Help! Has anyone else’s baby started using their nipple as a dummy all night? 😩
It all started when my little boy was around 3.5 months old. I was exhausted, so instead of getting up every time he woke for a feed, I started bringing him into bed and breastfeeding him lying down so I could stay in bed and get some rest.
Gradually, it became a habit. I’d bring him into bed during the second half of the night, feed him, and often fall asleep with him still sucking on my nipple. At the time, I didn’t mind, but I didn’t realise he might become so reliant on it to sleep.
He’s now 5 months old and wakes up religiously around 2 am, crying hysterically until I put him on the breast. He usually feeds for just five minutes before falling asleep, but if I try to remove my nipple and replace it with a dummy, he notices immediately and starts rooting around for me!
I make sure he has a bottle before bed, as we combine breastfeeding during the day with bottle-feeding at night, so I know he’s getting enough milk. It honestly feels like he just wants my nipple for comfort rather than hunger.
Sometimes I’m so exhausted that I let him carry on, but it hurts, and I can’t get proper sleep because he wants to suck all night. If he lets go, he wakes up crying straight away!
He’s nearly 6 months old, and I’d imagined he’d be sleeping in his own room by now. At this point, I’d be happy if he could just sleep in his own cot for a decent stretch, or even co-sleep without using me as a human dummy all night 😂😭
Has anyone been through this? Is it just a phase, or have I created a sleep association? What worked for you to help your baby settle without needing to suck on your nipple all night? I’m exhausted and would really appreciate some advice! ❤️
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Girl I’m going through the exact some thing, im trying to go back to feed her sitting up now and when she’s done and latches off I put her in her crib, if I don’t she’ll keep using me as a dummy and that’s how they learn boob will only help them fall asleep
This is so common and it's not a bad habit sweetheart, honestly. It's just a really hard phase. At this age they start learning that you can walk away and separation anxiety can hit. It's all developmental and normal.
Every baby is different. Both my both are breastfed. My first slept through from 11 weeks and only spent the sleep regressions in my bed. My second doesn't sleep through and has to co sleep 90% of the night from midnight. He will usually have boob in mouth most of the night. He does also take a dummy though which is helpful. It is a phase and will eventually get better. If you're both getting rest, roll with it ❤️❤️ xxx
Exact same situation here! Feeding to sleep and co-sleeping used to get me more sleep but the constant suckling is now stopping me from sleeping. Hoping it's a short phase and related to teething or something temporary. I stopped breastfeeding my first at 5 months so I'm determined to power through and go longer this time! I'm trying to unlatch before shes in a deep sleep until she eventually gets used to it... so far mixed results 🫠 x
I could’ve written this myself! Word for word. We’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do to survive!♥️
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