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3 1/2 month old wants to nurse to fall asleep!

Debbie - posted on 05/26/2009 ( 5 moms have responded )

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My daughter is 3 1/2 months old and lately she will only fall asleep by nursing. She will scream and cry her little head off but the moment I put her to my breast she calms down and starts to drift off. I find it very difficult to let her cry that hard when I know there is an easy fix. It is, however, making it very difficult to leave her with anyone, as she will not take a bottle when she is tired. I'm wondering if this is something I should try to fix now or wait until she is a little older.

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5 Comments

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Kristine - posted on 05/27/2009

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Quoting Allison:
 



She actually said 3.5 *months*  :-)






BUT, I don't think 3.5 years is too old to nurse, either. 





YAY Allison!! The longer the better!!

Allison - posted on 05/26/2009

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Quoting Beth :

Hi Debbie, 3.5 yrs old is a bit too old to be still nursing. 


She actually said 3.5 *months*  :-)



BUT, I don't think 3.5 years is too old to nurse, either. 

Beth - posted on 05/26/2009

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Hi Debbie, 3.5 yrs old is a bit too old to be still nursing. I have 2 girls one is 3.5 the other is 1.5. I stopped breast feeding both of them when they are 13 months. My older daughter was easier then my younger one. I use the same method with both, give them a sippy cup or bottle of water when they want to be nursed. It will be a fight since yours is already 3.5 but it should worth it in the end. You should try singing to her or read her a bed time book. My older daughter loves Dora and we have got her Dora bedtime book which includes routine before bedtime and it doesn't include nursing. So it might be eaier if you reason with her at this point of age.



Good luck.

Allison - posted on 05/26/2009

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I'd say just follow her cues. There is nothing wrong with nursing to sleep and she will not need to forever. My kids always nursed to sleep as little ones, yet when they were with my mom, they couldn't, so instead my mom came up with other things that worked for her. To me it seems like a lot of needless work to try to get them to sleep w/o nursing, especially sense so much changes in the first year that negatively effect sleep. Do what works and know that when she doesn't need to nurse to sleep anymore, you'll be able to change the routine.

Good luck.

Rebecca - posted on 05/26/2009

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My son (now 6 months) used to be the same way, but one night I held him in my glider with his head over my shoulder and just firmly patted his back over and over and over. Eventually he went to sleep. He cried until he fell asleep but I was able to stand it because I learned to distinguish between his sad/in pain cry and his tired cry. I think it's good that you want to teach your baby to fall asleep without nursing, just do it gradually and start with rocking & rubbing/patting her back. Then you can just rock. Then you can put her down drowsy. Then you can put her down fairly awake but tired. Do it gradually and it won't break your or your baby's heart. Good luck!

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