Breast fed 5 month old waking and feeding all night

[OnlyWantsOne]

dd2 is waking every hour and feeding. She goes down about 7 then wakes at 9, 11, 1,2.30 etc this has been like this for over a week. I'm exhiasted. Is it a sign she needs some other food?? I can't go on like this

It's not possible to feed her more during the day she feeds every 2 hrs then too.

She is probably going through a growth spurt but it's very annoying.

I would start her on solids, something in the evening.

She did this bang on 4 months but it lasted 3 days not 7 nights!! Plus she used to wake up happy And content but last two days she's woken up ravenous When I pick her up she savages my boobs. Lol

Desperate bump

Sounds like 4 month sleep regression to me- mine had it closer to 5 months as well. It lasted on and off for three weeks or so, then she slept normal again for no apparent reason. Solids won't help and if she is gaining weight i doubt it's hunger. It just passes.

What might help is more and scheduled naps during dayime in bed, ideally one of 30-60min in the early morning and 1-2h at lunchtime, possibly even a short aftenoon nap. The better and deeper they nap during the day, the better they will sleep at night. Esp the long lunchtime nap is important for proper deep sleep.

She has a couple of naps morning time 9am for about 1/2 hour. Then again in after noon about 1-2 and then mostly she has a 1/2 hour nap about 5ish but she falls asleep in the car etc so odd little snoozes do they count??

i stared to wean my ds3 because of wakeful nights, he was obviously hungry, because as soon as i introduced solids he started sleeping again, although i too recommend the daydatime sleep pattern, if my ds3 7months doesn't get enough sleep during the day hes awake all night. it will pass, have you thought that he may be thirsty rather than hungry, maybe try a bottle of water before you try weaning? good luck

Mmm. I've been giving her water from a cup and her gaviscon -

How do I do this weaning business?? What's best to give her? X

I would wait until 6 months to wean unless you have been told to start early by a paediatrician. If you wean too early then your DD may have trouble digesting the food which will not make for a restful night! DD1 went through the exact same phase at 5 mo and it didn't last, she went back to only waking 2 or 3 times which was normal for her. Everyone told me she would sleep through when she started solid food (weaned at 6 mo) and I'm still waiting 2 years later

Have you considered co-sleeping so you can get some more sleep? Here is some weaning info from Kellymom.

Oops, this was the page I meant to link to.

We do co sleep. I'm still getting no sleep.

I think it's a bit of a myth that solids lead to more sleep, My DS is 4 and a bit monthd old and his sleep is haywire. He's also teething so fairly rritwble. I think you just have ride it out. I am shattered at the moment and have only just realised that this is probably sleep regression/growth spurt. I co-sleep too.

Honestly OP? DD (now nearly 7 months) did this for a solid MONTH at 4.5 months to 5.5 months. I didn't want to wean her at that age, but everyone told me that when she started solids, it would improve... so I tried to start solids early, before the 6 month guideline. And.... she refused to eat (I literally could not get a single spoonful into her mouth) until she turned 6 months, at which point she started chomping on finger foods! (she still refuses a spoon) So I really would wait until 6 months to wean if I were you.

Also, after a solid month of the night waking hell, she suddenly dropped to waking twice between 7 and 7.... nothing to do with the solids as it happened a week or so before she started eating.

I think its jusrt a phase... but I feel your pain. I felt dead from tiredness throughout that month!

Funnily enough, as she came out of the night waking hell, she suddenly leapt on developmentally - rolling, sitting better, eating finger foods and other things. I wonder if the "sleep regression" thing is to do with lots going on in terms of development?

I found this really good thread which made me feel less alone.

Told to by a pediatrician?? I've never seen one

legallyblond, completely agree with the sleep regression being linked to development, DD1 changed so much after, suddenly she rolled over, was able to handle finger food, and generally communicates so much more and changes every day after it, it is a big jump from a 4 month old to a 6 month old and their brains just go on hyper mode for a while.

The only reason some people think solids or cc or whatever worked is that it naturally ends after 3-4 weeks, and usually people start desparate measures after a couple of weeks of bad sleep, and then when it gets better they think it is because of the solids or whatever they tried. I have a friend with a 2 month older DD than mine, and she did solids and cry it out, as she was afraid her DD would get used to feeding all night, whereas I decided to just go with the flow with my DD and just nurse her whenever she wanted (I always tried to get her back to sleep by rocking or hugging or kissing her when she woke up but that only worked 20% of the times), and the thing is that both our DDs went through the sleep regression and went back to sleeping normally around the same time.

The waking up is so much more related to brain activity than hunger, so adding solids really won't change much, it can even make matters worse because the stomach and digestive system have to adjust and they get wind, constipation etc.

No advice but my DS is the same! Turns 5 months tomorrow and I'm thinking if he's hungry but waiting to see if it's just a growth spurt. He ravages my boobs as soon as he's put anywhere near them and it's all day and the night too!! Think if it happened at 3 or 4 months I wouldn't think it was time for solids but would be confident it was a growth spurt. Trying to go with my instinct.

Hmmm well she's feeding SO much I'm exhausted :(