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The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, continued alongside other food and drinks until at least the child's second birthday.

It is estimates that over 800,200 infants die globally each year because they are not receiving the protective components found in human milk.

For women, low breastfeeding rates are also associated with an increase in reproductive cancers, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and postnatal depression.

20,000 women a year would live, who die from types of breast cancer that have significantly reduced death rates where a woman has breastfed.

We believe that knowledge of the science of human milk and breastfeeding is key to families, friends, healthcare professionals and the general public fully understanding why breastfeeding matters so much and to supporting breastfeeding mothers unequivocally.

Mothers report to us that learning about their milk can deepen their confidence, their connection to themselves, their body, their choice to breastfeed, and often to the people they rely on for support.

Recent News: Dutch researchers find Covid-19 antibodies in human milk

'We think when drinking the milk, the antibodies attach themselves to the surface of our mucous membranes,' Hans van Goudoever, head of the Emma children's hospital at the UMC, said. 'Then they attack the virus particles before they force their way into the body.' The UMC has now started a campaign to find 1,000 women who are willing to donate 100ml of breast milk for the research project. 'Women who may have had coronavirus without noticing it may also have made antibodies which can be found in milk,'

Here you'll find references and research supporting the information in the advert.

"Nature has been researching your milk for hundreds of millions of years"

"Your milk contains ingredients that kill cancerous cells"

"Your milk contains stem cells. These are cells that create and repair the body, and are being researched worldwide to cure conditions like Alzheimers and diabetes."

"Your body identifies bacteria and viruses found in your baby's body and environment. You then produce antibodies specifically tailored for those infections, and deliver them to your baby through your milk. The more milk she drinks, the more antibodies she receives."

"Your milk appears to switch on a gene in your baby's body, which produces a hormone called Leptin. This hormone tells your baby when his tummy is full, protecting him against over eating."

Fields DA, Demerath EW. Relationship of insulin, glucose, leptin, IL-6 and TNF-α in human breast milk with infant growth and body composition. Pediatr Obes. 2012; 7(4): 304-12.

Savino F, Sardo A, Rossi L, Benetti S, Savino A, Silvestro L. Mother and infant body mass index, breast milk leptin and their serum leptin values. Nutrients 2016; 8: 383.

Miralles O, Sanchez J, Palou A, Pico C. A physiological role of breast milk leptin in body weight control in developing infants. Obesity 2006; 14: 1371-1377.

Cannon A, Kakulas F, Hepworth A, Lai C, Hartmann P, Geddes D. The effects of leptin on breastfeeding behaviour. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015; 12: 12340-12355.

"Your milk contains Oxytocin, a hormone that induces relaxation, and feelings of well-being in your child and in you."

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The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, continued alongside other food and drinks until at least the child's second birthday. It is estimates that over 800,200 infants die globally each year because they are not receiving the protective components found in human milk.

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"Is this normal?" The first week with a breastfeeding newborn - Baby Friendly Initiative

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"Is this normal?" The first week with a breastfeeding newborn - Baby Friendly Initiative

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The first week with a newborn can be a wonderful and exciting time, but adjusting to a new life can also be overwhelming, especially when parents aren't sure what to expect. In this guest blog, lactation consultant Emma Pickett explores what's "normal" in the first few days, and encourages mums to trust their baby and their own instincts of love, affection and responsive feeding.
I've been taking calls from new parents on the National Breastfeeding Helpline since it opened in 2008. Calls often begin with a mum in tears and she's sounding desperate. Breastfeeding really matters to her and she wants it to work. She's overwhelmed and confused. The first voice we hear might sometimes be the partner's and a mum is too upset to even come to the phone.

Hundreds of these calls end with a contented calm voice saying, "Thank you. It's such a relief to know that's normal. I feel so much better now". As it happened, breastfeeding was actually going OK; what was interpreted as a breastfeeding 'problem' was actually a new baby's normal and natural response to their new environment. The family just didn't know how babies were 'supposed to behave'.

If I had a magic wand, I would download into all parents the knowledge of what is normal in a newborn. Think The Matrix film - but instead of the ability to pilot helicopters or practise high level martial arts, you'd know about cluster feeding and a newborn's desire for closeness, nappies and normal fussiness. The National Breastfeeding Helpline would be quieter overnight but we'd all feel a lot more relaxed and able to enjoy these teeny new people in our lives.

