04/01/2026
• Feeding to sleep is biological.
Babies are wired to fall asleep at the breast or bottle. Sucking releases hormones that regulate stress, body temperature, and sleep. This isn’t a “bad habit”. It’s a built-in survival and regulation tool.
• Contact naps are normal.
Human infants are meant to be close to their caregivers. Being held supports nervous system regulation, breathing, and temperature control. Wanting to sleep on you doesn’t mean you’re creating dependence, it means your baby feels safe.
• Cluster feeding is expected.
Frequent feeding, especially in the evenings or during growth spurts, is how babies increase milk supply and meet developmental needs. It can feel intense, but it’s temporary and purposeful, not a sign of low milk or something going wrong.
• Waking at night is more common than you’re led to believe.
Most babies (and many toddlers) wake overnight well into the first years of life. Night waking supports feeding, development, and protects milk supply. “Sleeping through the night” (meaning 10+ hours) is not the norm. It’s the exception. Sleeping through the night is considered 6 hours of consecutive sleep without feeding.
Sometimes the hardest part of early parenting isn’t the baby, it’s the expectations we’re given. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re responding to a very human and very normal baby.
