Falling asleep while nursing or bottle feeding is very common and in the first few months of life it can be a wonderful way to help your little one settle into sleep. However, as your baby gets older it's a good idea to move away from the feeding-to-sleep association as it can become problematic. Older babies and toddlers that are dependent on nursing or having a bottle in order to fall asleep tend to wake up more frequently at night (and during naps) looking for that same sleep association in order to fall back asleep. What can help is moving the bedtime nursing or bottle to earlier in the bedtime routine (before bath or before books) so that it is not the last thing that you do before your little one falls asleep. By putting at least one step in between feeding and sleeping you can change the feed-to-sleep association while still having a soothing bedtime routine.
If your baby, toddler or young child is not getting the sleep he/she needs and you are interested in learning more about the supportive sleep solutions that Rest Well Baby offers, please contact Tracie at: [email protected] to schedule a FREE 15 minute call to learn more about her professional sleep services and how she can help your family get the gift of sleep! |
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March 2024
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