Nursing to Sleep?

Ok, I know nursing to sleep is a big no-no but I've been doing it anyway. DS is 7 months old and it's the only time I nurse him all day. It's become part of our bedtime routine. He's very active and energetic and this is what settles him down for the night (plus he's getting the benefits of breastmilk). Now that he's sleeping in his crib, he's STTN most nights.

Now the PED is saying, he shouldn't be rocked or nursed to sleep. We should be putting him down in the crib awake and let him CIO to teach him to self-soothe. I'm really torn and on the fence about what to do. I know he needs to learn to fall asleep on his own eventually. But I also feel like, what we're doing is working right now so why fix what's not broken? But at the same time I worry that the longer we wait to CIO the harder it might be.

Thoughts? Is it ok to continue to nurse him to sleep until I want to ween him from nursing? Or am I creating a monster?

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

Your ped really said that?! You do WHATEVER you are most comfortable with. Personally, I see no problem with what you're doing. He's 7 MONTHS old ... not 7 years old!!!

Message edited 11/20/2012 9:43:14 AM.

Nursing to Sleep?

I wouldn't do CIO just bc your ped suggested it. If you nurse to sleep only at night, then that obviously isn't the only way DS gets to sleep. What do you do for naps?

If you rock him to sleep for naps, maybe start by trying to work on that. See if you can get him to go down awake then this way he'll learn to self soothe in that situation. Eventually you would probably be able to apply the same to bedtime, either when you wean or sooner.

Message edited 12/11/2012 10:21:00 AM.

Nursing to Sleep?

My DS is 12 months and I still nurse him and rock him at bed time. It's part of our routine and I have no issues with continuing it for now. He does not fall asleep in my arms, but the nursing and rocking calm him down (high energy kid). He still takes 5-10 minutes to get comfortable and fall asleep on his own in the crib.

At 7 months, I wouldn't be overly concerned about it. Only if you feel that something needs to change. Yes, the peds usually do not recommend nursing them to sleep but letting them soothe themselves. However, I disagree that you must let them CIO. There are other options out there. Do what you feel most comfortable with!

Nursing to Sleep?

At home and at daycare, he's rocked to sleep for naps (either in the RnP at home or the glider - at daycare, it's either a bouncer or a swing).

Thanks for making me feel better! I think I'm going to continue to nurse to sleep for a little longer.

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

I nursed all my kiddies to sleep for naps and bedtime until I weaned on their first birthday! I don't see it as an issue..and my older two are wonderful sleepers..
I am still nursing my 11 mo old...

At 7 mo I feel my dd was too young to put down to sleep awake...it wasn't til after they were a yr old til I did that...

IMO....you are doing the right thing

Nursing to Sleep?

FWIW I nurse DD (6.5 mos) to sleep every night & do not plan on stopping. I love our time then together, ESP days I work & am not with DD for part of the day! F your ped! Lol

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

Your Pediatrician is overstepping his/her boundaries and training. The advice they have given you is parenting advice and not medical. Your child is STTN...at 7 months. Consider yourself blessed. In most cultures, babies are nursed to sleep. That is the purpose of your nipple...to provide milk and to pacify. You don't need to do CIO with your child. He already knows how to sleep and falls asleep in the most natural, peaceful way. Not only does CIO create a horrible association of despair, lonliness, angst and unmet needs with sleep...it doesn't "teach" self soothing, it forces it. All humans will learn to regulate their sleep eventually and most all of us do so by age 3 without any intervention at all. Your son is happy all day, there is no medical issue....AND he's sleeping all night...hardly a candidate for sleep training at all. Babies are meant to be loved and held and cuddled and nursed. By nursing him to sleep you are helping him to feel comforted and loved and secure. There are no stress hormones raging through his vulnerable body...there is oxytocin, serotonin and other love hormones as he peacefully drifts off to a comfortable slumber. Your ped is an as*hole. You're nuturing a human...his/her suggestions would be creating a monster.

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

I nurse my dd until she's just about to fall asleep. I move her into her crib. Most times she will wake up for a minute because she is being moved and falls back asleep with no problem. Other times she cries for 1-20mins. I can see on the monitor that she is soothing herself. Almost forgot. Before I put her down I make sure she doesnt need to burp or has a dirty diaper because she wont fall asleep that way. This is what works for us. Everyone is different. Do what you feel is right. Youre the mommy

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

What??? I've never been told that nursing to sleep is a big no. I have been doing that since day one. DD has never gone to sleep without either being nursed or fed to sleep. I will agree that it is better to teach them early on to go to sleep on their own with no help, but your pediatrician is NOT at home with you at night when you have to put your db to sleep - so he doesn't really know how hard it can be!!!!!!

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

If you are happy and baby is happy don't change a thing.

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

I am really big on setting up good sleep habits. But I still nurse my babies to sleep. It's our special time together and they need a full belly to sleep well. It's such a sweet time, enjoy it and ignore your doctor.

I don't however nurse my babies back to sleep if they wake up fussing in the night. I use a pacifier for that.

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

When I nursed, I always nursed her to sleep. The when it was all formula I would feed and/or rock her to sleep. Still do at almost 18 months. To me this is a PARENTING decision, not a medical one and you do what you are comfortable with!

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

Posted by InShock

Your ped really said that?! You do WHATEVER you are most comfortable with. Personally, I see no problem with what you're doing. He's 7 MONTHS old ... not 7 years old!!!

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

My ped said the same thing, I say screw it. DS is 7mths and I still nurse him to sleep and I dont care. I love putting him to sleep by nursing him and I love that closeness I have with him. If I have sleep issues with him later then oh well, I'll deal. Do with whatever you want. You know your son best.

Nursing to Sleep?

Those who nurse to sleep, is anyone else able to put your DC down? I nurse my 11m/o to sleep and have an overnight away next week and have no idea how my husband will get her to sleep!

Re: Nursing to Sleep?

My only concern would be what will happen later on. This is different but my DD had a binky until 3.5 yrs old and now at 6 she does not sleep well. She can not calm herseft down and doesnt crash until 11pm most nights. So although its different, looking back, I wish I had taught her to self sooth. But i understand and ultimately up to you.