getting baby to sleep without feeding first?

redballoon_2

hope your course goes well gemz20, breastfeeding is so important and a wonderful thing!

she's now fast asleep after i put her down, she woke a little and i left her to it, she whimpered for a few mins and then nodded off. yesterday she was awake all day even after numerous feeds!

clairec79

baby is only 5 weeks - don't stress about getting into routines,

As for falling asleep after a feed, think of how you feel after a big meal, say Christmas dinner when most people end up dozing on the settee because your belly's full, you are content and warm - why would a baby be any different.

You are doing fab.

redballoon_2

arr thanks claire, thats really nice of you to say . i think sometimes its nice to hear it from someone else!

nadnad

i'm still feeding my 8 month old, and he still falls asleep at the breast. although now i can put him down and he'll wake up but go back to sleep again, though it wasnt until he was 6 months that i was able to do this.

your baby's only little tiny yet dont worry. when shes a bit older you can try putting her down awake and see what happens but right now enjoy the cuddles!

tsstss7

I'm still bfeeding my 14mth old to sleep! It doesn't always work now though so luckily he's also learned that when he's in bed it's sleepy time.

OP it's natural for bfeeding to lead to sleep in most young babies and however how much I tried my boy wouldn't fit into the baby whisperer EASY routine (where eating comes AFTER sleeping and before activity) so I wouldn't beat yourself up some babies just react better to that routine/way of doing things.

However the swaddling idea is good if your baby will take to it - mine hated his hands being restricted even when very little but I do wish now that I'd at least semi swaddled as it might have helped me establish day time naps which my LO doesn't do at all!

Krystaltips

tsstss, don't blame yourself for your LO not taking to naps... Some children just don't need them, my daughter was one that never needed to sleep much... She would nap for 20 mins twice a day... Then dropped one nap at about 12months... and dropped the 2nd by 18 months... While my friends LO was sleeping for 4hours in the afternoon!

Nicki

The other thing to bear in mind is if he goes to sleep without being fed, he will wake up sooner because he will be hungry sooner! I used to find with both my two that once they had a full tummy and gone over to sleep that was them out for at least a couple of hours. I bf too.

Rikki

Make sure the cot is warm when you lay her down.
I use to put a warm hot water bottle in the cot so it wasn't a shock when I laid them down. (warm arms to cold cot)

squashy

My baby is 15 months and still nurses to sleep. I don't actually mind! Who says it's wrong? Also, feeding little and often at 5 weeks is absolutely perfect as your body will be getting used to keeping your supplies up. Enjoy your new baby, especially the cuddles and don't worry so much about routines.

BernadetteN

Fed all 4 of mine for an average of 2 years each, all went to sleep at the breast. I find it odd that western culture thinks a baby should soothe themselves to sleep. Breast milk contains the ingredients to put your babs to sleep, that's part of the design of the milk, same for other animals who breast feed. Mind you, I also find the idea of putting babies in cots rather odd too.