Nursing to sleep--when did it stop?

[DebbieJ]

My little guy still nurses down for naps and bed (in that I have to remove my nipple from his mouth after he has dozed off). I'm getting a little tired of this routine, but don't have it in me to fight it just yet.

When did your little one stop nursing to sleep and falling asleep on his/her own? What did you do to encourage it? Or did it just happen on its own?

~ deb
Mommy to my sweet boy
B born 12/03
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[TahliasMom]

I started to adjust the napping and feeding time so the feeding time would fall in between naps. I think I had this done by around 5 months when DD would stay up about 1.5 hours between naps. I would push DD's feeding time by 10-15 minutes at a time and distract her with toys and such. Now DD eats usually 30 minutes after she gets up or about every 3 hours. The only time DD nurses to sleep is at her 4am feeding, which occurs 2-3 times a week.

good luck
Katherine

[houseof3boys]

I always nursed Ryan before he went to sleep (we didn't cosleep though). When we weaned him at 13 months (too painful with my pregnancy), we encouraged other activities so he wouldn't miss being nursed down for naps and bedtime. DH was a huge help with this since I was the milk truck. :)

Lots of people think it is "bad" to nurse down, but upon reflection months after I have stopped I think it was great for him.

If you are going nuts doing it, just try cutting it out for one nap at first and do lots of cuddle time instead! See how it goes and take it from there. Maybe do it for bedtime only and not for naps and see if that works better for you guys.

Good luck! :)

[theMama]

Hmmm, I'm dealing with the same issue here. DS (9 mo) isn't hungry when he goes down for naps/to bed; I think I've just become his human pacifier. His ped told us to wean him off his pacifier a couple of months ago as she tied pacifiers to ear infections. I'm going to get a book from the library on sleep & older babies next week. DH wants me to let him cry it out, which I want to do a little more reading on before I go to that extent.

Dette
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[marie]

DH and i just read the No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley and even though DD isn't blissfully sleeping through the night and taking 2 1hr+ naps yet, we like the suggestions and philosophy. also, she has a method for "gently" ending pacifier use and has suggestions for putting a stop to nursing to sleep.

btw-DD has never had an ear infection and she's used a paci for almost a year now!

[madtowngirl]

Same boat here. I've read her book & have been nursing Henry to sleep for naps but taking him off the nipple before he is fully asleep. THen I move Henry to his bed & he turns his head & goes to sleep (he's 6 1/2 months now). I try to do the same at night but I have a hard time not falling asleep while he's nursing. Lately he's been waking up at 1am & 4am (ish).

I just don't know how to get him to nap or go back to sleep at night if I don't nurse him?

[stillplayswithbarbies]

Logan stopped on her own at about 14 months. Now she will stop nursing and ask for Daddy to take her to bed. :)

...Karen
DS Jake Feb 91, DD Logan Mar 03
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[Rikkele]

DD has been falling asleep on her own for naps since 3mo. I do give her a bottle and rock her at bedtime. Sometimes she is asleep and other times she is wide awake when she finishes the bottle. But I just lay her down, turn on a lullaby or classical music CD and walk out of the room. She puts herself right to sleep. She never ever cries to sleep. I don't think it is anything magic that we did, I think we are just really really LUCKY!