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Infant feeding

Ds 6 mo, will no longer feed to sleep

7 replies

smk84 · 12/12/2012 13:27

Hi, DS is 27 weeks and apart from when we have been out has almost always bf to sleep. All of a sudden over the past week or so he has been more reluctant to, and for the last 24 hours has become upset when I have tried to feed him to sleep, but has definitely been tired as I have then bounced him to sleep.
He was ebf until 18 weeks, and then we introduced an evening bottle of formula and he would no longer persist at the breast, so we reluctantly have ended up mixed feeding. He has 3-4 bottles per day, bf morning and last thing in eve before sleep, and for every sleep (usually 3 times during the day). He sleeps through the night, and I express 2-3 times a day for one of his bottles and to try to maintain supply.
So I guess I am asking? could this just be a phase? Might he go back to feeding to sleep? It has worked really well for us as he has settled well on the boob, had a bit of extra bm, and every little helps in keeping up my supply.
Do you think there is anything I can do to encourage him to feed to sleep on me?
The way it goes is?. I am pretty sure he is tired, I offer one side and he initiates let down then pulls off and cries when the milk comes. We try again and same happens on the other side. Then we have a little break and try again, but today this hasn?t been working. I am wondering if this is happening because he is too full? we have just started weaning and he is pretty keen. So I am thinking that before we started weaning he had a bit of room, but maybe now not, and not sure how to solve it as have been told to do milk, then solids, then he has a sleep. Perhaps offer less milk to begin with?
Thanks for reading.

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EauRougelyNight · 12/12/2012 15:58

It could just be a phase. Have you tried the usual tricks- skin-to-skin, taking a bath together etc? How soon after a bottle/solids does he have his bedtime feed? How much solid food is he eating?

Do you think he is teething?

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smk84 · 14/12/2012 23:12

Thanks eau, strangely didn't think to try skin to skin! Will try this weekend. He normally has a bottle around 5 or 6, then solids, then feed to sleep about 8. He takes a reasonable amount when he has solids, he seems to really love feeding himself fruit purées on a spoon, he maybe takes about 6 spoonfuls, along with some finger foods eg broccoli or cucumber or pasta. Last night we didn't give him any evening solids but it didn't make any difference in now keen he was to feed to sleep. He may well be teething... He has had the bottom 2 for about 3 weeks now and definitively enjoys sucking on cold cucumber or pineapple etc. we have all had colds this week, not much runny nose but more sore throat s I wonder if that could explain some things. Just wish I had a crystal ball !

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 14/12/2012 23:21

If you think he may have a sore throat try him with some ibuprofen and if he's still struggling on Monday I'd take him to the GP and get his ears and throat checked.

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mathanxiety · 15/12/2012 03:02

It might be better in the long run not to feed to sleep and better not to rock or bounce either. Have you let him try falling asleep on his own ever? I would take this opportunity to move on from feeding to sleep though I do understand you want to keep your supply up and feeding to sleep works nicely when things are going well. However, easing into falling to sleep on his own is just being postponed as long as you do it.

For now though, have his ears checked. It sounds as if something is hurting. It might be molars either. They can surprise you.

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EauRougelyNight · 15/12/2012 09:47

mathanxiety- that's fine if it works for you but I don't think the OP said anything about wanting to stop feeding to sleep, in fact she said it was working really well and wants to get back to it. All babies will fall asleep on their own eventually, even if you do nothing to 'teach' them.

Hang in there, smk- maybe a tooth will pop up and all will become clear! Lots of snuggles and offers should help him get back to feeding to sleep.

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mathanxiety · 16/12/2012 04:39

I never had any baby of mine go down without feeding to sleep and I enjoyed it very much as it was a nice way to end the day for me and babies alike. I don't think mine would have ever been willing to fall asleep on their own even if I had tried making them. They all did it eventually.
Some babies do prefer settling themselves and are able to do it -- my Dsis's approach was the same as mine and her baby rejected the breast at 8 or 9 months and there wasn't anything Dsis could do but let her do her own thing.

It is hard to figure out if there's a sore mouth or ear or throat or if it is the baby signalling he is ready for a new approach to bedtime.

Keep pumping as much as you can and offer bfing as frequently as possible during the day even if he doesn't respond at the moment.

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smk84 · 16/12/2012 22:59

Thank you both, I am happy to feed to sleep for now. One day we will help him to fall asleep without it, but am very aware that there is no rush. Am really hoping he will take more from the breast in future but thinking probably not very likely. Find it hard it being so out of my control.