Stretching it out...

[Windingstreamswithoutends]

I know it's not a massive problem so don't flame but but I'd like some practical advice if possible.

My 5 month old was sleeping through from 7-6ish and had been for months. She's suddenly over the last couple of weeks started waking for a feed earlier and earlier. It was 4am then 2am and last night midnight.

After this she usually sleeps through till 6:30-7 and when she wakes she seems genuinely starving and then goes straight back to sleep so I don't think it's a comfort thing.

I'm just wondering why she's suddenly started getting hungry in the night and if I can do anything to help? My concern is it will lead to more wake ups per night which I'm dreading as I have severe anaemia and am exhausted

Thanks all

[nephrofox]

Babies sleep is not linear. They can sleep through for months and then wake for months. It's just the way it is.

At 5 months it's possible she is hungry for the extra bottle ahead of weaning

[nephrofox]

As an aside, this is the classic time when you get "oh she's hungry in the night, let's start weaning early". In reality, she's hungry for calorific milk and no teaspoon of carrot puree is going to fix that, so don't be pressured if you don't want to

[RoganJosh]

I think something odd happens around 5, 5 1/2 months. Our eldest had been sleeping through and started waking hourly at this point. We'd try and resettle her till we got fed up at around midnight, then bring her into bed with us where she slept fine. This went on for six weeks. She just stopped doing it one day and slept through, apart from once every ten days.

[Windingstreamswithoutends]

Thanks all. I'm considering adding some formula at night as she drinks more from a bottle. Always falls asleep on boob....

[WineandDine]

Could you try giving her a bottle of formula before you go to bed to see her through? Dreamfeed or whatever the correct term is!