Struggling to cope, 5 month old feeding all night

[zoobrown]

Hi.
I'm new to mnet. Could do with some advice/shared experiences.
My DS is ebf and just over 5 months, since about 19 weeks his night feeds have increased to every 1.5hrs-2hrs some times less.
I originally put it down to growth spurt/sleep regression, but it has not ended! He does seem genuinely hungry at night, and we have tried to settle him without milk but he just screams!
I love breastfeeding and don't want to give up but at the moment am so exhausted I can't cope. I'm also worrying about it so much I can't sleep between feeds.
Co-sleeping is not an option due to lack of space.
I keep being told, it will pass but it's not!

What are other people's experiences at this age?
Thanks

[zoobrown]

No one?

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

Hello, am in similar position with my 6mo DS (DC2). I'm totally pro-bf but during these long nights i get very fed up of it & of getting no sleep

Just wanted to say you're not alone Although I don't have any useful advice I'm afraid, IMO it's too early to start trying to reduce night feeds.

Hopefully someone else will come along whose brain works unlike mine with something a bit more useful to say

[malymoo]

My DS (now 3) was exactly the same. I tried everything, including a bottle of formula before I went to bed, but nothing worked. We started to wean him at 22 weeks and by 24 weeks he slept through the night for the first time, it was AMAZING! By 26 weeks he slept through every night and we've never looked back.

It won't be long before your DS starts solids, hopefully that will be a turning point for you too!

Good luck, wishing you lots of sleep filled nights very soon.

[maldivemoment]

Hi zoobrown

Like many other people here, you could be me! We're in the same boat and I'm feeling your pain! I have posted here several times about exactly the same concerns and have been reassured by the number of other mums who have 'been-there-and-done-it' so to speak.

I don't have any suggestions or words of advice I'm afraid. Just wanted you to know you're not as alone as you sometimes may feel!

I also have a three year old and have decided to choose my battles and this ain't gonna be one of them. It's not forever...it will pass, perhaps just not as quickly as we'd like! Hang in there...

[jetstar]

ditto here too EBF DD2 is 6 months and waking every 1 1/2 to 3 hrs per night for feeds :( She used to sleep 10-5 but this has been going on for nearly a month now. We have started weaning (just) and are really hoping it will make a difference soon! I was soooooo fed up last night and left her to cry for 5 mins but DH complained! Wish I'd persevered with getting her to take a bottle really. Lots of sympathy for you here :)

[zoobrown]

Thanks.
Is the general opinion that this will pass in its own time?
He is not interested in starting solids yet, but hopefully soon.

I worry when I read about people with babies over a year old who still feed very frequently!

[feekerry]

Hi. What's his daytime feeding like? We had a hard time between 5 and 6.5 months where dd was so distractable that the only time she fed well was night! Can you encourage more daytime feeding? I literally shoved book in dd mouth everytime she blinked in the day lol. Then one night at about 6.5 months she went to bed as normal and never woke till 7 next morning and its been pretty much like this ever since and she is now nearly 8 months! Also don't be in too much of rush to start solids. It made my dd sleep worse so i hardly bother with solids at all at 8 months. Just loads of boob throughout the day

[feekerry]

Boob not book

[zoobrown]

He has been very distractable, and I have really been encouraging daytime feeds, he is getting better but still quite 'snacky' in the day.
He also used to do just one poo a day, but lately it's lots of little ones, it seems like its going through him v quickly?
Although he does not appear to have tummy ache or anything.
Just feeding him now so fingers crossed for a better night!

[GreatOdinsRaven]

I'm in this horrible, sleep deprived boat too.

My dd just gets so distracted feeding in the day and I've gone back to shoving boob in her face every 1/2 hour a la feekerry

Can you even remember what it feels like to go to bed at night and wake up in the morning?

Hopefully someone will be along soon to give us the magic formula to have 7-7 sleepers by next week!

[feekerry]

Even if he is really snacky in the day that's fine, it all counts! If were in the house for couple of hours i might feed dd say 4 to 6 times in that 2 hour period. Most of those might only be 1 min snacks but it all adds up throughout the day!

[Yorky]

Hello you lovely people. Thank you for making me see I'm not alone. DD2 is nearly 7months and seems to be getting worse overnight :( A few nights ago I was excited because she gave me a block of 4hrs sleep but last night she seemed to be feeding every 1.5hrs :(
Your comments about how distractable during the day ring so true, she isn't feeding as well as she used to do.
DH has tried bouncing her at night so the milk option isn't there but she just screams at him :(
We've kind of started her on solids but she isn't very interested, 2-3 tiny spoons of fruit slop or ready brek, toast, she likes finger foods but its texture play not eating - we need a dog to clean under her chair!
Its all a phase

May I ask, are any of you still sharing a room with your baby? DH thinks we're disturbing her at night but there is nowhere for her to go till we've built the extension! And anyway, surely sharing a room with 3 older siblings would disturb her more than DH and I who pretty much collapse into unconsciousness in bed!

[feekerry]

yorky are you co sleeping? Might get you some more sleep?! My dd is in her own room now and i think it does help her sleep better but as you say in your situation she sounds better off in your room! Do you think she's hungry or just after comfort? I would say if she won't settle with your dh rocking then she's probably hungry. So the more milk the better in the day. also is she teething?

[Yorky]

Thanks Fee.
No, we're not co-sleeping, or at least not intentionally although I do fall asleep when feeding lying down. I suppose I need to either feed sitting up, or take her out of her sleeping bag if she's going to sleep with me.

Teething is another real option - she has 2 bottom front teeth already, so not sure if she's working on top ones now.

She's getting so active during the day now which I thought would work in my favour, not crawling, not rolling much, just not staying where I leave her, and trying to pull up on the furniture

Last night I went to bed at 2030, she fed at 2230, 0030, was up from 0220 till 0400 (DS1 climbed into our bed while I was up rocking DD2 at this time) I think she was sleeping like baby (!) when DS2 came in to start our day at 545.

I'm wondering if she is having too many short naps during the day rather than learning to have longer sleeps, but with up to 4 school runs a day she generally naps in her pram

[neontetra]

I moved DD into her own room at 6 months, extremely relcutantly (she was a very frequent night feeder, and I am back at work full time!), on the advice of the wise old women in my village and my dm and just about everyone I know. And guess what - it worked! Not totally by any means - but she goes to bed at 8.30 and wakes now probably on average once a night for a feed, usually at 12 or 3 (oddly either one or the other - nothing in between) and then at about 6:00 when I would semi-wake her anyway for a sort of dreamy-feed bf before I have to head off to work (she then sleeps in till about 8-9.30 DH tells me). This is SO much better than before the move, when I wasn't even bothering to count the number of wakings, for shame (everyone seemed to see it as a massive weakness or a failing on my part, which I for some reason bought into - silly really). She is weaning really well and loves her solid food, so this could be part of the reason for the improvement. But I would say to those who are struggling definitely consider moving them to their own room if you get a chance. Mind you, I hate it - if I wake in the night I have to go through to check she is still breathing - I really miss just having her there next to me to keep an eye on. But it has helped her sleep hugely.

[zoobrown]

I moved him into his own room a couple of weeks ago thinking it might help. It's no worse and DH is sleeping better(!) but didn't make any difference to the amount of night wakings. It would be easier for me if he was still in our room, but it would feel like a step backwards.

[Yorky]

Frustrating guessing game isn't it Zoo.
I keep wondering if DD2 is too warm and waking cos she's thirsty, or she could be waking cos she's cold and another blanket could be all thats needed - who knows