But actually ... you've already had that download. You just may not have realised it. It's deep in there after millions of years of evolution, facilitated by hormones and natural instincts. It may not mean you know the exact details of the colour of baby poo on day three, or how to correct a baby's latch without help, but there's so much you do know. You may not have grown up surrounded by breastfeeding, and for some aspects you will need support and information, but there's a ton you do know about your baby: things that just feel right and things that don't. And your baby had the download too. Sometimes it gets fuzzied with a birth that didn't go to plan but their instincts are in there too.

Two things that are normal:

1.Babies want to be close to you.

Imagine a news story about a baby gorilla just born in London zoo: "ZSL London are delighted to announce the birth of new baby Fumbi. Mother and baby are in good health" but days later it's reported that staff are concerned. Fumbi's mother (despite being surrounded by other older female gorillas and having observed newborn care) keeps trying to put Fumbi down. She places her in the hay and walks off repeatedly and appears to be trying to avoid holding her for long periods. Fumbi is agitated. Her heart rate and respiratory rate shows signs of distress. She's losing heat (because teeny newborn gorillas have a large surface area and need to be held to regulate their temperature). Fumbi isn't feeding as often a newborn usually does because of the periods of separation. The mother appears to be missing out on some of the oxytocin- (the hormone that promotes feelings of love) induced bonding that helps the formation of their early relationship. Fumbi is at risk.

Oh dear. Something seems to have happened to Fumbi's mother. We'd be worried.

However, this is exactly what is happening in human homes across the UK today (though not in many other countries and cultures). We are primates just as gorillas are. We're designed to be close to our babies. We can see that by looking at the constituents of our breastmilk. Other mammals have much higher fat milk so babies can be left while mum fishes or grabs a rabbit for lunch. Our babies are born immature because of our pelvis shape from being upright and our large brains, and they are designed to have milk regularly for a relatively long time. We are supposed to hold our babies. Some people call us 'carry mammals'.

But instead we get the message that babies can be 'spoilt'. We are supposed to encourage them to be independent and sleep apart from us. If we can't put them down, if they want to sleep touching us, if we hold them when they sleep - we've apparently failed some test. Though it's not quite clear who the examiner is.

There are popular books that even use terms like 'accidental parenting' just to load on the value judgments. Parenting experts such as Truby King in the 1910s told parents to avoid cuddling and unnecessary attention and the spectrum of 'advice' has been flip-flopping backwards and forwards ever since. Today one book will tell you to wear your baby in a sling as much as possible and another will tell you to arrange a baby's sleep by the clock and leave a baby only a few weeks old to cry if necessary.
What does your baby want?
They don't want to be put down and eaten by a sabre toothed tiger (less of a problem these days). They don't want to waste energy keeping warm and crying when they don't need to. They want to keep those calories to lay down fat and develop their brain. They want to use your breathing rate to regulate their own respiratory rate. They want you to notice when they start to show early feeding cues. They want your familiar smell and taste. You are home to them.

"My baby won't go down in its Moses basket". Yes, it's frustrating when you thought that was what they were 'supposed to do'. But would it feel easier if you knew that wasn't likely to be their first choice and there are good biological and evolutionary reasons for that?

"But I'm not going to get any sleep". According to the Baby Sleep Information Source, "70-80% of breastfed babies sleep with their mother or parents some of the time in the early months, and many studies have found that mothers and babies who bed-share breastfeed for much longer than those who sleep apart." Research shows that these mums breastfeeding through the night (and mostly bed sharing) will also be getting better quality sleep and be more rested than other parents. Good sleep is possible if we stop battling nature.

The book "Sweet Sleep: night time and naptime strategies for the breastfeeding family" is a great place to start. It talks to you about creating a safe space where everyone gets a better night's sleep.

A lot of your baby's urges are eminently sensible. If they don't want to sleep in a separate pile of hay, trust them. They are here today because those urges have kept them safe over the generations.

Don't expect to be up and making a moussaka on day five. The feeling that you 'shouldn't' be holding your baby is exacerbated when we live in a society which tries not to let new parenthood change our lives. Our bodies aren't supposed to change. Our commitment to work isn't supposed to change. Our ability to engage with political life and housework and social media isn't supposed to change. Actually, throughout much of human history, mum isn't going to do much of anything for a good 40 days. Someone else is making the moussaka, just as you would have once made the moussaka for them. We are supposed to be doing nothing else other than eating the food made by others (really doesn't have to be moussaka), sleeping and being with our new baby.

