Can you train a baby out of being a snacker?

[marzipananimal]

DS is nearly 7 weeks old, and we finally seem to have got the hang of bf (more or less) :)

However he eats little and often which I know is probably normal but it does make life more difficult! At night he usually feeds roughly at 9.30, 12.30, 3.30 and 6.30 which is ok(ish) but during the day he'll snack every 30 mins - 2hours. He'll often drink for about 5 mins, refuse any more (though my breast still feels fairly full), but then want more 10 minutes later. Switching sides can get him to take a little bit more but not much.
He'll occasionally have a nice big feed of about 15 mins from each side so I know he can do it!

What can I do to encourage him to have big feeds?

As you say, this pattern is normal.

His night feeds are pretty predictable and ok, and it's not surprising he has a different pattern in the day - he has things the right way round :)

'Training' him out of being a 'snacker' - which he really, really isn't, anyway - might mean leaving him to be cross, hungry, thirsty and puzzled.

Eventually, he would get the message that it's not worth trying to communicate his needs to you, because you ignore them.

Sorry to sound harsh - but at 7 weeks, both you and he are doing brilliantly well, you are in tune with each other, and his night feeds are not too disruptive.

Honestly, it is easier, and kinder, to change your expectations and to work around his needs, than to change his needs....they will change anyway, as time goes on, whatever you do!

Yes I am definitely grateful that he has night and day the right way round :), I just wish that I could reliably get him to take enough milk to last him a couple of hours sometimes so DH can take him out and I can have a sleep!
So true about them changing as time goes on whatever you do though, I guess I just need to be a bit more patient!

I've found ds will go a lot longer before wanting feeds when dp takes him out in the pram than when he's at home with me - I think he feeds more at home because it's available and there's not much else happening.

marzipan - a reasonable wish!

I think it's very likely your DH could manage an hour or so with a bumpy pram ride, if you feed him before he sets out :)

Then work up to 2 hours as time goes on.

7 weeks is still a newborn, really :)

I tend to find if I give DS (5 weeks) to DH and go have a bath/sleep/ironing etc for an hour, he stops looking for food and settles down for a play/sleep/whatever. I think he just sees me, smells milk and starts rooting automatically.