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Infant feeding

Frequent waking in the early hours. Is my 16 week old hungry or just wanting to comfort suck?

8 replies

peckhammummy · 18/11/2010 20:56

The sleep deprivation is beginning to get to me. I EBF my DS3 and our nights just don't seem to be getting any better. He goes down really brilliantly in the evening. I can put him in his cot and he happily gets himself to sleep. He then wakes any time between 9.30 and midnight to feed. He will then wake at 2 ish 4 and then 5.30 ish at which point he usually ends up in our bed.
What I don't know is whether he is hungry or just wanting to comfort suck. I think it could be the latter but I don't seem to be able to settle him back to sleep in the night without feeding so maybe he really is hungry.

I have two other DSs aged 3 and 5 and have no opportunity to sleep in the day.
I bought a box of formula today but don't really want to use it. Do you think that I could give him a bottle last thing and it would help him sleep longer?

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RubyBuckleberry · 18/11/2010 21:18

sounds entirely normal to me sorry that is probably not what you want to hear!

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RubyBuckleberry · 18/11/2010 21:19

we had those exact timings, including going to bed like a dream, for months !

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peckhammummy · 18/11/2010 21:26

I just wonder if I could be doing anything differently. Should I try to settle him without letting him suck? TBH I'm not sure I've got the stamina!

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MoonUnitAlpha · 18/11/2010 21:33

Could your partner try settling him in the night?

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RubyBuckleberry · 18/11/2010 21:34

oh i know! i hear that and my DS is 14 months. He occasionally wakes up before 5am (from 6:30pm) and i try and settle him without. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and rather than deal with hysterics, if he really wants it, he obviously needs it.

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RubyBuckleberry · 18/11/2010 21:35

and 4 months is classic time for sleep regressions here

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GiraffeYoga · 18/11/2010 21:36

Maybe a growth spurt and baby is trying to increase your supply. Hang in there- it does pass, try and hold onto that thought.

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peckhammummy · 18/11/2010 21:42

My husband Is really supportive and does try to settle him if I ask but it never really works and I end up having to feed and DS 1 and 2 end up getting woken up. I keep telling myself it will get better. Maybe once he's on solids at least I'll know he's not hungry.