Views please - Dd2 (nearly 9 months) are 2 bfs a day enough?

[hotmama]

Dd2 is really messing about with bf. Has a bf first thing (about 6.30) - usually takes both breasts and may feed for about 20 mins (ish). Has brekkie made with 5ozs of cows milk at about 8.30.

Has lunch at about 12 - savoury and sweet - and usually eats a good meal - then sleeps for about 1 to 2 hours.

I then attempt to give her a bf and this is when the fun starts - the world is so much more interesting than feeding! Have tried bf with little of interest going on but she still pulls off and has a look around and/or clenches her gums together whilst coming off my nipple (ouch). Have tried giving expressed milk in a bottle instead - sometimes will have some but more often not! (aaargh)

Dd2 has tea - more variable in how much she eats.

At bedtime - about 7.30 she usually has a full bf and usually sleeps through until her morning feed.

I have no experience of bf this long - so don't know what is 'normal'. I do offer her occasional morning bfs - sometimes she will want some more often not.

Dd2 does have cheesy sauces/yogurts etc - so I think she is having enough calcium rich foods.

I just think she is too young to just have 2 bfs - what do you think? TIA

[hotmama]

bump

[hunkermunster]

DS2 is 9mo and has had two bfeeds today because I've been at work - he's also had three meals and two lots of 3oz in a bottle.

However, he will wake up at least twice tonight

Usually he feeds twice in the morning, once in the afternoon, once at bedtime and twice or more in the night. DS1 didn't feed that much by this age though - probably about four times.

[laundrylover]

I am experiencing the same daytime indifference with DD2 at 7 months but with mucho night guzzling! She sounds like she is having good long feeds when she does want them eh?
I would say not to worry at all as she sounds like she is doing fine. Why not try some EBM in a free flow drinker or open cup at mealtimes if you want her to have more?
She sounds a dream.

[laundrylover]

Crossed posts HM but you did remind me that when DD2 is with my mum all day she only has about 4 oz all day, so obviously not thirsty 'til my head hits the pillow.

[lemonAIIEEE]

Around that age DS went through a very distractible phase and I had to take him into a room on our own and dim the lights in order to bf him (the behaviour you're describing sounds very familiar! It was just a phase, though, fortunately (he's still distractible, but not that distractible. I agree with you that 2 bf a day doesn't sound like enough so I'd keep persevering offering her other feeds while blocking out as much stimulation as possible.

[hotmama]

I'm still on maternity leave - go back to work in Jan - when dd2 will be 11 months - hoping to still feed when I go back to work - will be asking for advice nearer Christmas!

Hm - do you think I should try to give more than 2 feeds a day - even if the majority of the time dd2 doesn't 'want' them?

[hotmama]

It takes me a long time to type!

LL - my dd2 is a dream as is dd1 - I am very lucky Dd2 does have water in a sippy cup at mealtimes.

Lemon - how long does the phase last?

[laundrylover]

Why not put EBM instead of water in the cup at mealtimes if you're worried?

DD2 lurves really cold water pouring down her chin tho and she even 'asks' for a drink with a special noise.

I suppose that my two are dreams but doesn't always seem so when I would rather be dreaming myself.

[hunkermunster]

I would say that if she wanted more bfeeds, you'd know about it.

DS2 also drinks a beaker of water when I'm at work - he likes it a lot.

Can you offer her a bfeed after lunch, quietly in her room?

You can always use EBM on her breakfast if you'd like her to have more? Only if it's not much faff and you can express easily though!

Or don't - I'd be wary of mucking her about if she sleeps at night

[hotmama]

I haven't given her ebm in a cup because I thought I should get some water down her so she doesn't get bunged up!

Worth a try though - and good practice for when I go back to work.

[nolembit]

Hi,
My DD2 is 10 months old and only takes 2 BF's a day, the advice I was given by my HV is that as long as she is not dehydrated, is getting plenty of dairy products (yoghurt, cheese sauce etc)and IRON it's okay. Ways to improve iron absorption are to not give iron containing foods with dairy products, as this hinders absorption, but to give them with foods containing Vitamin C(diluted fruit juice, fruit etc).