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Infant feeding

Comfort feeding

8 replies

katpotat · 08/11/2007 13:15

Hi, my wee one has started waking in the night, up to 6 times. Previously only once (which I can cope with) The only way I can get her back down is to BF her...is she hungry or is it just for comfort?? Have been slowly trying to wean her, not taking much solids.

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paulaplumpbottom · 08/11/2007 13:18

How old is she?

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RuthChan · 08/11/2007 13:19

How old is your baby?

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katpotat · 08/11/2007 14:23

sorry she is seven months now

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RuthChan · 08/11/2007 23:13

Hi Katpotat

Thanks for telling us her age. That makes it far easier to comment constructively.

At seven months the chances are that she is waking for some kind of discomfort, most likely teething.
Is she showing any other signs, such as increased dribbling or enthusiasm for chewing on things?

6 times a night does seem rather excessive for hunger, but are you really trying to wean her?
If you wean her off BF at that age, you need to replace it with a bottle. She won't be ready to stop drinking and rely entirely on solids until she's about a year old.
Though of course, it's unlikely that she really needs to feed that many times a night, even if she's going through a growth spurt, so comfort feeding sounds likely.

It's not surprising that she's not taking much solid food yet. She needs to practice and get used to the actual act of eating, as well as allowing her insides to get used to digestion. You're probably finding that most things come out looking much the same as they did on the way in.
Over the next few months, both her eating and her digestion will improve, her volume of intake will increase and she'll naturally reduce the amount of BF she wants.

Back to the point about the waking, if it's not teething or hunger, is there anything else it might be? Do you think she might be cold, for example?

If you can't find any likely reasons, it's very possible that it's just a phase.
Many babies do start waking at about that age, even when they slept right through before.
If you're really desperate, you can try controlled crying, but otherwise you might want to ride it out and hope that she gets back to sleeping better soon.

Good luck!!

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Sushipaws · 08/11/2007 23:28

I have a similar problem, dd's been awake every 2 hours for the last week. I don't need to feed her but it would certainly get her back to sleep quicker.

We're on 2 and a bit meals a day as well so don't think it's a hunger thing.

Think it might be teething although she didn't do this when her bottom teeth came in.

I'll be watching this topic, know how you feel. Last night I told my dh that I loved my dd but I didn't bloody like her. Am 30 going on 50, why the hell don't they offer face lifts wrinkle cures on the nhs

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katpotat · 08/11/2007 23:46

Sorry, i don't mean weaning her off BF, just introducing solids. I am planning on BF for as long as possible (within reason) probably till she is one or so. She is teething at the moment her first one is through and the second on it's way....last night was better just once again, but tonight already she has been up twice, think I may be in for the long haul again

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katpotat · 08/11/2007 23:48

I know what you mean re wrinkles, i've aged so much in the last 6 months too

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RuthChan · 09/11/2007 10:53

Oh, I see.
Sorry, I misunderstood you.

It really does sound like it's a teething problem.
Certainly, my DD had some bad nights at about the same age. At the time I didn't know why, but within a couple of days a tooth or two made an appearance and I put it down to that.

I certainly know what you all mean about getting older.
My DD turns one year old tomorrow, but I've aged at least 20!!

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