Feeding lots more in late evening, what's going on?

[ZuzuandZara]

Hi
DTs now a couple of weeks off 6 months and ebf. They go down around 6pm and were sleeping until 1am when they woke for first feed.

That time has slowly crept forwards for the last month or so, has become 11pm, 10pm etc until now, when they go down they are waking every couple of hours, or even hour and a half for a feed, until they settle at about midnight and go for maybe 3 hours.

Do they really 'need' these feeds? I can't settle them without feeding, although I haven't tried very hard! Or are they just feeding for a bit of comfort? I don't mind obviously, it's just that evenings are my only me time, crap telly, dinner etc, now I'm up and down all evening. Shall I try harder to settle them without a feed or just go with the flow? Is this 'normal' pattern for this age?

Will start weaning shortly (although being prem I'm not sure they are ready for it, not sitting up, showing any interest in food etc) will this make any difference to sleep?

They don't feed this often during the day, more like every 3 hours.

Am sure there is some growth spurt going on, one's turned into a right chunky monkey

Sorry for rambly post, feel like such a novice sometimes!

Probably not back until tomorrow evening.

Thanks.

Hi zuzu!

I'm a novice too, ds is five months, and he too has started cluster feeding alot in the evenings. I too am a bit that i don't get an evening now, but for me i think he's waking up a bit less during the night...sometimes

For what it's worth i have read (in prep for weaning) that the first foods are either hardly eaten (if blw) or less calorific than milk (if purees) so either way what they really need is more milk.

As i say i'm a novice so feel free to disregard this, hopefuly a mn expert will be along soon!

Well done on ebf twins! You are a goddess!

Hi Moon,

A goddess Thanks!

Am planning to try BLW and have the same fear as you, they won't actually eat anything so it's going to be boob, boob, boob! And they are still waking up lots in the night.

You haven't exactly given me much hope!

sorry! Hopefully you relise not are not alone, or doing anything wrong though! Good luck!

Cluster feeding in the evenings is still normal at that age.

If weaning helps babies sleep, someone forgot to tell my DD

My DS2 same age and doing the same thing after sleeping through from first few weeks. He has been waking like that since he turned 4 months. Waiting til 6 months to wean and am slightly on my knees and not sure solids will make a difference very quickly!
Well done for EBF twins though - big respect

Well good and bad then! At least we're 'normal' but things won't particularly get better after weaning [why isn't there a tired emoticon?]

Thanks all.