Hello!

My 6 month old will only settle on the breast to sleep. She wakes a few times at night wanting breast and I’ve tried settling in other ways without success.

I’ve also tried the dummy for her to settle on and she refuses it or sucks it with an annoyed look on her face.

Has anyone had a similar baby and was able to get them to settle to sleep off the boob?


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  • Get I had this problem I had dropped all feeds except the night ones towards the end of bf. I just literally snuggled him to get him back to sleep and eventually we dropped one by one over night.


  • This is how both my babies went to sleep. It was a nightmare settling the first without the boob, but my second coped well.


  • For breastfed babies this is the norm! Its actually the way that nature designed us to help mums and babies to sleep at night – the hormones to induce sleep are 5x higher at night not to mention the oxytocin released during letdown makes you sleepy too! Try feeding whilst laying side by side with baby with a pillow at your back and one between your knees for comfort. Night feeds are usually the last ones to be dropped when weaning baby too so just be mindful that if you stop feeding at night that it will also impact your supply.


  • Is your little one having enough throughout the day? My little one now 15 months was the same but now kind of grew out it only needs to nurse once overnight, sometimes none.


  • I had this issue with my first-born too. I never did solve it, just had to wait til he grew out of it


  • Yes! She probably till needs t and also the comfort. Give it time. As she eats more during the day you’ll notice it become more comfort than hunger


  • Still so young and need that nourishment, I would suggest still feeding her. Even if she is on solids. Talk to your MCH nurse and see what she says, but I would still be feeding.


  • I found that my little one wasn’t getting enough to eat from breastmilk. Since she is 6 months already try offering more food for dinner then top off with milk before bed. If you want her to use dummies, you may need to try other brands. You may also need to try noise machines to help her self sooth or use a diffuser with calming smelling oils.


  • As long as your baby is actually feeding then I don’t see anything wrong with settling on the breast. I have three children who were all demand feed and it worked for me. I think a quick feed and back to sleep is much better and less stressful for both you and bubs compared to passing or rocking a screaming baby for hours trying to get them to fall asleep without it.


  • Maybe your baby still need you and wants cuddle.


  • They are all so different, my first was always a self settler and this time around is. Struggle- 10 months and is finally getting better.


  • Is baby teething or having a growth spurt. Others always wanted more feeds or longer ones. Going to sleep while breast feeding could be a comfort thing as same as some babies go to sleep with a dummy. Is your baby having solids? I know a Mum who gave her baby a few spoons of warm cereal at the night feed and the baby slept longer at night.


  • At 6 months of age, I think this is not unusual.
    You might find this article helpful
    https://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/bf-basics/importance-responsive-feeding/


  • My baby is the same. I just continued to settle on the breast as everything else became to stressffor both me and bub. A friend of mine had huge success when she weaned her bub off at 11 months and put him on formula. He’d have his bottle and then was put in the cot with a few pats on the bum and then asleep. Although her story definitely seemed the exception to the rule. He’s a very easy going kid


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