Can I Sleep Train While Breastfeeding?
By Melissa Bramwell (SENIOR Sleep Consultant)
Let's dive into something that's close to our hearts: breastfeeding and sleep training. Many of you have asked, "Can I breastfeed while I'm working on sleep training?" The answer? Absolutely! It's a journey that weaves two important threads of motherhood, and I'm here to help you navigate this path.
The Overnight Feed Dilemma
Can you breastfeed and sleep train? Yes! It's completely possible to have both in your toolkit. You can keep a night feed or two – that's the beauty of this journey. But let's get into some details about how you can make the transition smooth when you're ready.
First off, let's chat about night feeds.
Did you know that usually, babies don't need an overnight feed when they're around 12 to 15 pounds or they've doubled their birth weight?
Of course, every baby has their rhythm, and if you're unsure, having a chat with your pediatrician can offer valuable insights.
As your little one reaches around seven months, something interesting can happen – reverse cycling. This means they might want to eat more during the night than the day. While it's different for every baby, it's a good cue to reevaluate if nighttime feeds are still a necessity.
Navigating Nighttime Feeds
Whether you're team "Let's keep those midnight snacks coming" or team "Goodnight, night feeds," I've have tips for both.
Team Nighttime Feeds
If you are a mama who loves those in the middle of the night feeds and you want to keep it in, maybe your baby actually does really need the feeding. I have some tips for you to help ensure that you can be kept on a great track while sleep training.
establish feeding hours. You can set a feeding window – say, between 12 am and 4 am. If your baby wakes up during this time, it's a feeding opportunity.
wait five to ten minutes before diving in. Sometimes, they're just stretching in their sleep, or transferring sleep cycles and we wouldn't want to interrupt their sweet dreams with an unneeded feed.
If you start to feel baby slowing down or maybe they are having these pauses and not actively feeding, it's time to stop and the feed and put baby back into their crib.
It's okay to put baby back down a little bit drowsy, but we want to make sure that they aren't 100% asleep when they are going into their safe space to sleep. (During the day, we wanna make sure baby is going down 100% awake, but during the night it's a little bit different.)
Team No Nighttime Feeds
If you're thinking of slowly cutting down nighttime feeds, that's possible too. As your baby grows and their dietary needs evolve, you can gradually lessen these feeds. But remember, you set the pace based on your family's unique dynamics.
Nurturing Independent Sleep Habits
Now, let's talk about bedtime. Ever heard of disassociating the feeding-sleep duo? It's like separating two BFFs for a bit, but it's all for a good cause – independent sleep. For instance, during bedtime, try making the feeding the start of the sleep routine. This way, your little one doesn't link eating with falling asleep. Win-win, right?
Naptime and Mornings
When it comes to naptime, having a feeding around 30 minutes before sleep can help your baby learn to fall asleep without needing to feed. Here's a tip : if your baby decides to doze off during the feed, you can always give them a gentle nudge back into the realm of "almost sleepy but not quite" before placing them down for their nap.
And those early mornings? Waiting a bit before offering a feed can help your baby settle back to sleep. It encourages them to develop their own rhythm of sleeping through the early hours, contributes to healthy sleep cycles and cultivates self-soothing skills.
We Are Here to Help!
At the end of the day (or the start of the night), remember, this journey is yours. There's no one-size-fits-all formula. Whether you want to keep nighttime feeds or phase them out, it's all about what works for you and your family. Trust your instincts, read your baby's signals, and follow your heart.
If you're looking for more insights or need a bit of support, don't hesitate to reach out. Our team is here, ready to assist you on this rewarding path.
If you're still struggling with your baby’s sleep, feel free to set up a complimentary discovery call with either myself or someone on the Kelly Murray Sleep Squad and we would love to chat with you more about other options for your baby and how we can help get you and your child better nights sleep.
All team members have completed training with Kelly and have learned the Murray Method. Kelly continues to support, guide and oversee the Sleep Squad as they work with the families who trust in us. This way, all clients are able to experience the same amazing results (and lots and lots of sleep).
Sweet Dreams…
Kelly Murray is a certified sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.
