Evie Summers
Breastfeeding is a natural process that offers several benefits for both mothers and newborns. For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of certain conditions such as diabetes and some cancers later in life. For newborns, it provides protection from infections and illnesses and lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While breastfeeding is encouraged, it is important to be cautious when feeding a newborn to avoid the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and SIDS. This includes avoiding feeding the baby on couches and armchairs and ensuring the baby sleeps in a separate sleeping area, such as a safety-approved crib or bassinet, that is close to the mother's bed. Additionally, it is recommended to have someone stay with the mother during breastfeeding to ensure the baby is safely returned to their sleeping area if the mother falls asleep. While it is not dangerous to nurse a baby to sleep, it can create a dependency, making it challenging for the baby to fall asleep without nursing as they get older.
Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Newborns often fall asleep at the breast | This is due to the release of the CCK hormone in the gut, which makes the baby feel full and sleepy. |
| Benefits of breastfeeding | Reduced risk of SIDS, lowers the mother's risk of breast and ovarian cancer, prevents childhood obesity, and strengthens the baby's immune system. |
| Safe sleeping practices | Avoid bed-sharing due to the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and SIDS. Use a bassinet or crib next to the bed for room-sharing, which is recommended for at least the first 6 months. |
| Keeping baby close | Lowers baby's stress levels, promotes growth, and makes it easier to nurse. |
| Skin-to-skin contact | Encourages natural feeding instincts, makes it easier for the baby to find the breast, and helps in noticing subtle feeding cues. |
| Frequent waking and feeding | Protects against SIDS and ensures the baby gets enough milk. |
| Adjusting to sleeping through the night | May require extra encouragement to maintain milk supply, such as dream feeds or pumping. |
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What You'll Learn
Babies are biologically programmed to fall asleep at the breast
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it can come with its fair share of questions, especially when it comes to sleep – for both the baby and the mother. Newborns feed frequently, sometimes at regular intervals and often at irregular intervals. For most newborns, the longest stretch between feeds is three to four hours, including through the night.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding offers several benefits for both mothers and babies, including reducing the baby's risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The longer a baby is exclusively breastfed, the lower the risk of SIDS. Frequent waking to feed also protects young babies from SIDS and ensures they get all the milk they need to grow and thrive.
Co-sleeping and bed-sharing
Room-sharing is key to reducing a baby's risk of SIDS when breastfeeding. Many mothers nurse their babies to sleep on a safe sleeping surface and then move them to their crib. Bed-sharing, where the parent and baby sleep together on the same surface, is common in many countries, and babies are soothed by being close to their parents. However, bed-sharing puts babies at risk of suffocation, strangulation, and SIDS. A safer option is to have the baby's crib or bassinet next to the bed.
Babies are biologically designed to fall asleep at the breast. This is due to a hormone called cholecystokinin or CCK, which is released in the baby's gut as soon as they start sucking. CCK makes the baby feel full and sleepy, and younger babies tend to have higher concentrations of CCK, which can make it harder to keep them awake during a feed.
What to do if your baby falls asleep while breastfeeding
If you are concerned about your baby falling asleep while breastfeeding, there are some things you can try. You can gently stimulate your baby by stroking their hands and feet, or tickling their feet. You can also try switching to the other breast, as this will wake them up. Another way to keep your baby awake while nursing is to try skin-to-skin contact. You can also try some dim lighting and soft yet stimulating music to keep them engaged.
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Safe bedsharing and co-sleeping
Breastfeeding a newborn can be a challenging task, especially when the baby falls asleep at the breast. It is a common occurrence, as babies are biologically programmed to fall asleep at the breast due to the release of the hormone cholecystokinin or CCK, which makes them feel full and sleepy.
If you plan to bedshare, it is important to make your bed a safe sleep surface. Here are some tips for safe bedsharing and co-sleeping:
- Room-sharing: It is recommended to have your baby sleep in the same room as you, in their own safety-approved crib or bassinet, for at least the first 6 months. This arrangement helps to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and makes it easier to breastfeed during the night.
- Safe sleep surface: Ensure that your baby's sleep area is free from items such as pillows, soft comforters, quilts, and blankets, as these can pose a risk of suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment.
- Avoid couches and armchairs: Feeding your baby on couches or armchairs can be dangerous, especially if you fall asleep, as these surfaces carry a high risk of sleep-related deaths from entrapment and suffocation.
- Skin-to-skin contact: Maintaining skin-to-skin contact with your baby can help ignite their natural feeding instinct and encourage them to stay awake and feed. It also allows you to notice subtle feeding cues, such as slight wiggles, that may otherwise be missed.
- Stimulation techniques: If your baby falls asleep while feeding, you can try gently stroking their hands and feet, sitting them up and giving them a gentle back rub, or changing their nappy to stimulate them to stay awake and feed.
- Breast compressions: Gently compress or massage your breast at the end of feeding to encourage your baby to drink more.
- Correct latch: If your baby latches on incorrectly, they may fall asleep at the breast. If this happens, break the suction and reposition your baby onto your breast to include both the nipple and areola.
- Dim lighting and minimal noise: Keeping the room dimly lit and maintaining a quiet environment can help your baby understand that nighttime is for sleeping, not playing, and can facilitate falling back to sleep after feedings.
Remember, it is important to follow safe bedsharing and co-sleeping practices to ensure the well-being of both you and your baby.
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How to keep a sleepy baby awake at the breast
It is very common for newborns to fall asleep at the breast, especially after a feeding. This is due to a hormone called cholecystokinin, or CCK, which is released in the baby's gut as soon as they start sucking. CCK makes your baby feel full and sleepy. Younger babies tend to have higher concentrations of CCK, which can make it harder to keep them awake during a feed.