2.They come to the breast for lots of different reasons and they usually have a good reason for doing so.

Just as parents feel they've failed if their baby doesn't sleep in the separate pile of hay (aka fancy Moses basket that cost £75 and granny knitted a blanket for), they feel a failure if baby is at the breast 'too much'. I have written elsewhere on the dangerous obsession of the infant feeding interval. It's dangerous for both babies and mothers. But we need to remember breastfeeding isn't just about feeding and it never has been.

Babies have jobs to do. They are helping you to form new breast tissue in the first few weeks. They are elevating your prolactin levels (the hormone that governs milk supply). They are stimulating oxytocin (which is the key hormone in relationship-building and creating a sense of calm and well-being). They are increasing milk volume and altering fat content. They are reducing levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. They are facilitating digestion and the passing of stools. They are hydrating, regulating their temperature, feeling emotionally secure, growing brain connections and trying to get to sleep (which is one of the purposes of breastfeeding.)

To think breastfeeding is just about food and calories (and "quick, measure the gap between breastfeeds!") is to do nature a huge disservice. Measuring all the different reasons a baby comes to the breast is like trying to measure fairy dust. Do you count all the times your partner cuddles you, strokes your arm, kisses you, smiles at you affectionately, communicates with you, has a drink of water, eats a snack or has a meal? You wouldn't find an app for that.

Stop thinking about minutes. No one can tell you a baby should feed for X number of minutes because we all have different physiology and our babies do too. Create your world around you so you can meet your baby's needs in the way they are asking you to. Don't try and mould your baby to fit into a world that has become obsessed with counting and measuring. If you know you are a routine person and you are struggling with a feeling of 'losing control', give yourself a few weeks and see how it feels to trust your baby. Once your milk supply has maximised, you'll have some options. Try and 'control' too early and you'll find things go out of your influence in ways you can't come back from easily.

Get help if things feel wrong - if breastfeeding hurts, if you're not sure about weight gain or nappies, if you can't work out how to meet your own needs for food and sleep. There are lots of people who will help out and we're at the end of a phone or a Twitter account or Facebook page. But don't confuse your baby behaving unexpectedly for something going 'wrong'. Maybe no one told you what normal would be.
If we let normal happen it will make all of our lives easier in the long term. You're creating a little person who enters this world with their needs being met.
This blog was originally featured on the Growing Families conference website.

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Guest blog: "Is this normal?" The first week with a breastfeeding newborn - Baby Friendly Initiative

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In this guest blog, lactation consultant Emma Pickett explores what's "normal" in the first week with a newborn, and encourages mums to trust their baby and their own instincts.

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Natural Breastfeeding - Love to Love Breastfeeding

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Natural Breastfeeding - Love to Love Breastfeeding

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Natural Breastfeeding - Love to Love Breastfeeding

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Theresa Nesbitt, MD is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist with special training in Maternal Fetal Medicine. Her interests today are promoting health and wellness for women with a focus on mothers. She also has an interest in brain growth and development.

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http://www.avni-touch.com/breastfeedinguncovered/

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Caring for your baby at night

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How Long Should Babies and Toddlers Sleep For? (Infographic) – Sarah Ockwell-Smith

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How Long Should Babies and Toddlers Sleep For? (Infographic) – Sarah Ockwell-Smith

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The following infographic provides a realistic look at baby, toddler and preschooler sleep. Including average night waking, need for night feeds, sleep regression and average amount and timings of naps.
NOTE: This is averages only, some babies will sleep more, some less. They are all different!

The naps are the *total* for all naps combined, not per nap - e.g at 3-4 mths TOTAL naps are 3-4 hours, usually split over 3-4 different naps, so averaging around 1hr each.

For more information on realistic sleep expectations and gentle 'sleep training' advice see The Gentle Sleep Book or visit The Gentle Sleep Book Facebook Page.

p.s: Did you like this post? Want to read more similar content and receive weekly top tips, reader Q&As, hear my take on current parenting research and enter the odd competition? Then why not sign up to my new FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER and get the latest in gentle parenting delivered straight to your inbox. I promise I will never share your email with anybody else and if you don't like what I send you can unsubcribe straight away!

About SarahOckwell-Smith

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, Parenting author and mother to four.

