Principle: Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally
What is API's position on night weaning?
API does not have an official position on night weaning. Night nursing, like all nursing, is a special relationship between mother and child, and both must be happy and willing to continue this aspect of their relationship. With that said, night weaning should ideally occur when a child is developmentally ready. In general, readiness for weaning may naturally go through spurts and regressions, and it is natural for babies and toddlers to go through phases where they suddenly nurse more at night, perhaps in reaction to teething or reaching a developmental milestone during the day.
Our six-month-old baby is unable to fall asleep on his own. He needs to be nursed or held to fall asleep. My family says it's time for him to soothe himself, but I'm unsure how to go about it.
It is very normal for your son to fall asleep at the breast. In fact, just about all babies will do this if they are allowed to, as breastfeeding is very soothing and calming. Please rest assured that your son will eventually be ready, willing, and able to fall asleep on his own, but usually not at the age of six months. Your son gets a lot of comfort and reassurance from your presence, from being held, and from breastfeeding, so it is natural that these things help him relax and go to sleep. As he matures, he will gradually need this less and less.
My daughter is three and has always enjoyed sleeping in our bed. Now that our second child has arrived and is also sleeping with us, my daughter wakes up constantly due to the baby waking. What can I do to help her get enough rest?
Some families have temporarily used the "musical beds" solution when they've had a new baby. It might work for your partner and daughter to sleep together in one room and you and the baby in another until your daughter adjusts to having a new little person in the house. Some families sleep on a large futon on the floor rather than a bed that tends to make more noises. Another possible solution is having white noise in the room, like a fan or soft music, so the baby noises aren't so obvious.
We have a two-and-a-half-year-old who is still sleeping in our bed. People are advising us that it is time for her to move to her own bed, but we aren't sure what's best for her.
API supports emotional responsiveness and responsive nighttime parenting practices regardless of the age of the child. Most children move away from the family bed situation around the age of five years. Many parents find the option of a toddler bed at the end of their own bed a great transitional tool. If the child herself is ready to transition to a bed in her own room, many parents will lie with the child while she falls asleep and welcome her into the family bed during the night if she chooses to return.
