BF on demand at 4 months

[BlackSwan77]

I'm still pretty much BF on demand and my DD is 17 weeks. Is this really bad? Am I creating bad habits? I suppose there's a rough pattern of one feed every 3 hours but I don't find BF inconvenient, I will feed her anywhere, so I don't mind the system we've got at present.

I like the idea of tanking her up during the day BUT she is also waking more and more frequently at night now. Not sure if this waking is just the 4 month sleep regression I keep hearing about, or is it because I feed her whenever she wants and she expects it during the night too?

I don't really believe that frequent waking at 4 months indicates a desire for solids, BTW. Would prefer not to wean for another month.

Thanks

It sounds like you're doing great :) why are you worried - is it comments from friends/family etc?

No it's not bad! You're giving your daughter what she needs when she needs it. 4 months is way to young to learn about set mealtimes :)

And it probably is the 4 moth sleep regression you're going through right now. It all sounds totally normal to me.

If you think about as feeding 'responsively' or on cue, then that maybe takes away the negative connotation of 'on demand' which implies being spoilt.

Sounds like you're meeting her needs perfectly.

"I'm still pretty much BF on demand and my DD is 17 weeks. Is this really bad?" No, you are doing what is best for your baby and it sounds like its all going really well.

Has somebody said something to make you worry?

Thank you so much for the positive comments, wow I feel quite chuffed now. Nobody has said anything negative, no. I am just frustrated by the waking every two hours at night but I guess if that's a common 4 month thing, I just need to ride it out.

If she is waking so frequently at night you could try feeding her more often during the day, it might work.

My DS is 17 weeks and waking every two hours too although it's an improvement from EVERY SINGLE BLOODY HOUR on Tuesday!

I'm EBF on demand too, and had assumed this was the infamous sleep regression, so don't worry, we'll both get through it!

Do you have helpful relatives nagging you to wean to baby rice too? My mum is driving me insane

AbiAbi get her to read this and see if it will shut her up

can I hop into this thread and ask a question?

DS is 12 weeks and for the last week has been waking me evey 2 hours at night. Is this a sleep regression too or was I just lucky that he used to sleep for 5 - 6 hours at night.

Duelling I know you probably won't want to hear these words but could it be a growth spurt?

I thought it might be but wasn't expecting one until 4 months.

My DD has just hit the 3 month growth spurt too I think.

Dueling, - it's just that your baby is very advanced that's all!

Duelling I had it at 11/ 12 weeks too, lasted approximate

hit send too soon (sleep deprivation!)

It lasted approximately six nights.

My DS is 16 weeks, he was sleeping for mmm lovely 6-7 hour stretches between 11 and 14 weeks, alas now waking up every 2-3 hours

AbiAbi, did you then get it again at 4 months?

at RedNoise.

DF I've had the same with Ruby xx

Yes! 10-11 weeks and again now at 17 weeks

Thanks for the link Jilted - I've emailled it to her and will report back any feedback!

I'm so pleased to read all this. My DS is 4.5 months and has just started waking for 2 hourly feeds.....I was a mess on Friday. Well-meaing people keep pushing me towards babyrice and talking about rods for my back too. Where can I read about sleep regression? I am BF btw.