The Midnight Scroll: Separating Feeding and Sleeping Doesn’t Make Sense

This week’s episode is about a post that I came across that says “separating feeding and sleeping is an important ingredient in infant sleep.”And while the post does mention that it might not apply to newborns, the overall message still pushes the idea that:“if your baby is eating, they should be awake. If they’re sleeping, they shouldn’t be eating.”Except… that’s just not how babies work.Receive new posts about biologically normal baby sleep and feeding and consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Feeding and sleeping have always been closely linked for babies. It’s built into their biology, their brains, and our bodies. Suckling helps babies settle. Night feeds support your milk supply. And yes babies of all ages can and do feed or comfort nurse while drifting in and out of sleep.That’s not something that needs to be “fixed.”Trying to separate the two too early can cause so much unnecessary stress. It often leads parents to feel like they’re doing something wrong for letting their baby fall asleep while nursing, or for using the breast as a tool to soothe, when in reality, that’s one of the most natural and time-tested ways to help a baby sleep.In this episode, I talk through what I saw, why it frustrated me, and what I want you to know if you’ve come across advice like this that left you second-guessing yourself.You’re not spoiling your baby. You’re not missing some secret method.You’re just parenting a real baby in the real world and you’re not doing it wrong if your baby still needs to feed at night.With love + support,JessFeeding to SleepP.S. Have you seen this kind of messaging online lately? Did it make you feel confused, frustrated, or even a little judged? You’re not alone. I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop them in the comments or reply to this email.This post is not medical advice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit feedingtosleep.substack.com