This entry was posted in Babies, Preschoolers, Toddlers and tagged average baby sleep, average toddler sleep, baby sleep, baby sleep expert, baby sleep training, baby won't sleep, droppings naps, how long should baby nap, how long should baby sleep, how long should toddler sleep, newborn sleep, sleep, sleep regression, toddler sleep. Bookmark the permalink.

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How Long Should Babies and Toddlers Sleep For? (Infographic)

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The following infographic provides a realistic look at baby, toddler and preschooler sleep. Including average night waking, need for night feeds, sleep regression and average amount and timings of naps. NOTE: This is averages only, some babies will sleep more, some less. They are all different!

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"He sleeps really well but only when he's laying on my chest, he hates his moses basket" "She cries every time we lay her on her play mat" "He hates going in his pram, he cries the second we put him in it".
If I had a pound every time I heard these from a new parent I'd be a very rich lady by now! What amazes me though is that society in general doesn't get it, they don't get why so many babies need to be held by us to settle and what perplexes me even more is that we do spend so long trying to put them down! We spend more than time though, the 'putting babies down' industry is worth millions, rocking cribs, battery swings, vibrating chairs, heartbeat teddies and the list goes on..................having been a first time parent who bought all four of the items listed above I am embarrased to admit now it honestly didn't enter into my head that perhaps the answer was to *not* put my baby down and I certainly didn't consider why these things might help. It took me a long time to understand and empathise with my baby, to see the world through his eyes so to speak.
"Empathy: the intellectual identification with thoughts, or attitudes of another." or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, "Birth suddenly disrupts this organization. During the month following birth, baby tries to regain his sense of organization and fit into life outside the womb. Birth and adaptation to postnatal life bring out the temperament of the baby, so for the first time he must do something to have his needs met. He is forced to act, to "behave." If hungry, cold, or startled, he cries. He must make an effort to get the things he needs from his caregiving environment. If his needs are simple and he can get what he wants easily, he's labeled an "easy baby"; if he does not adapt readily, he is labeled "difficult."" - Dr. William Sears.
To empathise with our newborns feelings we need to put ourselves in their place, to imagine experiencing their world - but which world? The world they have spent most of their life in, their 'womb world' or the world they are in now - our world. To fully understand we must appreciate the enormous transition they have made - a concept known to many as 'The Fourth Trimester' -some make the womb to world transition easily, others less so and it is this latter group in particular "the clingy babies" we can learn so much from through this concept.

So lets quickly compare the two different 'worlds' your baby has lived in:

Pretty different huh? On top of this the big thing to understand is that in utero the baby's world was constant, each day was the same, the stimulation didn't change, but now they are born each day is different - ever changing, ever stimulating!

The concept of the fourth trimester helps us to understand the transition a newborn must make over their first few weeks earthside and once we understand we find so many ways we can help - but to me the most important facet of the fourth trimester is parental understanding and empathy, once that exists everything else will flow naturally.
Movement
Here are some common newborn calming techniques that tend to work quite well, but remember each and every baby is different, if you don't already know, you will soon learn what your baby likes best and that's what matters, that it is unique to *your* baby. Prescriptive 'do this/don't do this' baby calming lists don't help anybody - because they forget they are dealing with individuals - both parents and babies! Some things on this list will be inappropriate for you and your baby, some simply won't work, some you won't like - and that's OK! because really it isn't about these tips it's about you and your baby getting to know each other!
Skin to Skin Contact
The womb is a constantly moving space, Braxton Hicks would squeeze your baby at the end of pregnancy and each time you moves your baby was wobbled around inside. Imagine how walking upstairs feels for a baby in utero! Babies tend to love movement but so often we put them down somewhere completely still. You could try dancing, swaying from side to side, going for an exaggerated quick walk or bumpy car ride.
Bed-Sharing
Such a brilliant baby calmer! Being in contact with your warm, naturally (un)scented, skin is heaven for a baby, it helps to stabilise their body temperature, heart rate and stress hormones and stimulates the release of oxytocin - the love and bonding hormone - in you both. Topless cuddles, shared baths, baby massage and bedsharing are all great skin to skin experiences for your baby and you.

