How and when to wean baby off feeding to sleep?

[esgill]

Every night — since the newborn days — I’ve got my (now 8-month old) baby to sleep by feeding her (breastfeeding). We cosleep so it’s easier waking up but I’m getting exhausted, also because it sometimes takes over an hour to get her down and on and off she wakes frequently for more. I don’t want to wean completely but I’d love alternative methods of getting her to sleep? Is it possible?

There is no set time or way to do this. But if it’s becoming difficult you can try a few things.
There is something called “habit stacking” - where you start adding in the new habit you want to replace the old one with and then slowly take the old habit away e.g. add a shush and pat whilst feeding and then gradually take away the boob. It’s probably the most gradual but gentle way to do it! Look up Lyndsey Hookway who talks about this.
If you have a partner it can also be could to get them involved as baby won’t associate them with milk and may be more willing to accept an alternative method of being out to sleep. Can they try rocking instead?
Massive word of warning though… I have a 16 month old who I have always fed to sleep (on occasion she’s needed rocking but mostly fed) she has however in the last 3 weeks decided she won’t go that way and it’s so much harder getting her to sleep now 😂 I miss just lying down with her and resting whilst she snoozed!!!
Good luck with whatever you choose to do!