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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

5 month old comfort feeding frequently at night

10 replies

afshanmkhan · 04/09/2012 10:15

My 5 month old is pretty content normally and easily goes 4 hours between feeds during the day and 5-5.30 at night. But on some nights he wakes every 2-3 hours and no matter how much i hug and pat, he just wants to feed. He doesnt use a dummy and i tried letting him suck on my finger but he got irritated as if he wanted milk. And even i am so sleepy and tired, that nursing him to sleep is such a tempting and easy way out. Last night i landed up feeding him 5 times! As opposed to day before yesterday when he was normal and just fed twice. I am getting worried if i will land up making this a habit? Though he doesnt do it everyday but still quite often. During the day he is fine, not distressed. Even if its some discomfort like gas or teething, he only wants to nurse.

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Crimebusterofthesea · 04/09/2012 10:36

Are you absolutely sure he isn't hungry at night? 4 hours between feeds during the day sounds like quite a long period of time to me, at that age my DS was feeding every couple of hours, 3 at the most. Have you thought about feeding him a little more frequently during the day and then seeing how that impacts on the night feeds? If it is any consolation, my DS is now 8 months and I have often got my knickers in a twist about feeding to sleep etc, but have now come to realise that the whole 'rod for your own back' line of thought just doesn't make any sense as some nights he will sleep through, some nights he wants 2 feeds, sometimes one. I really wouldn't worry too much about habits, just do what is best for you and your baby. The brilliant thing about breastfeeding is that it offers so much more than just food - who wouldn't want a lovely warm, reassuring cuddle with Mum, and get lovely milk at the same time?

AlCookie · 04/09/2012 11:00

Oh right i left that part out - he happily goes 4 hrs between feeds but i keep him on a 2.5-3 hour feeding during the day. I too figured that if gets enough during the day then it reduces the chances for night wakings. But just to clarify - it just reduces the chances, does not guarantee The 4 hour thing does happen some days when we are out.
Well..,i guess u r right. Its just at this age when they want mommy soooo much. Before u know it, they will outgrow all this

Flisspaps · 04/09/2012 11:07

DS is 5mo and feeds frequently at night. I took to co-sleeping

Flisspaps · 04/09/2012 11:08

Hit send too soon

Co-sleeping early on so I don't wake up fully to feed DS. He's only ever gone 4hrs between feeds at night once in 5 months.

MigGril · 04/09/2012 13:41

he's five months old, that's still tinny. He's either hungry, quite possible epically if he's distracted during the day and feeding less then. Or wants comfort/closeness, we are very odd in the west expecting tinny babies to sleep on there own. This would never happen in the wild, as animals we would always keep our young close. So they biologically expect this, many culters around the world still cosleep.

Breastfeeding is a great way to satisfy this need for closeness no need to worry about it being a bad habit.

AlCookie · 04/09/2012 14:22

Well listening to all u wonderful ladies, i guess i can stop worrying about making it a habit. He will outgrow it when he is ready

Oh n we are co sleeping since day 1 and have no plans of moving him away for a long time. I just want him to sleep better. He doesnt wake up, its all sleepy feeds. In fact even i dont wake up at least not completely!

Thanks for the support mums

ZuleikaD · 04/09/2012 14:46

It's not comfort feeding, he's hungry. I would expect him to still need three or four feeds at night for another four months or so.

OliveandJim · 04/09/2012 15:58

At around 5 months they go through an emormous developmental leap they need more food and more mummy time! Read the wonder weeks!

AlCookie · 04/09/2012 16:43

Oliveandjim!!! Great thinking! Growth spurt just didnt occur to me. Poor baby might really need food

Good that i didnt try much beating about the bush and fed him frequently!

VikingLady · 05/09/2012 10:31

DD is 6m and this happens to us if she has been too distracted/interested/active to feed much during the day. If she spend a quiet evening feeding more or less continuously before bed (on a day where we have been out or had visitors) she can go longer overnight.

This has always happened, but seems to be more so as she gets more interested in the world.

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