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For breastfeeding mothers, it seems perfectly natural to nurse your baby to sleep every night, but some parenting experts disagree and warn mothers against nursing their babies to sleep. Does the bonding experience of breastfeeding your baby to sleep interfere with your baby's ability to soothe himself to sleep on his own?
One of the arguments for nursing your baby to sleep deals with convenience sake, particularly if your baby is a frequent night waker. Many moms who nurse their babies to sleep have co-sleeping arrangements with their babies, which allows them to stay in bed when their infants wake in the middle of the night for feedings. This arrangement can promote better sleep for the entire family during the first few months of a newborn baby's life as well as create a deep bond between mother and child.
Some parenting experts encourage mothers to nurse their babies to sleep and promote the benefits of breastfeeding baby to sleep. Dr. Bill Sears, esteemed pediatrician and author of over 30 books on childcare, recommends moms use nursing to sleep as a transition from being awake to falling asleep. Dr. Linda Folden Palmer, recognized author and speaker who specializes in lactation, includes nursing to sleep as a benefit of breastfeeding in her article "Nursing: It's More Than Breastfeeding and Every Mother Can Do It", published on The Baby Bond, a website that promotes her book "The Baby Bond: The New Science Behind What's Really Important When Caring for Your Baby." Dr. Palmer claims that breastfeeding is beneficial to both the baby's and mother's sleep as breast milk produces comforting hormones that ease stress for both baby and mother, allowing both to sleep peacefully.
While there are doctors who recommend nursing your baby to sleep, there are others who caution against it. Dr. Jodi Mindell, the associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and author of "Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep," claims breastfeeding your baby to sleep can lead to your baby having problems with getting himself to sleep on his own. Although she does emphasize the importance of breastfeeding and even agrees that nursing your baby to sleep is a great bonding experience for the first month or so of your baby's life, she warns mothers against making breastfeeding their babies to sleep every night and advises moms to nurse babies earlier in the evening.
If you currently nurse your baby to sleep and need help weaning him from night nursing, Dr. Bill Sears has 12 tips in the article "Night Weaning: 12 Alternatives for the All Night Nurser" on his website Ask Dr. Sears. With suggestions like increasing nursing during the day, sleeping in a separate room from your baby, and getting dad to comfort baby in a sling, you can experiment with your baby until you find what works for you and your family.
Email This
For breastfeeding mothers, it seems perfectly natural to nurse your baby to sleep every night, but some parenting experts disagree and warn mothers against nursing their babies to sleep. Does the bonding experience of breastfeeding your baby to sleep interfere with your baby's ability to soothe himself to sleep on his own?One of the arguments for nursing your baby to sleep deals with convenience sake, particularly if your baby is a frequent night waker. Many moms who nurse their babies to sleep have co-sleeping arrangements with their babies, which allows them to stay in bed when their infants wake in the middle of the night for feedings. This arrangement can promote better sleep for the entire family during the first few months of a newborn baby's life as well as create a deep bond between mother and child.
Some parenting experts encourage mothers to nurse their babies to sleep and promote the benefits of breastfeeding baby to sleep. Dr. Bill Sears, esteemed pediatrician and author of over 30 books on childcare, recommends moms use nursing to sleep as a transition from being awake to falling asleep. Dr. Linda Folden Palmer, recognized author and speaker who specializes in lactation, includes nursing to sleep as a benefit of breastfeeding in her article "Nursing: It's More Than Breastfeeding and Every Mother Can Do It", published on The Baby Bond, a website that promotes her book "The Baby Bond: The New Science Behind What's Really Important When Caring for Your Baby." Dr. Palmer claims that breastfeeding is beneficial to both the baby's and mother's sleep as breast milk produces comforting hormones that ease stress for both baby and mother, allowing both to sleep peacefully.
While there are doctors who recommend nursing your baby to sleep, there are others who caution against it. Dr. Jodi Mindell, the associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and author of "Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep," claims breastfeeding your baby to sleep can lead to your baby having problems with getting himself to sleep on his own. Although she does emphasize the importance of breastfeeding and even agrees that nursing your baby to sleep is a great bonding experience for the first month or so of your baby's life, she warns mothers against making breastfeeding their babies to sleep every night and advises moms to nurse babies earlier in the evening.
If you currently nurse your baby to sleep and need help weaning him from night nursing, Dr. Bill Sears has 12 tips in the article "Night Weaning: 12 Alternatives for the All Night Nurser" on his website Ask Dr. Sears. With suggestions like increasing nursing during the day, sleeping in a separate room from your baby, and getting dad to comfort baby in a sling, you can experiment with your baby until you find what works for you and your family.