Is the baby suckling while sleeping is a bad habit?

There are many cases where babies are only breastfed when they are dim asleep. So, is it harmful if a mother breastfeeds her baby while sleeping?

Is it harmful for babies to sleep and suckle?

Baby sleep and suckle

1. Breastfeeding is the most effective time to eat

For some babies 3 months and older, feeding and sleeping is the most effective time to feed. Because some babies are often distracted by the environment when mothers try to breastfeed while awake. With an eager personality, like to explore, while breastfeeding at this time is less effective than when sleeping. Breastfeeding when your baby is not distracted by the environment will ensure that the baby gets enough milk and the breastmilk supply is maintained.

2. Breastfeeding is beneficial for the body to produce breast milk

Basically, breast milk is produced based on the needs of the baby. As your baby sucks more and more milk, the body produces more milk. When a baby is sleeping, the mother's body can produce significantly more breast milk than the total amount of milk the baby receives in a 24-hour period. So, if you are feeling that you have quite a bit of milk, try feeding your baby near bedtime.

3. Breastfeeding is beneficial for brain development

The size and weight of the baby's brain at birth is 1/4 that of an adult. The more maternal contact with the baby has the greater effects than just filling the baby's belly, the process of contact between mother and baby will help form and expand brain nerve pathways. Pathways that form after birth will connect emotionally with social intelligence and in 6-8 weeks, these will become more or less for your baby's life. Therefore, feeding your baby to sleep helps her to have more chances to be close to her mother and also creates great conditions for baby's brain development.

4. You do not need to worry about your baby's sleep habits in the future

There are many children who have a habit of sucking and sleeping and after time can still sleep on their own without suckling or sucking. Your baby will do this when their physical and emotional development is ready. You don't need to do anything for this to happen, just relax and know that when your baby is ready he will fall asleep on his own.

5. It is normal for babies to wake up at night

There are many mothers who worry about their babies not sleeping straight through the night at a certain age. You may have heard stories from relatives and friends such as their children sleeping all night at six weeks, three months or six months ... The truth is, babies can sleep. Overnight will happen when your baby's development is ready, even if you don't have any impact. Overnight sleep is not a battle to win, but a developmental milestone that different babies will reach at different times.

6. Your baby can sleep well even when you are not around

If you have a habit of breastfeeding your baby, it makes sense to worry about whether your baby can sleep on its own without you around. However, it is true that children are very adept at adapting to new ways to fall asleep even when you are not there. Your baby will adapt and the caregiver will find ways to comfort and comfort him or her to sleep.

Sleep breastfeeding is a good thing, certainly not a bad thing. Your baby will stop sleeping when it's ready, and you don't need to do anything.

Babies like to sleep and suckle

Is the baby lying on the breast more easily to get otitis media?

According to some sources, when lying down, milk is very easy to spill into the Eustach tube and middle ear canal. Causes this place to become damp, infectious and causes otitis media.

You can refer to the information on the website of the hospitals specializing in mothers and babies such as the National Hospital of Pediatrics and Tu Du Hospital, there is no information to confirm that lying down is prone to middle ear infections. Moreover, when the mother sits to breastfeed the baby, the baby is still lying down, not sitting like the mother.

Instead, the main factors that lead to otitis media in young children are sinusitis, rhinitis, Amidanitis, trauma that causes perforation of the eardrum. A small number of children who blow their nose incorrectly can also develop an ear infection .

In fact, it is not a bad habit that babies want to suck on their mothers nipple to sleep, but this is very normal. Children look for their mother for many other reasons, not just because they are still hungry. Breastfeeding, in addition to helping your baby's development, can also help your baby relieve pain, bring warmth when he feels cold and gives him a sense of safety. Help your baby move from feeling sleepy, over stimulated or too tired to falling asleep more easily. This is completely natural to help your baby relax to fall asleep. So, you don't need to worry too much!

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