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10 Sleep Tips For Breastfeeding Moms

by Apr 15, 2012Postpartum Health

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During my son’s early years, sleep was particularly difficult for me. After his night feedings, or if he woke up when he was teething, I often could not go back to sleep. I’d be up for hours, agitated and exhausted by the time morning came. Here are 10 sleep aids and tips that are effective & safe for breastfeeding mamas.

1. Calcium & magnesium

A calcium/magnesium mineral supplement taken before bed can help you enjoy a deeper sleep. A calcium/magnesium blend sourced from marine algae or lichen is ideal since your body will treat it as food, maximizing absorption. I recommend Garden of Life Organic Plant Calcium.

2. Gentle sleep herbs

Experiment with gentle herb sleep aids to find one that is not too strong. A little can often be enough. Herbal nervines such as passionflower and skullcap are a wonderful, gentle choice.

3. Homeopathic sleep aids

Calms Forte is a simple and very gentle remedy which can be taken before bed, or if you wake up at night and have difficulty getting back to sleep. Most importantly, it’s safe to use if you’re breastfeeding.

4. Keep lights low in the evening

In addition to keeping household lights low, set cellphone, computer and tablet screens to “night” mode. This warmer light helps your brain get the signal that it’s time to sleep.

5. Avoid bright lights in the middle of the night

During those night feeding, bright light will signal your body that it’s time to wake up, making it hard to fall asleep. Plug one lamp in your baby’s room into in a dimmer switch or replace the bulb with an amber bulb to keep your brain in night mode.

6. Relaxing music

Listen to a deep relaxation audio recording so that your body can at least go into relaxation mode even if you can’t sleep.

7. Keep your room as dark as you can

When you’re sleep deprived, even a small amount of light in the bedroom can make it hard for you to rest deeply. Shut off all devices with electronic lights and cover windows with dark shades and blackout curtains.

8. Hot milk

Drink hot milk to help your body relax and feel sleepy before bedtime. Cow or goat milk works best.

9. Protein breakfast

If you wake up after a bad night’s sleep, make sure you have quality protein at breakfast to help stabilize blood sugar which will be out of balance from lack of sleep.

10. Chinese medicine

According to Chinese Medicine, an inability to fall back asleep is a symptom of overall deficiency. See a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner for help balancing your body postpartum.

It’s important that you get as much good quality sleep as you can. If you’re not able to sleep well over a long period of time, it can negatively impact your mental and physical health. Devote some time to getting this part of your life working well. It’s highly worth it.


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Medical Disclaimer

Mamashine does not intend to provide medical advice. Although we try to empower our readers to be advocates for their own health, the content on this blog is not meant to be a substitute for medical guidance. For more information, please read our full Disclaimer.

Affiliate Disclosure

Mamashine is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.