There are many mothers who breastfeed their babies until they fall asleep, both babies who are just about to sleep and those who are awake. However, if your baby is old enough, he doesn't have to be breastfed to sleep. You can put your baby to sleep without being breastfed by setting a feeding schedule throughout the day and establishing a baby sleep routine.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Establishing Baby's Sleep Routine
Step 1. Know your baby's daily sleep needs
Babies' needs vary depending on their age. If your baby is 5 months old or younger, the recommended length of sleep is:
- Babies 0–2 months need 10.5–18 hours of sleep each day.
- Babies 2–12 months need 14–15 hours of sleep every day.
Step 2. Set a consistent bedtime
Set a consistent bedtime that includes his routine. This can help your baby sleep without being breastfed, as well as relax him and regulate his sleep cycle.
- Consider naps, milk or food, and baby's age when setting a bedtime. Don't worry about bedtime for the first two months.
- Set a reasonable bedtime for you and your baby. You may want some “time alone” after putting your baby to bed at night.
- You can adjust your schedule occasionally to accommodate activity or other factors, such as illness.
Step 3. Help baby to relax before bed
Most babies need some time to enter sleep mode. Rituals and mood adjustments can help babies relax and fall asleep, especially without being breastfed or bottle-fed.
- Start resting your baby at least two hours before bedtime.
- Lower the noise.
- Dim the lights at home and especially in the nursery. He will understand that it is bedtime.
- Talk to your baby and rub his back to relax him and to calm him down if he is fussy.
Step 4. Have a bedtime routine
Create a bedtime ritual that doesn't involve breastfeeding. You can signal by bathing your baby, reading a story, singing, or listening to soothing music so your baby can sleep without being breastfed.
- Reading or singing can help your baby relax.
- Bathe the baby with warm water and give a massage to add to the relaxation.
Step 5. Optimize the crib
Arrange for the nursery to promote relaxation and help sleep. Optimal temperature, low noise, and turning off the lights can help baby sleep soundly without waking up.
- Set the room temperature between 18 and 24°C.
- Remove anything that might stimulate the baby, such as electronics.
- Control the light with soft light bulbs and curtains. A night light with a non-stimulating color like red can help you see and even soothe your baby.
- Use a white noise machine to disguise noises that might wake the baby.
- Remove blankets and soft objects from the crib or crib to prevent suffocation.
Step 6. Lay the baby down while he is still awake
Place the baby in the crib or crib when he is sleepy but not yet asleep. This can help her associate her crib and crib with sleep and reduce the need to breastfeed in order to sleep. This method can also reduce the time to take care of the baby at night.
- Lay the baby in a supine position.
- If he moves when you put him in the crib, let him adjust his position and see if he sleeps again. If not, hold her again until she falls asleep.
Step 7. See a pediatrician
If after six months your baby can't sleep on his own or needs to be breastfed first, schedule an appointment with the pediatrician. The doctor can assess why the baby is still hungry at night or whether he just wants to be breastfed because he needs attention and affection.
Prepare a record of the baby's sleeping and eating patterns and take it to the doctor. These notes can help your doctor make an effective diagnosis that fits your baby's sleep cycle and give you tips for improvement
Part 2 of 2: Scheduling Breastfeeding
Step 1. Understand your baby's sleep cycle
Babies need to sleep and eat differently depending on their age. Learning about your baby's sleep cycle can help you put your baby to sleep more effectively without having to breastfeed.
- Babies generally do not have to be breastfed at night once they have weighed 5 kg.
- Newborns should breastfeed more often and generally sleep for three hours between feeds. This means that you have to wake your baby to feed until he or she is of sufficient age or weight to sleep without first feeding.
- Between 2 and 3 months of age and depending on weight, your baby may need extra milk at night. Most babies 2 to 3 months should feed one to two times at night. She should breastfeed between five and six hours.
- After 4 months of age, most metabolically healthy babies don't need to be breastfed at night and can usually sleep seven to eight hours without feeding.
- Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what you can do.
Step 2. Reduce breastfeeding at night
Around 3 months of age, reduce feeding at night. Later this can encourage the baby to fall asleep without being breastfed.
If your baby cries, let him move around to see if he's sleeping again or give him a pacifier to soothe him back to sleep
Step 3. Feed the baby before you go to sleep
Feeding your baby a little before bedtime can help keep him from waking up at night. Wake your baby and feed him even if he is too sleepy to drink.
- This extra milk also allows you to sleep a little longer.
- Be aware that this tactic can be detrimental and stimulate your baby to wake up more often. If this happens, don't wake your baby again to feed him before bed, but feed him until he is full at the last feeding.
Step 4. Extend the time between feeds
Once your baby no longer needs to feed every two to three hours (usually around 3 to 4 months of age), extend the time between feedings. This can help your baby realize that he doesn't have to be breastfed to sleep.
Add hour between feedings at night every two nights. After two weeks, the baby may no longer need to be breastfed for sleep
Step 5. Cut down on milk at night
Reduce the time to feed the baby at night. By gradually reducing the feeding time, you are giving your baby a signal that he can sleep without being breastfed.
- Reduce feeding time by two minutes per breast for a week.
- You may need less than a week to eliminate the need for your baby to be breastfed before bed.
- Also, limit extra stimulation during breastfeeding at night, such as extra noise, light, or attention.
Step 6. Add milk during the day
A baby's desire to suckle at night tends to decrease if he gets enough calories during the day. Increase feeding time during the day until she doesn't need to be nursed again until she falls asleep.
- Feed the baby a few minutes longer per breast each day.
- Do not add cereal in the baby's bottle or give him solid food too soon because it can harm the baby's health. Experts generally recommend that solid foods begin around 6 months of age.
Step 7. Give a pacifier
The sucking motion that resembles feeding can soothe the baby to sleep. With a pacifier, the baby can sleep without being breastfed. Research also shows that using a pacifier while sleeping can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Step 8. Take care of baby only as needed at night
Most babies are fussy and moving around at night. Reassure baby only if he can't get himself to sleep again or looks sick.
Dim the lights, speak in a soft voice, move only as needed, and don't hold the baby to the breast. This helps the baby to understand it is time for bed and does not associate sleep with feeding
Step 9. Avoid sleeping with the baby
Even if you are encouraged to sleep close to your baby at night, don't share a bed or sleep with your baby. This not only tempts the baby to suckle, but also makes it difficult for him to sleep well.