Sharing a bed with your baby is an amazing way of getting more sleep for everyone, babies are generally much calmer and sleep more easily if they sleep with you in your bed, yet it is such a taboo topic and although 60% of parents will share a bed with their baby at some point it's a subject that makes society very uncomfortable, but...it is an *amazing* baby calmer! It's really important that you think about how bedsharing will work and follow some important safety guidelines HERE.
Swaddling
For more on bedsharing and other ways to improve your newborn's sleep, watch my free webinar here:

Imagine how snug your baby was at the very end of your pregnancy inside of you - now imagine how strange it must feel to them after they have been born and have so much space around them! The absolutely best thing you can do is to envelop your baby in your arms, but for times when you don't want to or indeed can't then swaddling is an option. Swaddling is becoming increasingly popular, however there are important safety guidelines to be followed if you choose to swaddle your baby, if you are breastfeeding please make sure feeding is established before swaddling and take care not to miss your baby's hunger cues if you are feeding on demand:
** The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends swaddling for babies 0-14wks. Babywearing

Never swaddle over your baby's head or near his face

Never swaddle your baby if he is ill or has a fever

Make sure your baby does not overheat and only swaddle with a breathable/thin fabric

Only swaddle your baby until he can roll over**

Always place your baby to sleep on his back

Do not swaddle tightly across your baby's chest

Do not swaddle tightly around your baby's hips and legs, his legs should be free to "froggy up" into a typical newborn position.

Lastly start to swaddle as soon as possible, do not swaddle a 3 month old baby if he has not been swaddled before.

Wearing your baby in a sling is one of the ultimate ways to keep them calm and happy. It increases the time a baby spends in a state of "quiet alertness" - a time of contentment when they learn the most. When a baby is in utero they spend 100% of their time in physical contact with us - yet the moment they are born this is estimated to drop to only 40%! Babywearing also means 2 free hands!

Choose your sling carefully. A good sling will be easy to use and will support both yours and your baby's spine whilst not placing any pressure on your baby's growing hips - newborns should always be carried facing inwards with a "frog leg" pose, not a crotch dangle pose so commonly used by commercial baby carriers. Also seek to carry in an 'in arms' position - i.e: how your baby would be held if you were holding them!

Babywearing is a great way for dads to bond with babies!
Position
It is quite common for a baby to cry once placed in a sling, this does not mean that they hate the sling - it just means that you need to move, so get dancing! As with swaddling,babywearing is becoming increasingly popular, however there are important safety guidelines to be followed, the TICKS acronym below neatly sums them all up:

The "tiger in the tree" position below, taken from baby yoga, is often magical, stopping a crying baby in an instant!
Feed
Noise
Babies love sound, but for many not the sound you might think. For many babies a hoover is much more calming to a baby than a lullaby. A special white noise recording, such as , can be played on loop whilst your baby sleeps to help keep them calm.
Deep Bathing
If your baby is hungry nothing will calm him, so watch for his hunger cues. Feeding is always better if it is baby led, not led by a routine - whether you are breast or bottle feeding. Remember as well that your baby may not always be hungry for a full feed, they may want a quick drink, a quick snack or just some comfort sucking. Babies also find sucking the ultimate relaxation and comfort tool. Sucking helps a baby's skull bones to return to their normal position after birth as well as providing them with comfort and security. If you are not breastfeeding you might find your baby will relax when given a dummy/pacifier.
Outside
The womb is a wet, warm place. The world as we know it is dry and cold! Sometimes a nice deep, warm bath can stop a baby's tears in seconds - even better if mummy or daddy goes in the big bath with baby too as skin to skin contact is a wonderful baby calmer.
What have you found calms your newborn? The NEWLY UPDATED Gentle Sleep Book - out now! If you would like to understand and learn how to improve your baby's sleep WITHOUT cry-based conventional sleep training, this is the book for you! p.s: Come and chat with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Or watch my videos on YouTube You can also sign up for my free parenting newsletter HERE.
If all else fails many babies stop crying the minute they hit the open air - I'm not sure if this is because we are usually moving (e.g.: walking over cobbles with the buggy/ bouncing in a sling and the drone and movement of a car) or because of the change in air - but it works!

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The Fourth Trimester - AKA Why Your Newborn Baby is Only Happy in Your Arms

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"My baby is only happy in my arms, the minute I put her down she cries" "He sleeps really well but only when he's laying on my chest, he hates his moses basket" "She cries every time we lay her on ...

