thumb sucking vs breast feeding

[Albrecht]

ds (12 wks) has recently nearly mastered thumb sucking, after many weeks of random flailing around. Still generally has atleast one finger wedged in his eye though.

I think it is comfort rather than hunger as he does it before and after feeds. Will also do it during! Pulling off and inserting thumb instead of nipple but also trying to wiggle a thumb or finger in alongside nipple.

Thing is, how do I tell at night when he is actually hungry? Used to wake 2 or 3 times a night but the last week has been loads more. Usually feed him back to sleep at night but he sometimes self settles with thumb. Don't want him going hungry if its milk he actually wants but maybe he is happy with the thumb and just sucking on me to drift back off? Should I try just leaving him to find his thumb at night?

Or could more frequent waking be growth spurt!? Still feeds about every 4 hours in the day, screams if I offer more often or to feed for longer. But could this frequent pulling off be trying to stimulate supply?

(Weight gain fine, plenty of wet and dirty nappies)

Any thoughts? TIA

His ability to self sooth will be a god send. Now he'll only call you in at night when he's hungry and the thumb won't do. You can try (when you go into him through the night) picking him up an cradling him and see if he pops his thumb in and goes back to sleep or if he really wants some booby.
He won't go with out the milk he needs.

Feeds through the day get trickier as they take more interest in their suroundings and are easily distracted. This being at its worse around 5-6mths. Try to relax about when he feeds and how much he takes. He's a pro at this now and very able to tell you when he's hungry. The feed, play, sleep sequence carries on for another month or so.

Both my DDs are thumb suckers and are/were bf. At night I would give them a cuddle and they would sometimes suck thumb and go back to sleep. However if they wanted milk the thumb didn't work! You just have to go with your instincts and be glad that something else other than your boob will settle them.

Ps mine also tried the feeding and sucking thumb thing - grew out of it when they realised it stopped the milk! Think they just wanted the best of both worlds!!

There is a common 12 week growth spurt. Often babies can get fussier at feeding during spurts.

Thanks guys! Don't know why but it is comforting to know other babies do this sort of thing.

Tried leaving him to get on with the thumb last night and ended up only feeding at 1am and 7am. Might be a one off and it'll be all up the spout tonight but seems like it was a growth spurt.