BF moms, do your babies (9 months and up) always fall asleep at the breast?

Question

My 9-month-old son son does almost every time. For every nap, and especially at bedtime. Am I wrong in not making him falling asleep on his own? He just falls asleep after eating and I see no sense in waking him up to them put him back to sleep. I'm looking for input/advice from moms nursing moms... Did you ladies put your babies to sleep by nursing? And was this hard to break when you decided to wean?

He is eating 3 solid meals a day, and nurses 3 "mini meals" (when he wakes up, between lunch and dinner, and before bedtime). He'll get on the breast for a minute or two to fall asleep for his morning nap, and then again after lunch for his afternoon nap.

Answer 1

My son is 10 months and I have always nursed him to sleep. I don't see anything wrong with it, it doesn't cause me any problems. We co-sleep so I just lay him in my bed and nurse him to sleep, or I will rock and nurse him in the rocking chair and then lay him in bed after he is asleep. I don't plan on weaning him any time soon, I plan on letting him self-wean, so I don't know of any problems that may cause, but I believe in the long run by not forcing him to sleep on his own or to find a way of self-soothing, he will be more secure in his Independence in the future.

Answer 2

Yuk, to that 2nd answer. It's fine to let him fall asleep at your breast. I have three children and breastfed them all for a long time. I am still nursing my 18 month old. She doesn't always fall asleep at my breast and I don't restrict her nursing. She eats solid food also. You have to go with the flow and don't worry about what is right or wrong. I nursed my middle daughter until she was 2 years old. They get to an age where you either distract them or just say nap time or bedtime. She weaned fine and so will my 18 month old when the time is right. My 6 and 4 year old kids sleep all night in their own beds and have been for years now. Breastfeeding is so natural and healthy, and so is everything about it. When I weaned my son, he was 13 months old. I weaned him because I found out I was pregnant and that's what my doctor told me to do. I had a miscarriage.... anyway, when I weaned him I would just lay with him and read him a book then he would fall asleep. Just do what works for you and don't let people tell you that what you are doing is unhealthy. You're doing a great job mom.

PS - My baby still wakes up and nurses in the middle of the night, and you know what.... it's ok with me. Like the other responder said, she won't be doing it until she's 14 and she's only a baby for a flash of time. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Answer 3

My son does the same thing, he's 9 1/2 months. My family, especially his father, are always nagging that it's not a good "habit" to get into, but I enjoy the time just as much as my son does, so I say why not? The only time he's ever fallen asleep without nursing, is when he spends the night at grandma's house.. I like knowing that I can comfort my children before they get some rest... I haven't nursed my other children for as long as I have my youngest... but they were the same way and I never had a major problem weaning them.... but I have a LOT of patience ;)

Answer 4

Some babies do, just depends on the baby's temperment. My oldest child did and my youngest does. You are not wrong to put him to sleep this way. It makes him happy AND gets him to sleep without incident. (Pretty sure you like it too.) Not hard to break, remember part of the feeding is cuddling and gazing into the eyes of the most beautiful baby/mom in the world. You can do that without the breast. Concerning weaning, that depends on you and the baby. Once you start feeling that it is time usually the baby does too. The baby may grow independent and you might too.

Answer 5

I easily have 4 infants, the youngest being a similar age as yours. My older 3 (an prolonged time between 2-5) have appropriate snoozing conduct. that is actual that that is maximum suitable to place a newborn down whilst they're drowsy as against nursing them to sleep. they ought to income the thank you to self-soothe. whether, i does no longer difficulty approximately it merely yet. I nonetheless nurse my 5 month old to sleep. i'm no longer precisely helpful, yet i think of I permit my different 3 bypass to sleep on the breast till they have been some million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days old. that is especially a lot whilst they stopped nursing. they might have nursed slightly, yet then i might arise and rock them slightly and then merely lay them down. they had be drowsy, yet no longer asleep. stable good fortune.

Answer 6

Nursing is extremely comforting for a baby. I have three children, and breast fed all of them. What you are experiencing is absolutely normal.I must warn you that weening is much harder on a baby that likes to fall asleep on the breast. If you don't mind the little extra effort that it may take to ween your child I would recomend to continue just what your doing. I did and I look back fondly on those moments.

Best of luck!

Answer 7

Sometimes. Especially if it's close to naptime or bedtime. I do sometimes nurse her to sleep. And she does nurse in the middle of the night. I don't know how I'll break her from the nighttime snacks LOL... but I'm sure she won't do it until she's fourteen LOL!

Answer 8

My 13 month old normally falls asleep at the breast, but occasionally he will in our arms too.

Answer 9

Cut out the mini meals. And get him into the routine of rocking him to sleep or something else.

Letting him always fall asleep on the breast makes it so impossible for you to ween him later, and besides its not healthy for his sleep development.

My son always did the same, until I started unplugging him before he had the chance to fall asleep. It he were hungry he would eat, if he's sleeping he's just doing it for the comfort. Instead, I'd unplug him, let him throw his fit and then go play until he was tired and rock him until he fell sleep.