Genuinely hungry at night?

[GrangeMouth]

My DS1 is 23wo and has stopped sleeping though. I can?t work out if he is genuinely hungry at night.

He?s EBF and until 16wo he slept for about 6 to 7 hours straight a night. At 16 weeks we went on holiday, he got a bit of a cold, did a bit of teething, maybe had a bit of a growth spurt which seemed to wreck our rhythm as I started to feed him when he woke and has never settled back down to long stretches of time. The teething has settled down now so not sure that is keeping him up.

He can go for 4 hours without a feed at the beginning of the night but thereafter wakes every couple of hours. Each time he wakes he seems desperately hungry and has a proper feed, even if I?ve only fed him a couple of hours before. If I try not to feed it can take up to an hour to settle him only for him to wake again half an hour later still upset and hungry.

Should he be able to go for more than one four hour stretch and how can I tell if he?s genuinely hungry or just used to a feed and cuddle at night so cries until he gets the comfort he?s used to? If he shouldn?t be hungry how do I get him to realise this? I?m not ready to go down the CIO/CC route. He?s not interested in solids at all and is quite a ?snacky? eater during the day eating little and often so I wonder if that?s just his style, but as he used to go longer without food at night I?d like him to do that again!

Also posting in sleep in case they have any pearls of wisdom too. Apologies if that?s not posting etiquette, only my second post.

[RitaMorgan]

He's bigger than he used to be so is probably hungrier. If he wakes up needing a full feed I'd feed him.

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

definatly feed. From what you describe he's hungry...and still very young (not that that matters....my 18mo has been known to need solids in the night...sadly you can't force feed them when it's convenient). There is no such thing as how long they "should be able to go imo"...but there seems to be nothing unusual in what you describe (and it is quite normal to find this really tiring and annoying too! )His sleep may still be recovering from the four month sleep regression judging by your post. But you are right he's too young for cc. This too shall pass... Naps and chocolate for you!

[MigGril]

Sounds hungary to me, if he wasnt then when you've seatled him he wouldn't wake up again half an hour later.

It's very commone for babies of this age to still need feeding during the night.

[GruffaloMama]

Agree with the others - FWIW my DS needed more night feeds from his 4 month growth spurt through to 7-8 months. They were pretty quick feeds though, and miles quicker than trying to settle him without a feed (as per your experience). Hope it doesn't last that long for you, but as Moonface said, try to get yourself some naps to compensate! And believe me it's worth it later if you can soothe him back to sleep when he's ill/teething with a swift breastfeed...

[Iggly]

Yep hungry I'd say. They go through phases of being more hungry than not at times (dont we all ) so go with it. If after a time you suspect it's not hunger anymore you can reduce feeds gradually (or cold turkey).

[BornSicky]

mine still feeds 4 times through the night and has never slept for longer than 4 hours. sounds normal.

[AngelDog]

Agree with all the above. Sounds like he's definitely hungry.

There isn't a 'should' as to being hungry at night. As an adult, I still have occasional nights when I wake up ravenous and have to eat something, and many others when I sleep through. :)

[HappyAsASandboy]

I agree - feed feed feed

My twins only woke once each from about 2 - 4 months, then started going about 4 hours at the start of the night, then waking every 2 hours or so from midnight onwards. I got very tired.

They are now 10 months old. For the last few weeks, DS has managed bedtime (7 ish) til 4am ish most nights DD is not quite so good, still feeding twice between bedtime and morning.

We still cosleep for at least part of the night/early morning. U wouldn't have got through the last few months without it, so might be worth a try if you can make it safe. Do read the safety advice first though.

Good luck The next few months might be tough, but it does het better again

[GrangeMouth]

Thanks all, it's reassuring to hear we sound normal! Have been feeding as usual and doing some co-sleeping but last night was a disaster! Wanted a feed every hour and 20mins, which I duly provided but every other one was just a two minute-ish snack which isn't common for him so think he may have been upset at teething.

Looking forward to getting more than a couple hours of sleep, whenever that may be!