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If you stopped breastfeeding, did sleep improve?

6 replies

MotherOfDragon20 · 15/02/2024 13:30

I have a 10mo DS he has been ebf since birth although he can take a bottle (if I’m unavailable and only when very hungry) and he has a dummy which he uses for sleep. We did feed to sleep in the early days but moved away from that mostly, I usually cuddle to sleep with a dummy and he’s out like a light. However he wakes CONSTANTLY, at least every hour, longest stretch he ever does is max two hours, I don’t feed at every wake up but he still feeds 3/4 times a night. We also have split nights most nights where he’s awake for about 2 hours. I am beyond tired. Tbh up until now I’ve just taken it in my stride, with the opinion that it won’t last forever, I bank a few hours in the morning before husband goes to work and we contact nap during the day for me to catch up however I’m returning to work soon and this is just unsustainable. I’m a staff nurse in ICU and have peoples life’s at the press of a button there’s no way I could morally go to work with this little sleep. I’m wondering if stopping breastfeeding might help.

should also add we currently co sleep, he won’t accept a comforter and instead likes to touch my skin to sleep. Cry it out or CC not an option as he is a breath holder and I can’t allow my baby to cry until he goes blue and unconscious while I refuse to pick him up.

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GinnyBee · 15/02/2024 14:52

I don’t know if it was a coincidence but mine slept through for the first time exactly a week after I dropped the last night feed just after hours birthday. He woke every 2-3 hours until then even though we went down to just one feed around 10-11 months, so most of the wake-ups he had to be cuddled or rocked back to sleep.

He’s 21 months now and pretty much sleeps through if he’s not teething or unwell (which is unfortunately all the time)

MixedCouple · 16/02/2024 22:37

Yes. Eventually.
After weaning day and night wakes up were met with back pats and / or cuddles. When he realised Boob was off the table he atarted to be comforted by just cosleeping and started to sleep through. We weaned at 20months and he was in his own bed at 23months in oue room still.

Back to wake ups due to chronic tonsilitis, teething 2md molars and coughs. But much better then before.

It might be a coincidence.

Also feel you Sleep training off the table for us as we follow a more natural way of parenting and dont want to put DS under any unnecessary stress. It worked out in the end. And he happily self settles to bed with his teddies now. After a story book and cuddles.

Mintyfreshtulips · 20/02/2024 10:19

Instantly.

Was SO annoyed haha.

I went into hospital for a week and she just laid down and slept through the night for DH. When I came home, nothing changed. She now sleeps for 10/11 hours a night.

MotherOfDragon20 · 20/02/2024 11:29

so we decided to start weaning, not totally off the boob yet but down to 2/3 feeds a day and the rest formula and I actually can’t believe it but his sleep is soo much better already. Currently he has a bottle at bedtime then usually wakes at 11ish which my husband settles with a cuddle then back down until 2/3ish where I give a quick bottle and then he has been sleeping (in his cot) until 6 which is when I bring him into bed give a breastfeed and he will sleep for another hour or so. I know it’s not
perfect but honestly I could have only dreamed of sleep like this a few weeks ago!

what I really wasn’t expecting is the post weaning depression/anxiety/guilt that I’m currently experiencing but I’m hoping that passes quickly!

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Jandob · 20/02/2024 11:32

Tricky. Put a bed / cot in your room next to bed. Go over to bottle or mix. Do big feed at late bedtime. Are you weaning now? Up the daytime feed. Wear him out, try swimming, gym babies etc. Reduce daytime sleep. Good luck!

pjani · 20/02/2024 11:40

Yes.

I also have the anecdata of a few friends who formula fed from early on telling me they really struggled the first six/eight weeks before their babies slept through the night. (I also have friends who formula fed who had babies who slept badly, and one friend who bf who had a baby sleep through from 8w - but there is a clear pattern of ff babies sleeping better earlier amongst my friends and acquaintances).

Honestly I think breastfeeding is very much linked with poorer sleep. I still did it for baby #2 despite predictably horrific sleep (I can't help but set up the old 'feed to sleep' association) but shortly after weaning at 12m they started sleeping through.

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