Patient's question:
The baby is now five months old and has gotten used to sleeping with feeding. He wakes up many times at night and needs to be fed when he wakes up. How can I break the habit of feeding to sleep and help the baby sleep for longer stretches?Doctor's answer:
Starting from 4 months, you can begin to replace one night feeding with a bottle, then gradually reduce the number of nighttime feedings. For example, go from 4 feedings to 3, then to 2, 1, allowing the baby to adjust gradually. Sometimes when a baby cries, it may not be because they are very hungry, but rather because they want the sensation of sucking. In this case, the mother can give them a pacifier to suck on, which can provide some comfort as a substitute. However, it’s important to note that pacifiers should not be used for long periods, as this is beneficial for the baby’s dental development.