Breastfeeding every 1.5 -2 hours for a 6 month Old baby

[rainydaysarebad]

I thought it was a growth spurt but he's been doing this for nearly 2 weeks now. I combine feed during the day by giving him at least 1 bottle of milk in the morning. Last night I gave him 7 oz at about 10pm that he guzzled down. He slept for about 1.5 hours and woke up and wanted another feed, so I breastfed him for about 10mins and he went back to sleep. He woke up about 3 times after that wanting nothing but to drink milk.

I feel like my boons have nothing left in them and im absolutely knackered from the night feeds. He's ok during the day when he's distracted by things and can go at least 3-4 hours without anything. I am also weaning him. Should I increase food intake during the day?

Help!

[rainydaysarebad]

That's boobs not boons.

[BeatriceBean]

I don't think it's unusual. My baby wakes roughly 11, 1, 3, then up 5.30 . I remember last time around quite a few of us had babes that woke every 2 hours at night. We too are weaning and she will go 3 hours during the day.

Not that that's much help as I'm bloody knackered. I've got no cry sleep solution which suggests when they wake the sleep association with milk helps them get back to sleep. . . But I need to read more as to actually stop it!

[slowlyburningcalories]

I remember tthis, I think it was a combination of baby boosting my supply (and giving a bottle won't help this) and teething. I never knew but sucking soothes the gums. You could try eating lots of oats (flapjacks do count), drinking plenty of water and I also found that dd got more sucky when I tried to diet!

[hillyhilly]

You could try feeding more in the daytime?

[rainydaysarebad]

Interesting slowlyburning - I've been cutting down on sugary foods and particularly coke for the past 2 weeks as I feel so frumpy and fat. Why would dieting cause baby to get more sucky?

Beatrice - I think that too. As soon as he wakes at night he starts rooting for my breast.

Hillyholly - I might try giving him two portions of food today to see if it works.

So stupid, I was getting more sleep than this when he was a newborn and sleeping for 5 hours at a time!

[totty12mum]

Does he fall asleep on the boob?
Had exactly the same issue and read up on sleep regressions, normally 4 and 8 months(but can be any age) when they wake from their sleep cycle at @ 1.5 to 2 hourly intervals and if they are used to falling asleep on the boob they think they need it to sleep and are unable to go back without it (not hunger.) After 3 weeks of 2 hour feeding hell I made a couple of changes (no cry methods - only done 2 days so far) and only fed at 11.30 and 2.30 last night - amazing!! Cant wait to see if improvement is sustained

[BeatriceBean]

Do tell... what did you change?!

[totty12mum]

Basically I feed her until she has slowed down and is just sucking/messing around for comfort and then take her off the breast, you then gently apply pressure under their chin to stop the automatic lip smacking/gaping. Count for 10 seconds and if they still want the breast put them back on and repeat process. Have only had to repeat a max. of three times before she falls asleep off the breast and then goes back in cot. If they cry at any time you let them have the breast back. After only two days she is now removing herself at the end of some feeds and going down for naps in the day without having to feed her to sleep.

[G1nger]

My baby's last growth spurt took 3 weeks of this.