- Keep your baby in the skin-to-skin position to help ignite your baby's natural feeding instinct and encourage them to feed. Skin-to-skin contact also allows you to notice subtle feeding cues that may otherwise be missed.
- Change up breastfeeding positions.
- Tickle your baby's feet or stroke the palms of their hands and soles of their feet.
- Blow air on their cheeks or forehead.
- Change their diaper.
- Play music or sing to them.
- Feed them during their light REM sleep cycle (when their eyelids flutter, they grin in their sleep, and have clenched fists).
- Massage the crown of your baby's head while they are feeding.
- Wet a washcloth with lukewarm water and rub it on their face or along their hairline.
- Do breast massages while feeding to encourage them to feed longer.
- Switch breasts as soon as you notice your baby stop actively suckling and beginning to trail off.
- If your baby falls asleep and stops feeding, gently stroke their hands and feet to stimulate them to stay awake for longer.
- Sit your baby up and give them a gentle back rub.
- Burp your baby.
- Change your baby's nappy mid-feed.
- Keep the room well-lit.
It is important to note that frequent waking and feeding are normal and beneficial for newborns. It allows babies to get all the milk they need to grow and thrive, and it also helps to reduce their risk of SIDS. If you are concerned about your baby's feeding behaviour, it is recommended to reach out to your pediatrician or lactation specialist.
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Breastfeeding and reduced risk of SIDS
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it can be stressful for new mothers. It is important to know the best practices for making nights easier for you and your baby. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that bed-sharing puts babies at risk of suffocation, strangulation, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Instead, experts recommend room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months of a baby's life, especially if you're breastfeeding.
Research shows that babies who are breastfed or fed human milk are at a reduced risk for SIDS compared to babies who were never breastfed. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding only human milk for at least the first 6 months, unless breastfeeding is not ideal due to health conditions. The longer a baby is exclusively breastfed, the lower their risk of SIDS. Feeding babies human milk offers several benefits, including reducing the risk of SIDS.
There are several hypotheses as to why breastfeeding has protective properties against SIDS. One theory suggests that babies who are breastfed arouse more easily from a deep sleep and are more likely to cry or try to get themselves out of a vulnerable position, such as being face down on their sleep surface. Another hypothesis is that antibodies transferred from the mother to the baby during breastfeeding protect against infections such as gastrointestinal or febrile illnesses that increase the risk of SIDS.
To ensure a safe sleeping environment for your baby, it is recommended to use a bassinet or play yard with one side that is lower, attaching to your bed. This allows you to be close to your baby without the risk of rolling over onto them. It is also important to keep the room dimly lit and minimise noise to help your baby understand that nighttime is for sleeping, not playing. Newborns often fall asleep at the breast, especially after a feeding. If you think your baby has fallen asleep without finishing nursing, you can try undressing them, rubbing their back, tickling their feet, burping them, or changing their diaper to encourage them to continue feeding.
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Benefits of breastfeeding for mum and baby
Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for both mothers and babies. It is a natural process that promotes bonding and has lasting health benefits for both parties.
For babies, breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition, with carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and white blood cells that support growth and development. Breast milk is also packed with antibodies that protect babies from illnesses like the stomach flu, diarrhoea, ear infections, and certain chronic diseases. Research shows that breastfeeding lowers a baby's risk of developing asthma, eczema, and even childhood cancer. The longer a baby breastfeeds, the greater the benefits; breastfeeding for at least three months reduces the risk of respiratory infections, while at least six months of breastfeeding lowers the risk of childhood cancer.
Breastfeeding also helps to build a strong immune system in babies, reducing their risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Room-sharing, especially with the baby's sleep area next to the mother's bed, is recommended for at least the first six months of life, as it further reduces the risk of SIDS. It is important to note that bed-sharing is not advised, as it increases the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and SIDS.
For mothers, breastfeeding has several health benefits, including a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as a lower risk of postpartum depression when coupled with adequate support. It also aids in quicker recovery from childbirth by releasing the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus contract and reduces vaginal bleeding. Breastfeeding also promotes physical and emotional bonding, establishing trust between the mother and baby. Additionally, it is convenient, as it can be done anywhere without the need for bottle preparation or formula mixing.
Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy way to nurture and bond with your baby, offering numerous short-term and long-term benefits for both mother and child.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not recommended to breastfeed your baby while you are asleep as it may lead to suffocation, strangulation, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If you feel sleepy, it is best to put your baby back in a separate sleep area made for infants, like a safety-approved crib or bassinet, that is close to your bed.
Breastfeeding offers several benefits for both mothers and babies. For mothers, it reduces the risk of certain conditions such as diabetes and some cancers later in life. For babies, it provides protection from infections and illnesses and lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
You can try some simple techniques such as skin-to-skin contact, tickling their feet, changing nappies mid-feed, or gently rubbing their back. These methods can help stimulate your baby to stay awake and encourage them to feed.
If your baby falls asleep and hasn't finished feeding, you can try some techniques to wake them up gently. This includes undressing your baby, tickling their feet, burping them, or changing their diaper. You can also try switching to the other breast or gently compressing and massaging your breast to encourage your baby to drink more.
While it is not dangerous to nurse your baby to sleep, it can create a dependency, making it challenging to wean them off later. To prevent this, you can establish an independent bedtime routine for your baby. This includes creating a calm environment, incorporating quiet activities like reading, and following a predictable bedtime routine consistently.
