What to Do If Your Baby Keeps Falling Asleep While Nursing
What to do when your baby keeps falling asleep while nursing is not exactly the same as what to do if your baby wakes up during the night and starts crying. Your first instinct will probably be to get your baby back to sleep, but that isn’t always the best approach. The problem with trying to get your child to fall back to sleep through nursing is that they may not completely get the point and may resist sleep at all. If your baby has a more difficult time falling asleep than you do, you may want to consider waiting a few minutes until your baby is about six months old before trying to get them back into a deep sleep. This can allow your baby time to become acclimated to sleeping without a bottle.
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What to Do If Your Baby Keeps Falling Asleep While Nursing
What to do when your baby keeps falling asleep while nursing is not exactly the same as what to do if your baby wakes up during the night and starts crying. Your first instinct will probably be to get your baby back to sleep, but that isn’t always the best approach. The problem with trying to get your child to fall back to sleep through nursing is that they may not completely get the point and may resist sleep at all. If your baby has a more difficult time falling asleep than you do, you may want to consider waiting a few minutes until your baby is about six months old before trying to get them back into a deep sleep. This can allow your baby time to become acclimated to sleeping without a bottle.
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Another option to consider is keeping a napkin nearby during your nursing times so you can read it to your baby. Often, if a baby has trouble falling asleep on their own, they are most likely struggling to do so when nursing. This can be a great way for them to learn how to fall asleep without your help, and often times will help them in the long run.
As you can see, there are some big differences between what to do if your baby keeps falling asleep while nursing and what to do if your baby wakes up during the night. Most importantly, don’t ever punish your baby for not sleeping through the night. They may just need some additional encouragement to learn how to fall asleep without your help. You should never leave a bottle of milk or formula out of reach of your baby. Putting the food on the table close to where they are sleeping is one option. If you can make them feel comfortable, they will be more likely to remember to drink their bottle or eat their formula before they fall asleep.