mine fed to sleep until I stopped breastfeeding. Then cuddled them to sleep, then patted them to sleep now both go to sleep on their own in own beds.

Ah thanks guys! It’s so nice to hear after reading/hearing people say it’s a bad habit to get into. It feels really relaxing for both of us and it’s worked so far so yes we’ll carry on I think. Much appreciated all x

I think it’s fine so long as you’re happy with it. You’ve got to do what works for you.

Nope not bad at all. Your LO might even get out of the habit anyway. My 2yo (2 today!) Goes through phases of going down sleepy but awake sometimes and other times needing to be fed to sleep. It's no issue x

Not bad at all, totally natural and normal. If it's working for you, don't feel any pressure to change things. They do grow out of it, or when it no longer becomes easy for you then you can help guide them to a different settling technique.
I still often fed my daughter to sleep right up until she weaned at 2y 8m. She instantly fell asleep with other techniques (eg songs) after we stopped - no training needed.
Also even though I fed so long others were able to put her to bed easily if I worked late/went out etc. It's not the tie some people make out