The Nursing Baby - Q&A

My husband and I sleep with my six month old baby (and have since birth). She is still nursing anywhere from one to four times a night. I can usually sleep through it most of the time, but I'm getting a little tired of it. She doesn't really eat as much as just "pacify". I also use a pacifier, but that doesn't always do the trick. I still want to sleep with her for a while longer. I have just introduced solids a couple weeks ago. Will she eventually (within the next couple months) break herself of the night nursing? Are there any suggestions for what I can do to help to get her to sleep through the night?
Jane Owen

Dear Jane,
Night nursing is often continued with cosleeping children till around two years of age or so. In fact, new studies are indicating that the 'normal' sleep patterns described by doctors for infants are in fact incorrectly based on children who are formula-fed and sleep separately. You may even be surprised to know that one study indicated that formula-fed babies sleep on average 1 1/2 hours more per 24 hours than their breastfed counterparts. Before we all switch to the formula bandwagon, we have to ask ourselves, is this extra sleep healthy, and what does it indicate? I don't think the answer is known.

Studies have also shown that whether formula-fed or breastfed, the introduction of solids is not related to how long a baby sleeps at night.

If you find that the night nursing is not working out for your family, I suggest that you get your husband involved. Let him father-nurse your child back to sleep, if you are sure that hunger is not involved. Have him snuggle baby up against his chest and pat baby's back. If that's not enough, the traditional rocker may work as well. But go slowly and easily - if baby objects to father-nursing, don't push the issue. In your case I would also continue to offer the pacifier at night when you are not up to a nursing session. Another item you can try if your husband is comfortable with it, have baby sleep on his side of the bed away from you. Some parents report success with this method, possibly because baby can't smell or feel his mother.

Jane, I wish I could tell you there's a magic way to get 100% of the rest you crave all the time, but I'm afraid there is not. Motherhood is one of the most exhausting times in a woman's life. One thing I do know is that mothers often get used to family-bedding night nursing, and cannot always remember whether they nursed at night or not. I do know that at 18 months I think Ian night nurses only about 1/2 of what he did at 9 months. The only times I seem to resent night nursing now is during teething, which would cause nightwaking in any child, regardless of feeding method or sleeping quarters.

Good luck to you, and I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful.

These tips are not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have questions.

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