7.5 month old started feeding like a newborn again

[Phew96]

DS is 7.5 months old and I have been bf him on demand. Over the past couple of weeks he has started demanding feeding at least every two hours in the day and waking every hour at night. Sometimes he just wants a few comfort sucks and sometimes he just seems to snack.

I'm concerned that he's never taking a full feed. He's always been a fairly quick feeder but he used to go much longer between feeds and even did an 8+ hour stretch at night at one point.

He's a fairly big boy, 19lb 8oz and he's well established on three solid meals a day so I'm fairly sure he can't need feeding this often.

Ove tried calpol and teething gel for teeth but it's made no difference. I did wonder about a growth spurt but it's gone on for so long now

How often does your 7.5-8 month old feed? I just don't know what to do anymore. Between this and the rubbish sleep I feel like just jacking it all in. I've got a very energetic 22 month old DD and I feel like she never gets any proper attention as I'm always feeding or grumpy from not sleeping

My DS has been doing this for the past month too - now 7 mo. It's hard work! I did think it was teething but 2 teeth arrived a few weeks ago and the crazy feeding / waking thing is still happening. Maybe it's a very long growth spurt / developmental?

I usually bring him into my bed around 5 am if I really can't settle him - just to get a couple of good hours sleep. However, then he helps himself to milk which can be a little sore with these new teeth.

Sorry I haven't been much help but I wanted to empathise! I'm basically just grinning and bearing it and hoping it's just a phase!

You've been a big help thank you :) sometimes it's nice to know others are going through the same.

My DS did this at 6/7 months, although only at night. I think it was partly developmental - learning to roll etc. Often there is a growth spurt associated with developmental advances. I would guess that at least some of the night wakings are due to this - when babies are working on new skills they find it hard to stay asleep.

I managed to reduce night wakings by resettling without feeding as often as I could (and feeing when I couldnt IYSWIM). I would pat him (only worked if I got to him really quickly after waking) or rock him to sleep. Some people find their DH has to do this or the baby expects to be fed. We went from 6/7 wakings to 2.

If he's waking lots due to developmental things, resettling without feeding is won't stop him waking, but may prevent the waking continuing once the developmental spurt is past.