Comfort Sucking
Do you have a comfort sucker? I’ve heard from many breastfeeding parents that, for example, their 12/15/18 month old baby is nursing every two hours and sometimes what feels like allll night long. They will say that they know the sucking is not for food but that they’re using the breast as a pacifier.
Let’s break this down!
In the first year of a babies’ life, nursing every 2-3 hours is considered normal, so keep that in mind. As children approach toddlerhood, you should see these feeds start to slowly decrease as they start taking in more solids. You may still see the cluster feeding type behaviors during growth spurts, big developmental leaps, big changes, teething, illness, etc., especially if you have a highly sensitive little one. If the sucking seems truly excessive, you want to make sure to rule out any underlying issues, such as tongue function issues/oral ties, breathing issues or even food sensitivities (you’ll see why in a minute).
This sucking behavior is referred to as “non-nutritive sucking”, or “comfort sucking”.
“Comfort nursing serves a purpose, too. Studies seem to indicate that this type of sucking overall decreases a baby’s heart rate and lets him relax. It seems to have a very positive effect on his whole physical and emotional well-being…Comfort nursing is normal. If baby were not comfort nursing, he would need to be sucking on his hands or on a pacifier. The breast was the first pacifier and the one that all others are modeled after” (Bonyata 2018).
What you really need to know is that sucking is comforting, no matter what it is - the breast, the bottle, the pacifier or a thumb. Babies suck for a reason. It truly IS purposeful. Sucking soothes a child. It moves their body from the sympathetic nervous system (a place of alarm) to the parasympathetic nervous system (a place of calm). Sucking moves the body to rest. I’m sure you see this in action with your little ones. The same is true for adults – think people that like to smoke, eat/snack, drink/sip on something, chew gum, bite their nails, etc. Oral sensory input in general is soothing.
Sucking stimulates digestive juices as well, so it can settle an upset tummy and help your child pass gas, so if your little one has any kind of digestive discomfort, you may find them seeking to nurse.
From an occupational therapy perspective, sucking provides a specific type of oral sensory input, called proprioception, that helps organize the nervous system. Some children (and adults) have more intense sensory needs than others. Highly sensitive ones suck a lot to keep themselves regulated. Know that this sucking is serving a very important purpose, even though it can be really annoying!
If you think you have a highly sensitive little one who is past 12 months and only using the breast, and especially if you’re considering weaning, you want to make sure you’re providing alternatives to meet your child’s oral/proprioceptive sensory needs while removing their main regulation strategy (sucking). Here are some tips and tools to consider:
You can use a Camelback Eddy water bottle – these require resistive sucking and biting which provides excellent proprioceptive input. Fun fact: my son's first water bottle was one of these and he ended up biting the straw to pieces! You can offer the water bottle all day and keep it next to the crib/bed at night to offer as a substitute for nursing during the weaning process.
You can have some fun and have your little one try slurping yogurt through a straw!
You can offer lots of chewy/crunchy type foods - pay attention to your child's food preferences (go figure, these provide a lot of proprioceptive input).
I personally found this GoSilli cup helpful when weaning my little guy from the bottle with the nanny, because he still had to suck a little to get the milk out.
You can offer your child therapeutic oral sensory motor chews or chewelry throughout the day and night.
They may love an electric toothbrush or a vibrating oral tool.
They may also like a silicone straw to chew on.
Proprioception can also be activated through gross motor activities, because the receptors for this particular sense are located in the muscles and joints. Here are some great proprioceptive activities you can incorporate into your child’s play, and you may find these help a lot with sleep! And don't be afraid to do a little rough and tumble play before bed. We think it ‘riles them up’ but in fact it can do the opposite.
swaddles, sleep sacks & tight-fitting jammies
baby-wearing
holding, hugs and cuddles (deep pressure)
massage
tummy time
push/pull toys
crawling, jumping, climbing
dancing, bouncing
going down slides
With my son, I know when he is too tired to even suck and falls asleep literally 2 minutes into nursing, I'm confident his sensory needs have been met.
Your sleep journey is no easy feat. Keep tuning into your little ones and following your hearts. You're doing great.