5.5mo still waking 3 - 5 times a night for feeds ebf

[Jellybabie3]

So just as title says my DS really hasnt let up night feeds. He goes to bed at 9pm and wakes 7am every day (his body clock) and typically wakes 3 times for a feed. Last night he woke 5 times

Feeds for 12 - 22 min every time. Usually from 45min apart to 3 hours although 90% of the time its 1 hr 45mins.

Feeds whenever he wants during the day.

Going to start weaning next week and trying to put him down at 7 - 7 30pm by dropping his last nap.

Any advice please?

[EveMoneypenny]

No advice but you're not alone. It's tough, isn't it? Mine is 5 months and usually feeds 3 times a night as well. He had a blissful week of sleeping through the night with a dream feed just before turning 4 months. All gone to pot since then! He also only naps for 30 minutes at a time during the day. I'm going to introduce a night-time bottle of formula when I start weaning around 6 months. DS1 was completely formula fed and a much, much better sleeper.

[Jellybabie3]

Ah ok. Glad i am not alone atleast

[Okaassan]

When we have children we need to remember that we are to fit around their routine and not the other way round. You should be proud of how far you have come with ebf, it is not easy and a lot harder than people like to think. Well done on getting to 5.5 months but be patient, if baby wants to feed 3 times a night then so be it.

[123456kent]

Hi - me again!!
You are a ftm as well aren’t you?
Can you nap when baby naps? I know he naps on you but once he’s asleep can you co sleep and catch up? This is how I survive the terrible nights!!

[Jellybabie3]

Yeah i am a ftm. I'm useless at sleeping in the day ! As tired as i am.

If its normal its no biggy. I will perservere. I guess i have created an unhelpful sleep association. Hes got a stuffy nose at night - i can hear it crackling when he feeds and reflux which cant help. Thanks ☺

[chickywoo]

It’s normal for bf baby to still be feeding a lot in the night and probs will do so for a while yet, what I used to find with my first is that I had friends with babies same age that were sleeping through 7-7 from about 6 wks! And it begins to make you feel like somethings not right! Best thing to do is bring baby in with you then at least you can snooze while he feeds!

[arbrighton]

Still feeding plenty at night here at 9mo and he is now eating something at least 3x per day

I've stopped counting feeds though, cosleep after the first one or two to maximise my sleep, have concluded DS natural bedtime is 8pm, and mine is best around9 although clock change is messing me about

[arbrighton]

And pfft to 'unhelpful sleep association'

Only western european humans, or possibly only Brits feel that way about biologically normal infant sleep

I found 'The Gentle Sleep Book' helped me feel more relaxed about going with the flow

[Jellybabie3]

Thanks @arbrighton. Weve had a go at putting DS down at 7-8 rather than 9-9.30 and the first night he woke 8x feed every time. Last night 6x. Pretty much every 1 - 1.5hours. I am exhausted. Feeds every 2 hours in the day.

He has been struggling with his reflux which cant help and of course the clocks.....

Am bit worried about the sleep association thing as its what people tell me over and over. Aargh. Fx for tonight!!

[arbrighton]

Stop worrying about it, do what works for you

[Jellybabie3]

Well DS is 6mo now and started weaning (tiny bits). He also goes down for naps alone in crib (yay!) Without a feed although still wakes after 40min.

Night time hes put down awake now but still wakes 5times and screams if not fed. We are going to move him to his nursery next week........

[Jaxtellerswife]

My daughter is 14 months and currently still waking a few times. Please make it stop lol

[bassackwards]

OP my nearly-6-month-old is the same: EBF and wakes to feed every 1.5-2 hours at night and about 2-3 hours during the day. She's been like this since about 3 months old. I can't work out whether she's hungry that frequently or just looking for comfort, but I always feed her it's the only thing that settles her. I have no advice for you I'm afraid. I'm just hoping that things will improve for my DD when she starts weaning and gets older. I'm going to try transitioning her to her own room soon too, just to see if that makes a difference.

Bon courage and enjoy your little one.

[MollyDaydream]

Once he's eating well in the day you can drop some of the night feeds, if you want to.

[PurdysChocolate]

I'm in the same boat, and feeling frustrated, because my first baby was also EBF but was always able to sleep longer stretches.

With this baby, we never go more than 2 hours at night, and he doesn't sleep if left by himself :/ I thought by 5 months we would be farther along then we are!

[newcupcake]

7 month old waking between 3-6 times a night sometimes for hour plus stretches . She is no 3 and I'm on my knees with despair and tiredness. My other two weren't quite this bad so I feel like I'm in uncharted territory. I've given up looking for reasons or solutions and am just riding it . We have a good bedtime routine and she's down for 7 but it goes downhill from 9 ish onwards , every night is different she is mixed fed and we've tried every combination under the sun , dummies, sleepyhead , she's on three meals a day, she naps well most days , nights are awful still, no suggestions just solidarity and it hope it won't last long, as awful as it is it's totally normal .

[sleepycat13]

I think I have the same baby as you op.
just turned 6 months. wakes 5 ish times per night on average. sometimes easy to feed to sleep and go back in crib other times I'm up for over an hour. co sleeping for second half of night might give me the odd half hour sleep here and there but I don't find it conducive to either of us sleeping well.
been like this since birth. im shattered.
he fell asleep without being fed for the first time in the middle of the night last night so I'm hoping this is a sign of progress but I can put him down awake normally as he just escalates into a full on cry so quickly.
im considering putting him in his nursery but just worried il spend all night up instead of awake but in bed