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Infant feeding

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

Frequent breastfeeding

22 replies

barra · 18/04/2011 09:36

my ds cannot go more than 2 hours during the day without feeding. He is 5 1/2 weeks. He also does not take any regular naps during the day and then becomes way overtired at night

Is he not getting enough each feed?

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 18/04/2011 09:48

2 hourly feeds is totally normal for a 5 week old - ds didn't manage 3 hours between feeds til he was on solids. Can you work on better naps for him? How/where does he sleep now?

barra · 18/04/2011 09:53

I try to put him down in his Moses basket which is in his cot in his room. He managed about 30 minutes this morning before waking

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EauRouge · 18/04/2011 09:56

Yes, totally normal. I wouldn't worry about regular naps at this age, he's too young at the moment for any kind of routine. DD1 got herself into a sort of routine at around 3 months so I could predict fairly accurately when she was going to sleep. They are all different as well, DD1 barely napped at all but DD2 seems to be constantly asleep...

What do you mean by over tired at night? It's normal for babies to be a bit fussy and cluster feed in the evening.

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 18/04/2011 09:56

hi barra, congratulations on your ds Smile

Don't worry, ime this is very normal for such a young bf baby.

It's kinda not what we expect is it? When i had ds i had in mw head the image of baby feeding for twenty, maybe thirty mins, they sleeping for at least a couple of hours. This isn't helped by well meaning (but as i know now, mis informed) people saying "is he feeding again!" etc.

The fact is this is how babies are ment to behave. But virtually everyone i know had ff, and as formula is harder to digest it does tend to knock them out a bit (i think of it as being like after christmas dinner). But the more frequent bf feeding is what's actually natural and normal iyswim.

As for sleeping it is very much a skill they have to master imo. Keep nights as dark and quiet as poss so they learn the difference between day and night. Encourage them to nap as much as possible, buggy, car, sling etc.

Personally we didn't bother with a routine at that age. They change so quickly and i found it easier to respond to their needs as they arose.

The good news is it soon settles down. I remember a distinct reduction in frequency of feeds around week 12. Half way there now. Smile

I'd really recommend sticking with it. It does get much easier and will continue to do so, while ff will always be a faff. Smile

MotherSnacker · 18/04/2011 09:57

All very normal at that age. It does get easier. Smile

RitaMorgan · 18/04/2011 09:58

Will he sleep better if you hold him or put him in a sling/pram? Or maybe keep the moses basket in the living room where it's a bit noisier? My ds didn't nap in his cot til he was a few months old, he needed needed to be held or have noise/movement before that.

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 18/04/2011 09:58

oops...there was nowt else there when i started typing (slowly) Blush

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 18/04/2011 10:00

btw iirc it is advised that babies under 6m always sleep in the same room as you to help avoid sids Smile

nethunsreject · 18/04/2011 10:02

Sounds normal.

Some babies eat and sleep, others take a while to get the hang of it. Also, 2 hrs is fine.

My ds1 was and eat-n-sleeper, ds2 took a good few months to 'get' sleeping. It was a shock after the first, I can tell you!

He is getting enough if he has wet and dirty nappies and is healthy. You are right to feed him on cue as this will help your supply too. Well done, btw!

www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/index.html this is excellent.

barra · 18/04/2011 10:03

Thanks moonface helpful to hear your experience

Eau rouge by overtired he was fed until refused more, clean nappy, winded etc but fought the sleep. Would sleep for 10 mins then wake self up and wail

OP posts:
nethunsreject · 18/04/2011 10:06

Agree he might need to be cuddled at night/evening atm. They feel very vulnerable.

RitaMorgan · 18/04/2011 10:07

Does he feed, sleep for 10 minutes then want feeding again in the evenings? Might be cluster feeding.

barra · 18/04/2011 10:36

What does it mean when he pushes his tongue out of his mouth?

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nethunsreject · 18/04/2011 10:41

tonguing means he wants to nurse.

barra · 18/04/2011 10:52

Even after a feed where he has pushed off both breasts? Last time he then spit up a bit

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RitaMorgan · 18/04/2011 11:06

If he's had both breasts does he want the first side again? Is this just in the evenings?

NinkyNonker · 18/04/2011 15:04

Dd only went around 2 hrs between feeds right through to weaning at 6 mo. Now she only nurses a couple of times a day, plus a few at night.

She also never reliably napped apart from.catnaps, even now I have to rock her to sleep then sit next to her while she sleeps. (8mo) as I am.doing at the mo!

barra · 18/04/2011 16:33

Ritamorgan - he never actualy ask s for next breast. They are never drained
But after he pushes off the first if he wants a bit more I offer the other

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 18/04/2011 16:39

Maybe after he comes off the second side you could try offering the first again?

barra · 18/04/2011 20:08

Will try that. Thanks!

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japhrimel · 18/04/2011 21:08

Totally normal. Keep offering until he definitely refuses or falls asleep. And try a sling for naps - it's normal for them to not want to sleep away from you, sorry!

cherub59 · 19/04/2011 22:45

Barra - my ds 3 is the same age! IME fussing at the breast can mean that little one has wind as they can't settle intobsucking properly as it hurts them. Mine goes into a boob frenzy if he has wind.
But 2 hr feeds ARE normal for bf at this age, sometimes 1 1/2hourly! It'll pass quickly tho and you will be wondering what happened to your teeny baby!!!!

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