5 Tips for Night Weaning Your Toddler
- Make nursing part of the bedtime routine.
- Gradually reduce the length of your overnight nursing sessions.
- Increase quality time during the day together.
- Get your partner involved in overnight feedings!
- Talk to your toddler – and gently tell them no.
Why do babies comfort nurses overnight?
Given the fact that the hormones in night-time breastmilk help you and your baby to get back to sleep quickly, feeding babies to sleep is completely natural. A mother and baby’s bodies are designed to work in tandem this way. Breastfeeding your baby to sleep helps baby feel calm, safe and secure.
How long does comfort nursing last?
Most babies nurse to sleep and wake 1-3 times during the night for the first year or so. Some babies don’t do this, but they are the exception, not the rule. Many children, if given the choice, prefer to nurse to sleep through the second year and beyon.
How do I stop my baby from pacifying on my breasts?
Don’t wait till they fall asleep
Before your baby completely falls asleep while on your breast, simply slide your finger in his mouth, releasing his grip on your nipple, and then gently close his mouth. This discourages your baby from wanting to suck.
How do I stop my baby from comfort feeding at night?
Here’s how: Reduce the time your child feeds by 2-5 minutes every second night. For example, if your child usually feeds for 10 minutes, feed for 8 minutes for 2 nights, then 6 minutes for the next 2 nights, and so on. Re-settle your child after each shortened feed with the settling techniques of your choice.
5 Ways to Help Your Baby Learn to Sleep Without Nursing
- Follow a Sleep Routine. Just like you likely do, your baby thrives off of routine.
- Get Your Baby on a Schedule.
- Don’t Let Your Baby Get Overtired.
- Lay Your Baby Down Drowsy but Awake.
- Follow a Sleep Training Plan.
Why do babies comfort feed at night?
Your child’s desire to nurse to sleep is very normal and not a bad habit you’ve fostered. Don’t be afraid to nurse your baby to sleep or fear that you are perpetuating a bad habit. Baby often will seek the breast when sleepy or over-stimulated because it’s a comforting and familiar place to hi.
Is it OK to let my baby comfort nurse?
Many mothers feel guilty for breastfeeding their baby for comfort or as they drift off to sleep. Breastfeeding your child to sleep and for comfort is not a bad thing to do– in fact, it’s normal, healthy, and developmentally appropriat.
How do I know if my baby is eating or comfort nursing?
At the very end of a feeding session, a sleepy or full baby may slow down, stop sucking, and make quivery little sucks. This is flutter sucking. Comfort nursing may include some stronger sucks, but often focuses more on the gentler, spaced motions typical of flutter sucking.
Then, take a look at these tips to help you stop comfort nursing:
- Don’t let your baby fall asleep nursing.
- Nurse after wake ups.
- Check in at set times.
- Gradually wean from nighttime feedings.
- Comfort in other ways.
Look Out for Cues from Your Baby’s
- Opening and closing mouth.
- Bringing hands to mouth.
- Head turning to look for the breast.
- Becoming more alert, maybe starting to fuss just a bit.
- Crying – crying is a sign of distress and a late hunger cue. Ideally, we want to catch baby before they get so hungry they start to cry.
Is my baby just nursing for comfort?
What is comfort nursing or comfort sucking? Babies breastfeed for reasons other than just for food or to quench their thirst. Babies breastfeed to feel safe, to calm down, to warm up, for reassurance, to connect with mother, for pain relief, to fall asleep and because they love to suck.
How to Stop Nursing Baby to Sleep
- Start with Naps.
- Find Other Ways to Soothe the Baby.
- Don’t Stimulate Baby at Bedtime or Naptime.
- Stop Nursing Before Baby Falls Asleep Completely.
- Wean the Baby Gradually.