Q & A: My 6 month old won’t sleep unless she is feeding

Hi,
My baby is almost six months now, she used to fall asleep on her own, once she’s on her side and has a washcloth in  her hand, now she really depends on me giving her the breast to fall asleep. Otherwise she cries loudly and will not give up, she still doesn’t sleep through the night. I don’t even remember when this all changed.

Melissa

Hi there,
It’s hard to remember when things change when you become a new mother. Sometimes, it all seems like a blur! Now that your daughter is 6 months old, you can focus on making sure that feeding isn’t the last thing you do before putting her to sleep at night, and nap time too. Maybe after you have fed her, try reading a book or two, then a lullaby and then put her in her bed awake. She may not like it at first,  but you can still soothe her and help her fall asleep, without nursing. It may be a bit tough to make the change, but if you stick with it, it will be a lot easier for you in the long run. Feel free to visit my website for some suggested books and lullabies.  Good luck!
Rosemary