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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

5 month old- what is happening?!

9 replies

MrsHumphz · 13/11/2010 18:41

I'd be grateful for any advice... My baby is EBF and has just tipped 5 months. A few weeks ago, I decided to stretch out the nighttime feeds as wasn't sure if he was waking out of habit or hunger. He woke, I patted him a bit, bunged his dummy in and he as asleep within 5 minutes so decided it must be habit. He did this a few times a night - there was no outwright crying, just a bit of moaning. (I don't ever let him cry). I fed him at 10pm and 6am.

I still didn't get sleep as he'd wake up but thought it was moving in a positive direction.

However, jump to 2 weeks later (just around the time he had his last set of jabs) and he seems to have reverted to newborn. He wants feeding every hour or hour and a half at night - and he has a proper feed each time. (I tried the pat/ dummy technique for 5 mins but he said he wanted food in no uncertain terms so I feed him each time)

In the day, he seems fairly disinterested and will nurse but I feel like I'm forcing him to eat at 3 or 4 hour intervals (he never/ rarely seems to cry or ask for it in the day).

Help!! what have I done? I'm worried I've somehow broken trust at night so he's testing me as he's worried he won't get it (but not sure if that's how little people think!).

Any help / advice - or just comments that this is normal will be welcome. I'm knackered!!

thanks....

OP posts:
MrsGravy · 13/11/2010 18:55

I dont think for a minute you have broken his trust. More likely he is too interested in playing/the world around him to feed much in the day and is making up for it at night. I would try feeding him in a dark quiet room in the day if possible and see if he takes more that way.

HelenLG · 13/11/2010 19:56

How long has he been doing it for? Could it be a growth spurt or sleep regression?

Ineedsomesleep · 13/11/2010 20:03

The only thought I've got on why he could be doing it is that he may have been feeling slightly unwell after his jabs and was doing it for comfort. More milk at night equals less hunger during the day and now he's a bit mixed up. Don't think you've done anything wrong.

Have a look at what Kellymom has to say on reverse cycling.

Original poster
MrsHumphz · 13/11/2010 20:33

Thanks so much for replies. All of your responses make perfect sense, and the Kellymom article is v good. It would be helpful if it advised how to switch it back round... (!)

He's been doing it for about a week now. He might well have felt unwell after jabs - but the feeding is still more frequent that he's fed in months though (even in the day). He would go between 3 and 4 hours (as he still does in the day)

He is very nosy, and it's difficult to feed if there's someone else in the room. He does feed tho' - he normally fusses on and off for 10 mins or so, until he finally settles.

Thanks for the sense - I am getting fed up of (well meaning) MIL and mum advising I should switch to a bottle / solids.... grr

OP posts:
Ineedsomesleep · 14/11/2010 10:32

Get your Mum and MIL to have a read of what Kellymom has to say about introducing solids

Also remind them on that formula isn't a magic formula. Nowhere on the carton does it say it will switch your baby from feeding more at night than in the day Smile

Liloosmum · 14/11/2010 10:45

I could have written this about my DD apart from the longer sleeping, she has been waking more and more ever since her 12 week jabs and is currently waking every 1 and a half to 2 hours if I'm lucky!

It feels like she thinks that night time is for her to sleep and feed and day time is for her to be entertained!

I spoke to a health visitor last week and she suggested I started weaning. I was trying to wait until 6 months so we could do BLW and avoid the purees, but the HV said it was okay to give DD sticks of soft food now. I'm not convinced that it will help her sleep, but it does keep her occupied while we're eating our tea. I suppose she might get the hang of eating so she can start eating other things that might make her sleep more (carbs etc) in a couple of weeks.

I know what you mean about well meaning relatives. My sister's suggestion was that I express so that DH can do the night feeds! I'm not sure when she thinks I'd get the time to do that. Or how I'd fit that in with the feeds that DD does have during the day!!

Ineedsomesleep · 14/11/2010 11:01

Family are great aren't they. I was advised by one Aunty to start weaning at 6 weeks Shock. Apparently she did it with her son, the one who suffers from eczema and asthma terribly.

Liloosmum have you asked your HV why she thinks bm is less satisfying and less calorific than apple puree? Sorry but really think your HV has given you some duff information here.

Liloosmum · 14/11/2010 11:47

I did say that I thought BM was more calorific than veg and she agreed. Apparently veg/fruit has less calories, but is harder to digest. Like I said, I'm not sure giving her a carrot stick to chew on will help much (if at all) and she doesn't eat much of it anyway, but it does mean I get to eat my tea with her sitting in her high chair instead of on my knee!

Albrecht · 14/11/2010 12:49

MrsHumphz my ds is exactly the same. Sorry not much time but have you tried feeding when he's sleepy? I feed when woken from nap and he takes more in the day now.

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