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"In most parts of the world... babies sleep close to their mothers, as they have through most of history." - The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
A baby is born expecting to stay in close contact with his mother night and day, in order to keep safe, warm and well-fed.
It is perfectly normal for babies-especially breastfed babies-to wake and feed at night throughout at least the first year. Bedsharing when breastfeeding is a traditional way of caring for a baby at night-breastfeeding at night can be a whole lot easier when you take your baby into bed with you and feed lying down.

Breastfeeding mothers who bedshare get more sleep than bottlefeeding mothers and breastfeed for longer. Alternatively, co-sleeping may give your baby the closeness he craves and make breastfeeding easier without sharing the same sleep surface as you.

It is possible to bedshare with twins, but co-sleeping rather than bedsharing is recommended if they were premature or low birth-weight.

Infant sleep-what are the risks?

Accidents

Babies sleep in a variety of places at different times. Wherever a baby sleeps an accidental injury is possible. A baby could become wedged between furniture or against a parent's body, fall off the sleep surface or risk suffocation or strangulation by pillows, cords or blankets.

Anything that reduces your alertness or ability to respond to your baby, such as alcohol, drugs or certain medications, can pose a risk and may impair your judgement.

Breastfed babies orient themselves near their mother's breast in bed. Research shows that mothers who bedshare with their breastfed babies adopt a naturally protective position, making smothering unlikely. This has been referred to as the 'cuddle curl' position.

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), or cot death, is a sudden unexpected infant death (usually occurring during sleep) that can't be explained by a medical condition, infection, intentional harm, or accidental causes.

What makes a baby vulnerable
SIDS can happen in any sleep situation, but research has shown that SIDS only happens to baby who are vulnerable. We don't know exactly which factors cause vulnerability, but they include:

baby being less than four months old

prenatal exposure to harmful chemicals including smoke and alcohol

preterm or low brith weight baby (under 2.5kg).

SIDs risk factors
The following factors increase the risk of SIDS for a vulnerable baby, wherever they sleep.

1. Exposure to smoke can affect a baby's ability to rouse from sleep. The risk is related to how much exposure a baby has. It is always a good idea to reduce your baby's exposure to smoke wherever they sleep, but if you are a smoker you should not share a sleep surface with your baby. Smoking is the biggest SIDS risk.

2. Placing a baby on his front to sleep may affect his ability to arouse and to breathe. 'Back to Sleep' campaigns have reduced SIDS in many Western countries. Bedsharing breastfeeding mothers often nurse in a side-lying position-when a baby comes off the breast they naturally rolls onto their back. A baby who can roll back and forth can choose his own sleep position.

3. Being unattended.
During all sleep (daytime and nightime), a baby's risk of SIDS is lower if they are in the same room as you.

4. Formula-feeding (including combi-feeding) imposes a statistically significant higher risk of SIDS.

The Safe Sleep Seven

Breastfeeding mothers who meet the criteria below are statistically low risk and can bedshare with confidence.
You need to be:

1. A non-smoker

2. Sober (no drugs, alcohol, or medications that could make you drowsy)

3. Breastfeeding

Your baby needs to be:

1. Healthy and full term (with a birth weight above 2.5kg)

2. Sleeping on their back when they are not breastfeeding

3. Unswaddled and lightly dressed

You both need to be:

On a safe surface. Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.

Make an informed decision
Use the information above along with our checklist below to evaluate your baby's different sleeping places and your own family circumstances, to reduce the risk of an accident or SIDS wherever you and your baby sleep.

Meeting Everyone's Needs

If you are struggling to reconcile your own sleep needs with those of your baby, then talking with an LLL Leader may be helpful. At an LLL meeting you can find out how other families meet the sleep needs of their sleep needs in different ways and at different stages.
Find local support here. Call our helpline: 0345 120 2918

Co-sleeping or bedsharing?

Bedsharing: adults and infants sharing the same surface for sleep.

Co-sleeping: parents and infants sleeping in close proximity, but not necessarily on the same surface eg in a bedside cot or a sidecar cot attached to the bed.

Some studies combine sofa sleeping with bedsharing, making it more difficult to separate the risk factors for each scenario. See Further Reading for more details, or for more information on these definitions, see here.

