Is Your Child Hungry or Seeking Comfort?

A common question I get from parents during sleep training is “How do I know if my baby is hungry or not?”

I have put together a chart to help guide you. On the left side of the chart, there are some signs that your baby may be waking due to it. On the right side, there are clues that your baby is most likely waking and using feeding as a means of comfort to fall asleep.

These are not definite signs, and every baby is different. However, these cues have been accurate for the majority of the babies I have worked with. Please remember that one of the goals of sleep training is to lay the child down drowsy but awake, so they will fall asleep independently.

This chart is designed to provide simple, informative tips. Some babies need to nurse or take a bottle in an attempt to self-soothe or self-regulate when they are not tired. It is a parent’s choice to proceed with a comfort feed or not. During sleep training, it may be difficult to decide. If you are stressed about it, please talk to your lactation specialist, your pediatrician, or a nutrition team if you have one for a baby with special needs.

Note: Doing comfort feeds during Sleep Training may increase the length of time it takes to sleep train your child. This is not a problem; I just want to help parents manage expectations.

 Karen Rickert, Your IPSP Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant

If you'd like more help in getting your baby to go to sleep independently and sleep through the night, I would love to assist. Book a free discovery call to learn how I can help.