Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.Logo - The Possums baby and toddler sleep program.
menu-icon-libraryfull programsmenu-icon-audioaudio program
what is the possums sleep program?building this program from the scienceresearch that shows it workstestimonials from parents
speak to dr pam
login-iconlogin

Welcome back!

Forgot password
sign up
search

Search programs

Breastfeeding icon

Breastfeeding


  • Flexible breastfeeds help make toddler sleep easy
  • Breastfeeding your toddler to sleep doesn't cause bad habits
  • How to support a breastfeeding woman so that toddler sleep isn't entirely up to her
  • How to do toddler sleep when you've made the decision to wean from the breast?
  • What to do when it's time for another loving adult to take over caring for your breastfed toddler in the night?
  • Would weaning from the breast or increasing the amount of solids your toddler eats help with sleep?
  • What to do about daytime sleeps when you're weaning your toddler from the breast?
  • How to do evenings with a breastfed toddler when the breastfeeding mother is not available?
  • Would it help your toddler's sleep to delay or space out breastfeeding in the night?
  • Would night weaning from the breast help your toddler sleep better?
  • If you're breastfeeding and in a toddler sleep emergency, consider asking another loving adult to take over for a time

Next article

Sign up now
  • Breastfeeding
  • S2: Breastfeeding + sleep
  • CH 2: Toddler

How to do evenings with a breastfed toddler when the breastfeeding mother is not available?

Dr Pamela Douglas28th of Mar 202423rd of May 2024

father plays with daughter in the evening

Enjoy sensory adventures with your toddler in the evening until her sleep pressure is very high

When a breastfeeding woman is not available in the evenings, you'll be able to do bedtime quite easily using your toddler-sleep superpower of rich and changing sensory motor nourishment. You might also still like to use your other toddler-sleep superpower of milk to dial your little one down into sleep when the sleep pressure is very high. You can find out about bottle use and toddler sleep here.

It’s not necessary to dim the lights in the evening. When your toddler's sleep pressure is high enough, he'll fall off to sleep easily with a quick feed of milk (if you are using the bottle) or a cuddle, whether the lights are on or not, as long as he is dialled down.  

Evenings can come unstuck though if you feel you have to put your small child down to bed at a particular time, because that's when she'll remember that her mother is gone and vigorously protest. Instead, you'd continue on with rich and changing sensory motor nourishment until her sleep pressure is so high, that she drops off to sleep in your arms.

  • Enjoy loud, noisy, highly physical play with your toddler. You can find out why this is good for your toddler's nervous system, and doesn't overstimulate him, here

  • You can find other ideas for making the evenings with your toddler as easy and as enjoyable as possible using the toddler-sleep superpower of rich sensory motor nourishment here. Of course, you may face constraints if you are also caring for an older child or children. Older siblings themselves are a powerhouse of sensory motor stimulation for toddlers, and can make the evenings much easier than they would be otherwise, just because they're around.

older child plays with toddler in the evening

Finished

share this article

Next up in Toddler

Would it help your toddler's sleep to delay or space out breastfeeding in the night?

breastfeeding toddler in mother's lap

Does your toddler seem to be breastfeeding all night? The sleep deprivation can be unbearable. Are you wondering if spacing out the breastfeeds might help? You could even be experimenting with this right now, trying not to offer the breast every time your small child wakes, hoping desperately to make the nights work better. You might be wondering if you should wean.

It can be helpful to know that

  • Excessive night waking is different to biologically normal night waking in toddlers. A pattern of excessive night waking is typically caused by disruptions to your toddler's…

Keep reading
logo-possums
decoration

About us

AboutCode of ethicsSpeak to Dr Pam

Programs

Browse sleep programsAudio programsGet advice

Help & Support

FAQsContact us

Legal

Privacy policyTerms & conditions

Get sleep tips and Possums updates straight to your inbox

Receive tips, updates, offers and more from Possums. We respect your privacy, and we'll never spam you. Unsubscribe anytime.

Dr Pam logo

© Dr Pamela Douglas 2025

Visit to learn more about the Possums project