Sleep safely

Sleep tips

Do
✔ Place your baby to sleep on their back.
✔ Keep your sleeping baby close day and night, not in a room alone.
✔ Avoid exposing your baby to cigarette smoke at any time as this increases the risk of SIDS.
✔ Place your baby with his feet to the foot of any cot, crib or pram.
✔ Sleep facing your baby in bed (your thigh should prevent him slipping under the covers).
✔ Check your baby's sleeping place for hazards:

Choose a firm, flat, clean, well-fitting mattress and cover with a close-fitting sheet.

Check for gaps that they might get trapped in..

Ensure they can't fall out.

Choose clothes without strings or ties that could cause strangulation.

✔ Check your baby does not get too hot or too cold whilst sleeping. In hot weather, open a window or use a fan.
✔ Keep pets out of your baby's bed.

NEVER leave your sleeping baby:

✘ Near a fire or radiator, or in full sun.
✘ Wearing warm outdoor clothing when indoors.

NEVER sleep with your baby:

✘ On a sofa or armchair.
✘ If he is swaddled.

Bedsharing tips

Once you can safely and comfortably feed your baby while lying down, you've elimated much of the work of mothering for eight of the 24 hours in a day.

Easy Nights

You may find that different sleeping arrangements work at different times. Being inventive and focusing on how you and your family can get the most sleep tonight can help. Some of these ideas may work for you, but because only you know your own circumstances, always keep safety in mind.

Avoid tumbles by:
* Using a mesh guard rail - but make sure there is no gap between the rail and the bed.
* Taking the legs off the bed or putting the mattress on the floor.

Learn to feed lying down by:
* Practising in the daytime!
* Keeping a low light on.
* Going to a La Leche League meeting and learning from other mothers.
* Watching our video on breastfeeding while lying on your side:

These safety tips apply to healthy full-term breastfed infants. Preterm and low birth weight babies are more vulnerable. If your baby seems unwell, seek medical advice promptly. Remember that safety tips can help reduce the risk of SIDS and accidents wherever your baby sleeps, but cannot eliminate the risk altogether.

Written by Sue Cardus, Karen Butler, Sue Upstone, Bronwyn Davies & mothers of La Leche League GB.

Further Reading

Sweet Sleep: Nighttime & Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family Wiessinger, West, Smith, Pitman, LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2014.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2010.
Why Your Baby's Sleep Matters, Ockwell-Smith, S. London: Pinter & Martin, 2016.

LLL links:
Rhythms & Routines
Smoking & Breastfeeding
I need some sleep
Other Online information:
Baby Sleep Info Source
UNICEF: Caring for your baby at night. (link to UNICEF PDF)
References
1Sleep patterns and fatigue in new mothers and fathers. Gay et al, 2004.
2Ball, H. L. et al (2016). Bed-sharing by breastfeeding mothers: who bed-shares and what is the relationship with breastfeeding duration? Acta
Paediatrica, DOI: 10.1111/apa.13354.
3Ball, H. L. Parent-infant bed-sharing behaviour: Effects of feeding type, and presence of father. Human Nature 2006; 17(3):301-18.
4Basis. The Triple Risk Model, www.basisonline.org.uk/hcp-the-triple-risk-model/ (accessed 16 Feb 2022)
5SWEET SLEEP: NIGHTTIME AND NAPTIME STRATEGIES FOR THE BREASTFEEDING FAMILY, LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2014; 345-348.
6SWEET SLEEP: NIGHTTIME AND NAPTIME STRATEGIES FOR THE BREASTFEEDING FAMILY, LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2014; 9.
7Basis. Definitions of Terms Used on This Site, www.basisonline.org.uk/hcp-definitions-of-terms-used-on-this-site/ (accessed 16 Feb 2022)

ACADEMY OF BREASTFEEDING MEDINCINE. ABM Clinical Protocol #6: Bedsharing and Breastfeeding 2019., Accessed 16th Aug 2020

You can buy this information in printed form from the LLLGB shop .

Copyright LLLGB 2022 (updated March 2022)

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Safer Sleep & the Breastfed Baby - La Leche League GB

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"In most parts of the world... babies sleep close to their mothers, as they have through most of history." - The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding A baby is born expecting to stay in close contact with his mother night and day, in order to keep safe, warm and well-fed.

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Knowing when your newborn is hungry

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Hungry baby video

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Signs That Your Baby Is Hungry | baby gooroo

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"How can I tell if my baby is hungry?" is a question many breastfeeding mothers ask. There are a few telltale signs that tell you your baby is hungry and ready to eat. The early infant hunger cues are when babies put their hands in their mouths, make sucking noises, and root.

