Your baby will sleep particularly well with a softly stuffed milk tummy. And then snuggled up to mom's chest – all warm, familiar and safe, because the last drop of milk often gets stuck in the corner of the mouth and the limbs hang limp over mom's lap. Now lay the baby down quietly and sneak out quietly. Breastfeeding works as if by itself and is the first choice for many mothers to get their child to sleep. But how do you get out of there?
It is practical as long as mommy feels like being responsible for bedtime alone. But what if you just don't feel like breastfeeding anymore? Only a few children voluntarily give up mom's breast and take dad's arms for it. And you have to be sure of your case if the evening is going to be different:
Your baby is not a guinea pig. If you want to change something basic, like putting it to bed, think about it for a few days if you're really serious about it. If so, think of a strategy for how you want to replace the previous process. The suggestions in our picture gallery will help you. Give your baby some time to switch. Of course, the change will not be enthusiastic on the first evening, but after a week the protests have definitely stopped. Can you endure your baby's dissatisfaction for a few days? Just because your baby cries without a breast on the first evening, you mustn't cancel the project right away. But of course your baby doesn't have to go through this alone. Find an ally (partner or grandma) to support you. You decided not to be the sand man for your baby alone anymore? We'll show you how to get out of there.
Sleeping rituals
To get your baby ready to sleep, it makes sense to think about a new sleep ritual. The last diaper with a small cat wash is celebrated extensively, perhaps with a calm baby massage with baby oil on the changing table? Or a short song CD that accompanies you at bedtime? Your baby will love to sing even more, even if you weren't a choir boy, your child loves your voice. But looking at a picture book together before going to bed can be a nice ritual. It is also good to cuddle. And the older your child gets, the more text can appear in the reading story.
With mom everything smells of milk and in the evening it goes into the darkened children's room, your baby already knows: Now there's milk again. The most effective way to break through this is that the breast is no longer there. Whether dad, grandparents or the familiar babysitter, someone should replace you for the next week by putting the little darling into bed. With dad over the shoulder or in the flight handle, it is also good to cuddle in the darkened room. Maybe Papa is still humming or swinging back and forth in the rocking chair. Maybe your baby is still protesting with tears. Dad stays cool and shows him that it's not alone. In any case, you shouldn't get to it anymore, because then the seductive smell of milk will be in the air again and Papa will sit there as if failed. Better put your headphones on and wait in the parents' bedroom until the drama is done.
Some babies sleep well in their arms but wake up as soon as you put them away. Suddenly something is different, daddy's heartbeat can no longer be heard and the bed is much colder than daddy's arm. If your baby is reacting strongly to changes, do not try to let it fall asleep on your arm at all, rather hold your hand while it is in the crib. You can pull a hand away more inconspicuously and the changes are not so big for your child.
Sucking on the pacifier soothes babies and makes them fall asleep more easily. Not everyone is a pacifier fan, but it helps a lot to help you stop falling asleep. Of course, such a pacifier is sometimes lost at night. If you rummage through the crib looking for him in the dark, in our experience your baby usually lies on it himself. Advantage of the pacifier: you can take it away again in time – in contrast to the thumb.
Depending on how old your baby is, the last milk before bedtime is not about hunger, but about cuddling. But even if you're still hungry, the last round of milk of the day can come out of the bottle. The good thing is, the bottle can also give papa, grandma or grandpa. From the age of one year the milk is definitely no longer needed as food. From then on, dilute the milk bottle more and more over several evenings until your baby falls asleep with water at night. Attention: Even if the milk bottle is often accepted as a breast replacement by many babies, we have to point out that as soon as the first teeth break through, they must of course be cleaned after a portion of pre-milk to avoid tooth decay.
Exhausted babies fall asleep faster than fit ones. Try to make your baby tired during the day. The last nap should be at least three hours before bedtime. A bath before bed or a day with lots of fresh air will help your baby fall asleep faster in the evening. Of course not every day, but for the transition phase to the new sleep ritual it is a possibility to shorten the fight before going to bed a little.
From one sleep aid to the next? Night lights that paint discreet plays of light on the ceiling or calm music from a music box can also help your baby find sleep. Try how your baby reacts to it. However, the spectacle on the ceiling should not be too wild, bright and colorful, otherwise it will probably have a disco effect and your little one will soon be dancing on the crib.
Is your baby having a hard time falling asleep? For the desperate transition phase: Night walks with prams or baby carriers soothe many children. Now all you have to do is "repotting" from the baby carrier into bed so that the night goes on for you.
