Feeding to sleep. Rod for back?

[Solasum]

DS will go to sleep without BF with other people. When he is with me we do mostly feed to sleep though. To be honest, I don't mind it at all. DS is now 7mo and starting to cut down on milk feeds. I am assuming that of his own volition he will stop feeding to sleep at some point. Am I being naive, and should I take steps to stop?

[TerrariaMum]

From my own perspective and experience, I love the sleepy feeds and if you don't mind, there's no reason to stop. Mine did on their own eventually.

So, no and no to your questions.

[ZenNudist]

Ha was going to say its nice whilst it lasts. I bf ds1 to sleep until about 9mo when he stopped and had to be left to whinge in his cot falling asleep quickly by himself.

Ds2 is 7mo. I often feed to sleep or let him snooze on the boob. I know it's not going to create problems. Ds1 is a great sleeper.

[TheannamoLeelu]

Please please don't believe the rod for your own back thing! He'll be fine, when you are both ready you'll find a different way.

I fed to sleep until 14 months, inc naps, then needed to go back to work. It was pretty easy and no controlled crying involved, within 2 days he was happy to lie down and sleep on his own, with me or someone else next to him shhhhhsing him, or rubbing his tummy to sleep. This has reduced and is only needed occasionally now, mostly we just put him into his cot and he plays with his toys until he falls asleep now (18months)

I really stressed about the feeding to sleep thing too, I really wish I hadn't, I should have just enjoyed the warm snuggly cuddles looking at his happy content face. Next baby I will!

[bayrans]

My daughter was a monster for needing to feed to sleep....

But it took 3 nights (at about 10/11 months old) to get her to drink formula, now cows milk, from a bottle no problem.

Just wish she would give up the 0400 one though.....

[thisvelvetglove]

Nope they stop by themselves. :)

Enjoy it while you can. I almost miss my toddler sleepy feeds now that he has a little feed at bedtime and has miraculously started sleeping all night.

I even feed him whenever he wouldn't settle with a cuddle at night so I must've made a huge rod for my back

Its actually quite handy for naps when they're bigger and get all overtired.

[beccajoh]

In my case yes it was a rod. She wouldn't go to sleep any other way. If your baby will sleep for other people then it's not really a problem unless YOU want to stop. I hated breastfeeding so it was a problem for me.

[thisvelvetglove]

I fed him at night. No night wakings for the last few weeks.

[Solasum]

I am already back at work, so it is a nice way to reconnect when I get home.

Glad to hear some positive stories!

[Ragwort]

Entirely up to you - I never fed my DS to sleep and he was happily in his own room at 7pm every night from 10 days old - happy to self settle and just had one quick feed in the middle of the night and then woke around 7am. That is my personal experience, but do whatever suits you and your family situation.

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Ds is two and a bit. When he had an overtired screaming tantrum yesterday afternoon I fed him to sleep. He will happily go to sleep for other people and I've been away for trips if up to four days.

Do what works for your family.

[ChazzerChaser]

Yep, mine stopped by himself and I miss it! No need to stop unless you want to.

[BioSuisse]

Don't worry about creating back rods. I breast fed all mine to sleep, it is hard not to. Now they are 2 and 5 and in a perfect evening routine where they have their milk then teeth brushed and then climb into their own beds and go to sleep. It wasn't a hard change. Children are very adaptable. Do what works for you best now.

[rosiedays]

I'm back at work (dd just 1) and find the feeding to sleep and CO-sleeping partly makes up for the time I'm away. Also feel that all the night feeding is keeping supply up.
No rods just Happy cuddles till the next phase comes along :)

[chocolatemartini]

No the only rod it made for my back was people using that stupid phrase to try and advise me not to.

Dd won't feed to sleep like DS used to. I miss it.