Nursing your baby to sleep can be an extremely comforting experience for both you and your baby. It is natural for your baby to fall asleep while breastfeeding as the sleep-inducing hormones released can lull and relax them into the dreamland. However, there have been arguments about this idea as it could cause sleeping issues for the baby. Here, we discuss the good and the potential downsides of breastfeeding your baby to sleep.
Pros of nursing your baby to sleep
- Promotes deep bonding through skin-to-skin contact
- It is a quick and easy way for your baby to fall asleep
- Your baby will fall asleep without crying or fussing
- It is easy and convenient — you don't need to decide whether your baby has finished feeding. Once they are deeply asleep your nipple will slip from their mouth
- It is comforting for your baby to know that mom is close
While these advantages are great for both mom and baby, however, just like adults, babies can get comfortable with a routine. They start to associate certain things with sleep which can create dependency which then can cause sleeping issues as your baby may not be able to fall asleep without it.
Cons of nursing your baby to sleep
- When your baby starts to depend on breastfeeding to fall asleep, it can make bedtime more challenging. Your baby may wake during the night and rely on nursing to soothe them back to sleep. Weaning them off breastfeeding can be harder when they get older
- It can be harder for anyone else to feed your baby if your baby refuses to go to sleep without nursing you first. Introducing your baby to feeding from a bottle early on allows your partner and caregivers to take care of your baby and give you that much-needed me time!
- Parents are already sleep-deprived after welcoming their new baby. If the mom is the only person who can feed and get the baby to sleep, it can take a toll on their physical and mental health. Sharing the responsibility for feeding the baby can help uplift the stress.
All in all, do what is best for you and your baby. As long as your baby is well-fed and you are happy, then all is good!
