Nursing Baby to Sleep

Is nursing baby to sleep a good idea? I mean, we mothers know that babies
often go to sleep nursing.

After all, the breast is a great source of comfort to them and is a place they feel safe and familiar—all of which add up to the perfect environment to succumb to sleep.

And we all know babies who seemingly won’t fall asleep unless they’re nursing. At least, nursing is what they prefer.

Nursing baby to sleep does work, but is it really in baby’s (and the parents’) best interest?

Moms, rest assured that you can follow your heart on this issue. If you nurse your baby to sleep, stop feeling guilty! This is a perfectly normal way to encourage baby to fall asleep. Sleeping without nursing is a developmental milestone your child will surely reach when he or she is ready. So, if nursing baby to sleep works for your family, go ahead and continue doing it.

If, however, you’re not happy, there are steps you can take to transition baby to fall asleep without you. Instead of nursing baby to sleep, nurse only until baby is almost asleep, and then nurse until baby is just relaxed. Eventually you won’t have to nurse your child to sleep at all. As with most things, do what works for your family.

photo credit: Daquella manera

Tags: nighttime parenting