Falling asleep without nursing?

April - posted on 05/13/2009

Quoting Stephanie:

Stay away from Ferber methods! They will just undermine any attachments you have made with your child and affect their metal health.

That being said- I nursed my daughter to sleep until she weaned and she was fine. My son will nurse to sleep if he is hungry, but if he is not he wants a pacifier. OR not. It really depends on the child. I think the key is to have a happy and relaxed baby, but not over tired. Parenting your child to sleep is ok. They have only been in this world a short time and there is no need for them to learn to sleep by themselves.
Before my son started having ear infections, he would fall asleep by himself- I would rock him halfway and then lay him down. Now, however he wants to be with everyone! So I rock him down. No biggie. It is a lot quicker and happier than letting him CIO.

my son has always been able to fall asleep on his own without much fuss.  going down nap times is the only time he will cry if he even does.  he never needed to be nursed to sleep or even to calm down.  i don't agree with rocking, nursing or holding a child until they're asleep.  it's just a personal choice that my family has made.

Megan - posted on 05/12/2009

My son is only nursed when he wakes up in the morning and before bed. Sometimes he falls asleep while nursing and other times he doesn't. But he is able to put himself to sleep on his own. It depends on the your baby and you might have to try a couple different ways.

I disagreee with the comment that the Ferber method would ruin any attachment you have with you child. I was against letting him cry it out but he only cried for 30 minutes the first night and then less the next and the 3rd night he slept through the night and so did I. He is still the most loving and affectionate baby!

Everyone has their own opinions and strategies and unfortunately you just have to absorb all the information and make the right decision for YOU and YOUR child!

Stephanie - posted on 05/12/2009

Stay away from Ferber methods! They will just undermine any attachments you have made with your child and affect their metal health.

That being said- I nursed my daughter to sleep until she weaned and she was fine. My son will nurse to sleep if he is hungry, but if he is not he wants a pacifier. OR not. It really depends on the child. I think the key is to have a happy and relaxed baby, but not over tired. Parenting your child to sleep is ok. They have only been in this world a short time and there is no need for them to learn to sleep by themselves.
Before my son started having ear infections, he would fall asleep by himself- I would rock him halfway and then lay him down. Now, however he wants to be with everyone! So I rock him down. No biggie. It is a lot quicker and happier than letting him CIO.

April - posted on 05/12/2009

i think i'm pretty lucky, my son is basically self-weaning. the only time he nurses is when he wakes up around 4am. he just stopped showing interest and would wiggle away and not latch on. i make sure to give him a bottle of milk before he gets too tired before bed.

Ann - posted on 05/11/2009

It's the truth. So hard to teach a nursing baby to put themselves to sleep. You can try the Ferber method (just putting them in their crib and walking out) but we did this to my son at about 16 months with no luck. Just remember some kids don't sleep. Whether you nursed or not, he just may fight sleep. After I weaned my son we tried a repititive pat, like a heartbeat pat on his bottom or back. Good luck!!!

Sabrina - posted on 05/11/2009

Just make sure he is nice and full with food and some milk. Then lay him in his bed he will fall asleep. But I don't understand that. I nursed my daughter for a year and she was fine when I stopped and gave her a bottle of milk.

Ellen - posted on 05/11/2009

after dinner around 6.30 I give him bottle/breastmilk until he is full and put him in his cot, he will fall asleep by himself( he plays a bit or just quiet) or sometimes already fall alsleep during bottle/breastmilk.