classic sleep regression/growth spurt or not?

[Heathcliffscathy]

ds is 21 weeks old today. a few weeks ago he was sleeping through 7 til 7 some nights and doing one feed between midnight and 4am most nights.

he is now feeding every 3 hours max 24 hours a day!!! draining both breasts (and I have strong let down and produce a lot of milk, leak into breastpads all the time).

wtf??? when will this end? when am I allowed to wean...is it 6 calender months or 24 weeks or what?

can't take this much longer, am exhausted and grumpy!

oh he cut TWO teeth in two days last week too.

grrurhhhhh.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

sophable sorry am a bit confused, is he feeding every 3 hours? How long is he feeding for at each feed?

Could it be that his teeth have been hurting and he just wanted to suck for comfort. I know both of mine fed more when teething.

As for the weaning, it is 6 months but my DD did it herself at 23 weeks. She took a sandwich and ate it very well, but then she did fulfill all the criteria, well apart from it being 3 weeks early.

Have a look at Kellymom on when to introduce solids.

If it is teething or a growth spurt you are doing the right thing by feeding more anyway and it will soon get better

[AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog]

Yes, that does definitely sound like a growth spurt. I think one around 6 months is quite common.

The WHO say around 6 months ie 26 weeks to introduce solids. The NHS say start earlier with finger food if your LO is sitting unsupported and able to pick up & taste finger food (recommendations are in this document.

It'll be quite a while after weaning before your LO takes enough to drop their milk requirements. We started solids at 6 months, with 2/3 meals a day and I didn't notice a reduction in the amount of milk DS took till 2 months later. I'd keep feeding and it'll soon improve as JJJ says.

[Zimm]

Sympathies - 20 week EBF was also sleeping through and is now up every 3 hours. I want to cry. When will it end??