Lactation & Sleep
It’s Myth Busting Time!
You may be wondering how breastfeeding and sleep pair together. This article is going to dispel 3 common myths that may have you confused when it comes to breastfeeding and infant sleep. Most parents are looking forward to the early sleepless days and nights to pass, but what happens when your baby is out of the newborn stage and is still wanting to breastfeed during the night?
Normalizing nighttime feedings is against most popular sleep training advice. But research about normal infant development is reassuring and confirms that it is natural and appropriate for infants to continue to wake during the night to breastfeed. Sleep and breastfeeding can co-exist!
Now that we have established the fact that it is normal for not just newborns to wake to breastfeed let’s bust 3 common myths!
MYTH #1: You can’t nurse at night when you are sleep training
FALSE: You can and should breastfeed when your baby is showing hunger cues. Many parents fear they are creating “bad” habits by allowing their baby to nurse during the night. However, it is normal for infants to wake well through the first 6 months of life to breastfeed during the night. You may even find that nighttime feedings pick back up once your baby is crawling and is more active during the day.
MYTH #2: After the newborn stage infants don’t need to eat at night
FALSE: Not all babies will continue to wake to breastfeed, however, you will learn how your infants’ cues and be able to distinguish between their different cries. Every time they wake it may not be because they are hungry, don’t forget to check their diaper, ensure the temperature of the room is comfortable, and that the room is dark enough for them to sleep comfortably.
MYTH #3: Just stop nursing at night and don’t wean, it will be fine
FALSE: While there is no magic age to wean there are many things to keep in mind when preparing to do so. Keep in mind that every baby is different, while some may not be phased by abrupt nighttime weaning other babies may have a harder time. When you are ready to begin weaning consider the normal breastfeeding patterns of your child to determine which feeding may be the easiest to remove. Give your baby and your supply a few days to a week to adjust and then remove another feeding. You may find it takes several weeks to completely remove nighttime feeding sessions. Don’t forget to ensure your baby is still taking in adequate amounts of milk, even once food has been introduced breastmilk is your baby’ top source of nutrition until age 1. Breastfeeding more than about providing nutrition, it is an integral part of your infants’ routine, try and find new ways to bond with your baby while weaning.
Additional info
Creating a plan with a lactation consultant and sleep consultant can help keep feedings and sleeping on track, you can also get evidenced based answers to your questions and 1:1 guidance when working with a specialist. This article is meant to be educational and informative and should not be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your child’s development reach out to their health care provider.
Morgan Jackson is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and co-owner of Prepared Beginnings LLC. For breastfeeding tips and education follow Morgan Jackson BSN RN IBCLC on Instagram @preparedbeginningslactation for more in depth education and to book a breastfeeding consultation visit https://www.preparedbeginnings.com/
For guidance on infant sleep and education follow Kensey Butkevich Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Child Sleep Consultant on Instagram @sleep.easy.clinic and for additional education or to book a consultation visit her website https://sleepeasyclinic.com/