Whether you're a new mom or a seasoned parenting pro,
breastfeeding
often comes with its fair share of questions. Here are some answers
to common inquiries that mothers - new and veteran - may have.
Where should my breastfed baby sleep?
Although some mothers may want to keep their babies in bed with
them to make breastfeeding more convenient at night,
cosleeping
with babies can be hazardous.
But you can still choose to keep your baby close and make
nighttime feedings easier by letting your baby sleep in a crib,
bassinet, or play yard in your room - right next to your bed, even
- for the first few months.
You also can invest in a device that looks like a bassinet or
play yard missing one side that attaches to your bed, allowing you
to be next to each other while eliminating the possibility of
rolling over onto your infant.
To make nursing in bed more comfortable, it may help to keep a
donut-type nursing pillow on or near your bed or to use a
"husband" back pillow with arms on each side.
Keep the room dimly lit for nighttime feedings and also keep
stimulation (talking, singing, etc.) to a minimum. This will help
your baby to realize that nighttime is for sleeping - not playing -
and will encourage your little one to return to sleep sooner.
A word of caution, though: You should
never
let your baby sleep on a soft surface or in the same room with
people who are smoking because of the higher risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
. Babies should always be put on their backs to sleep to help
reduce the risk of SIDS.
My baby falls asleep while nursing. What Can I Do?
Your baby may seem to be snoozing away, but might actually
just be peacefully nursing. However, if you don't feel any
sucking, your baby may, indeed, be sleeping at the breast,
especially if feeling satisfied after a good feeding.
Babies who tend to latch on incorrectly, though, will frequently
sleep at the breast. If this happens, break the suction and
reposition your baby onto your breast to include both your nipple
and
areola.
You can break the suction by slipping your finger in the side of
your baby's mouth (between the gums) and then turning your
finger a quarter turn to break the suction. (If you just pull your
baby off your breast, it will likely startle your little one and
hurt your breasts as well.) After you've broken the suction,
try to burp your baby and switch your little one to the other
breast.
If your baby is still falling asleep while feeding, undress the
baby, tickle your child's feet, burp your baby frequently, or
try changing the diaper in between switching breasts.
Is it OK to nurse my baby to sleep?
Nursing your baby to sleep can become problematic as your
little one gets older because he or she may need to nurse to take a
nap or go to bed at night. It helps to wean your baby off of
sucking for comfort and make breastfeeding sessions about
nourishment not pacifying.
Also try to put your baby down for naps and bedtime
slightly awake so your little one will get used to falling
asleep without having to nurse.
Instead of nursing, you may want to offer your baby his or her
thumb or hand to suck on. You also could consider giving your
little one a pacifier. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) now recommends giving babies under a year pacifiers at
naptime and bedtime to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, babies who
are not interested in pacifiers should not be forced to take them,
and pacifiers should not be put back in if they fall out once the
baby falls asleep.
For breastfed babies, pacifiers should be introduced after
breastfeeding is well established (usually after 1 month) to help
avoid "nipple confusion."
If your baby has had a good feeding recently and you know that
he or she isn't hungry, then it's OK to use the pacifier,
although it's best to try to use it just for naps and
bedtime.
When will my baby sleep through the night?
Newborns should be woken up every 3 to 4 hours until their
weight gain is established, which typically happens within the
first couple of weeks. After that, it's OK if a baby sleeps for
longer periods of time.
But don't get your slumber hopes up just yet - most
breastfed infants
won't
snooze for extended periods of time
because
they get hungry. Remember, breast milk is much more easily digested
than formula, so it passes through babies' systems faster and,
therefore, makes them hungry more often.
Newborns' longest sleep periods are generally 4 or 5 hours -
this is about how long their small bellies can go between feedings.
If newborns do sleep for a while, they'll probably be
extra-hungry during the day and may want to nurse more
frequently.
And just when parents think that sleeping through the night
seems like a far-off dream, things start to get a little easier. At
3 months, a baby averages a total of 5 hours of sleep during
daytime naps and 10 hours at night, usually with an
interruption or two. Most babies this age sleep "through the
night," meaning 6 to 8 hours in a row.
It can help to stimulate your baby during the day, keep things
calm at night, and have a regular bedtime routine. But every baby
is different so don't be surprised if your baby sleeps more or
less than others.
Will it hurt my milk supply to let my baby sleep?
Letting your baby sleep through the night (usually around 3
months old) isn't going to hurt your breastfeeding efforts.
Your body readjusts your milk supply based on when you nurse and
how much your baby needs. Some babies will sleep through the night
early but will make up for it during the day, so your breasts will
accommodate.
As your baby matures and starts taking solid foods, the need for
breast milk will diminish and your body will adjust for that
too.
Reviewed by:
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: June 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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