5 month old who doesn't want to eat during the day...

[Lovelove]

Sorry this is a long post...My almost 5 month old DS seems to have become a very fussy feeder over the last couple of months. He's been on nursing strike, (we never got to the bottom of why) and lately only seems to stay feeding for any length of time at night. During the day he only likes to feed for about six or seven minutes before coming off and getting agitated if I try and get him to feed any more. If I give him lots of encouragement he sometimes will feed for longer, though he often gets very upset. I think he's very distractable and just would rather feed when its dark and quiet at night, though its very tiring for me and DH! I try and feed him in a darkened room which is the only way I can get ANYTHING down him during the day, but that means I'm getting more and more anxious about going anywhere because I know feeding will be a nightmare.

He's also been slow to gain weight, which is why I'm a bit paranoid. He's 14lbs 7 at almost five months, was 9lbs exactly when born.

Any advice on how to get him to feed more during the day? Or am I doomed to many more months of night feeds? And should I worry that he's not on the breast for long during the day? I don't want to make him more anxious about feeding by passing on my stress to him....

[lorisparkle]

My lo refused to feed in the day between 4 and 6 months, except in a darkened room when he was going down for a nap. He also fed all night - exhausting. kellymom.com has an interesting article about 'distractable babies' which may give you some reassurance. Unfortunately they say that between 4 and 6 months they start establishing their night time routines so at 6 months he was well and truly into 1-2 hour wake ups and the only way he would fall aslee was whilst bf. Once he got onto solids and was really established on this I decided to gradually wean him off the night feeds using the gradual withdrawl / retreat method. It was a long process but did not involve a huge amount of crying and has been successful, even with the occasional set backs.

My lo also had a huge growth spurt between 4 and 6 months going from the 25th percentile to the 50th percentile so he must have been getting enough milk at night.

[Lovelove]

Thanks Lorisparkle. Sorry to hear you struggled as well. Did the daytime get easier? I have a horrible vision that this may go on and on......mother and mother in law keep telling me to wean him early, but I don't know whether that will help. As you know, its so exhausting!

[puffylovett]

oh blimey i didn't know they set their routines between 4-6 months ! No wonder !! little tykes

we went through a similar phase, although not as bad. he did get through it, it was almost like all of a sudden he discovered there was a world goinhg on around him, and he needed to watch it all the time. he's 7 months now and feeds ok during the day. just wanted to offer a bit of reassurance ! i hope things improve for you.

are you co-sleeping ? i never wanted to, but just recently have had to start and it's been a godsend with the night feeding, as i can dose while he does his bit.

mind you, i reckon he has started snacking as a result !

[puffylovett]

oh - re the weaning, it's not made an ounce of difference

we're doing BLW BTW

[Lovelove]

We were co-sleeping, but I've got him in his cot now as I think co sleeping made the night waking even worse, he'd snack a bit, then doze then wake up wanting more in an hour or so. I can live with the night waking, although I'm knackered, its more the stress caused by his daytime behaviour which is really getting to me. And I presume that'ss why he doesn't put on weight very well. Oh well...I guess I'm doomed to darkened rooms or a while longer.

[lorisparkle]

I personally don't think weaning would help. He did not magically start sleeping when I did wean him at 6 months - if I remember correctly breast milk has a high calorie content then any food anyway.

Day time breast feeding did not ever really recover but I would always offer him some wherever we were and he would have a small amount.

i also did not find co-sleeping any better.

You have only got a month or so to go before introducing solids so don't worry. From what I understand until children are 2 years old they won't naturally under eat or over eat so your lo will be taking what he needs.

I did BLW as well - absolutely fantastic - my lo eats everying and loves his food. Everyone is soooo impressed!

Try and get some daytime naps yourself and relax (easier said than done I know but try!) Ask friends / family for some extra support if needed. It is only a short time and you need to be enjoying them when they are tiny.

You are doing a fantastic job by the way by still breastfeeding him. Keep it up!