To stop breastfeeding in bed, you need to break the association between nursing and sleep by establishing a new routine.
Breaking the Bedtime Breastfeeding Cycle
The key to stopping breastfeeding in bed is to remove the link between being breastfed and falling asleep. This involves creating a clear distinction between feeding time and sleep time. Here's how:
- Change the Feeding Location: Start by feeding your baby in a different room before bedtime. This establishes a new pattern where feeding does not immediately lead to sleep. For instance, try feeding in a rocking chair in the nursery. As the reference suggests: “We eat here, we sleep there.”
- Adjust the Routine: Introduce new elements into your bedtime routine that don't involve nursing, such as:
- A bath
- Reading a book
- Singing a lullaby
- Gentle massage
- Separate Nursing from Sleep: Feed your baby, then introduce a small gap (e.g., 15-30 minutes) before starting the bedtime routine. This will help your baby learn to fall asleep without nursing.
- Don't Eliminate Nursing Altogether: Stopping breastfeeding in bed doesn't mean you need to stop breastfeeding entirely. The pre-bedtime or pre-nap feed can still happen, just not immediately before sleep.
Step-by-Step Guide
| Step | Action | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Move the feeding location | Start feeding in a different room than where your baby sleeps. |
| 2 | Create a New Routine | Incorporate activities like bathing, reading, or singing before bed, excluding nursing. |
| 3 | Introduce a gap between nursing and sleep | Allow time between feeding and the start of the bedtime routine. |
| 4 | Be Consistent | Follow the new routine consistently to help your baby adjust and break the old association. |
By changing the routine and environment, you are teaching your child to associate feeding with a different place and time, and sleep with another. This will help you successfully stop breastfeeding in bed.
