Falling Asleep While Nursing

Hi A. -

I too read in so many different places about not letting your baby fall asleep while nursing because it would create a bad habit. I say don't even worry about it. I agree with Becky's entry. All 3 of my kids would fall asleep while nursing, and it made for a terrific way to end the day. Neither of my girls has issues going to sleep, and they are now 5 and 3. My 13 month old son still nurses at bedtime, and most often doesn't fall asleep completely, but then easily goes to sleep after a little snuggling. Your son will be just fine!

L.

I nursed both my boys to sleep well past thier first b-days, and they've never had any sleep issues. When we stopped nursing (my youngest was 18 months) they had no problems going ot sleep on thier own without the nursing.

You aren't creating a bad habit, he is calming himself by sucking. If he falls asleep nursing, thats fine, just let him finish eating and then unlatch him and lay him down. If he wakes, just pat or rub his belly for a minute. It'll be fine!

It sounds like he'll settle for nursing and fall asleep? I would stroke his cheek or break the suction. I personally let both my girls fall asleep while nursing and then put them down. My first born wouldn't wake when I put her in the crib and my second will wake and cry until she falls back to sleep. If he's done nursing then gently wake him and then put him in the crib. I know my doctor recently told me to brush my childs teeth after nuring and that wakes her up.

I agree w/ PC. If he is falling asleep then he is settling down. Babies change so much so fast. It may be that this is how he unwinds now. I know every time I have to change my daughter's diaper during a night time feeding that wakes her up a little too. So you can nurse him to settle him and then do a small "crib routine" to wake him a bit and then let him settle himself.
I have 3 kids and each was different in how they went to sleep. My 3 month old is the only one who has stayed awake at the bedtime nursing, but the other two always fell asleep and I would put them in their crib. Nursing was the ONLY way I could ever get my first one to go to sleep at night (he's 5 now and it's still a bit of a struggle to get him to go to bed). ;-)