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By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC

Babies should be fed when they indicate hunger. Crying is a late indicator of hunger - breastfeeding is much easier for both mom and baby if mom is able to pick up on baby's earlier hunger cues.

Common infant hunger cues include:

Early

Smacking or licking lips

Opening and closing mouth

Sucking on lips, tongue, hands, fingers, toes, toys, or clothing

Active

Rooting around on the chest of whoever is carrying him

Trying to position for nursing, either by lying back or pulling on your clothes

Fidgeting or squirming around a lot

Hitting you on the arm or chest repeatedly

Fussing or breathing fast

Late (calm baby before feeding)

Moving head frantically from side to side

Crying

"My newborn wants to sleep all the time! Should I wake him to nurse?"

Yes, if he doesn't wake on his own. Many newborns are very sleepy in the early days or weeks and may not exhibit hunger cues as often as they actually need to eat. Newborns should be nursed anytime they cue hunger, but at least every 2 hours during the day and at least once during the night. Once your baby has established a good weight gain pattern (at least 4 ounces per week, for babies under 4 months), you can stop waking baby to nurse and let him set his own pattern.

"My baby just started sleeping longer at night. Do I need to wake him to nurse?"

If your baby is younger than 4 weeks, then it is a good idea to wake baby at least every 4-5 hours at night to nurse if he does not wake on his own. If your child is older than 4 weeks, you can allow baby to sleep as long as he wants at night as long as he is peeing, pooping, and gaining weight within normal parameters.

"My baby frequently sucks on his hands. Does this always mean that he's hungry?"

After the newborn period, hand sucking is not as reliable an indicator of hunger. Starting at around 6-8 weeks, baby will begin to gain more control over his hands and will soon begin to explore his hands and everything else using his mouth. It is also common for babies to suck on their hands when their gums become tender in preparation for tooth eruption. Symptoms of teething can sometimes occur weeks and even months before the first tooth erupts. More here on teething.

More information:

Signs That Your Baby Is Hungry, a video from baby gooroo's Amy Spangler, RN, MN, IBCLC

Newborn hunger cues video from janellevideo

Baby feeding cues (great photo handout here), from Queensland Health

Infant Hunger Cues, from Lactation Education Resources

Feeding Cues, from the Australian Breastfeeding Association

The Clock and Early Breastfeeding, by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA

Nursing your newborn - what to expect in the early weeks @ KellyMom

Should baby be on a schedule? Links @ KellyMom

Examining the Evidence for Cue Feeding Breastfed Infants by Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC and Jan Barger, MA, RN, IBCLC

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Hunger Cues - When do I feed baby? * KellyMom.com

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Babies should be fed when they indicate hunger. Crying is a late indicator of hunger - breastfeeding is much easier for both mom and baby if mom is able to pick up on baby's earlier hunger cues. Common infant hunger cues include:...

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Knowing when your newborn is hungry

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You can expect the following standard of care from a Baby Friendly hospital

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During pregnancy you will have a full discussion about caring for and feeding your baby, including the benefits of breastfeeding. This will provide you with all the facts you need to make an informed choice.

You will be given your baby to hold against your skin straight after they are born.

A midwife will offer to help you to start breastfeeding in the first half hour or so after your baby is born.

Your baby will be kept with you at all times.

If you decide to breastfeed: Baby Friendly health centres and surgeries provide a similar standard of care:
All staff in Baby Friendly facilities are trained to give accurate and consistent information and to support you while breastfeeding.

Find out about overcoming breastfeeding problems

You may find whilst trying to establish breastfeeding that you run into problems. Whilst these can be debilitating and painful, thankfully the most common ones can be solved relatively quickly and easily - given the right support.

Unfortunately, too often support is not available or, what is worse, mothers are told that problems such as engorgement and sore nipples are a normal part of breastfeeding. This is not true.

Here, you can read about how different problems develop, how to spot them at a early stage and how to solve them, either by yourself, or with the support of a health professional.

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Support for Parents - Baby Friendly Initiative

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During pregnancy you will have a full discussion about caring for and feeding your baby, including the benefits of breastfeeding. This will provide you with all the facts you need to make an informed choice. You will be given your baby to hold against your skin straight after they are born.

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Initiation of Breastfeeding by Breast Crawl

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How to know your baby is feeding well

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Difference breastfeeding makes to mothers and babies