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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

17 weeks and wakes 5 times a night

17 replies

snowchick1977 · 07/11/2011 13:44

DD is 17 weeks, ebf until 10 weeks and from then has 8 ounces of formula before bed.

Currently waking 5 times per night to feed for 15 minutes, not just for comfort. sleeps from 8-1 then awake 1, 3, 5, 6, 7.

I'm knackered - she has never slept for more than 6 hours and seems to be getting worse.

She sleeps in a moses basket still at the side of our bed.

What am I doing wrong?

....if anything - or do I jsut "have one of those who will never sleep"

She doesnt nap in the day at all either and is constantly moving, and I mean never ever sits still like other babies I see :)

Help!

OP posts:

MigGril · 07/11/2011 14:18

You've done nothing wrong. My first was like this I tormented myself for months thinking it was something i was doing wrong. i've since learned that good sleeper's are just born that way.

Have a read of Dr Sears www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/sleep-problems

Sounds like you've also hit the 4months sleep regresion which is to do with developmental changes and explains why they sleep worse when they get bigger. Have a Google.

LittleWaveyLines · 07/11/2011 14:59

Ha! I think you're lucky to get the 8-1

My 19 week DD has just this week improved to give me a 3 hour stretch of sleep.... and we cosleep otherwise she wakes every hour and a half to feed (and I hallucinate from tiredness)!

No answers... I think that some babies are just like that..

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 07/11/2011 15:35

It seems that everyone and I mean everyone I see with babies, in groups etc is "sleeping through" and it makes you feel like you are doing something wrong.

I dont know if people lie, or bend the truth either.

sigh!

OP posts:

spanishinbristol · 07/11/2011 15:35

Hi, like others said, I'm afraid some babies are like that. I have 3 DS and DS1 and DS2 have always been good sleepers, however DS3 has been the child from hell in the sleep department (gorgeous otherwise! )

You are not doing anything wrong, I'm sure. I don't think is hunger either, some babies just need the extra reassurance of mummy being there while others quite happily sleep long stretches. You DD has a similar pattern to what my DS3 did at that age. He is 14 months now and still not sleeping through but he has definitely improved over the months. To me the key was to lower my expectations and comparisons (both his brothers slept through early on) and think that this phase won't last forever. I know it doesn't help when you are exhausted though...

Cosleeping didn't help us, but the one thing that has helped is my DH settling him for the night instead of me. I'll give him his last feed in the living room, so there is light and some noise, so he doesn't fall asleep while feeding and then daddy takes him to his bedroom. He wasn't impressed to start with, but he now settles down well without feeding to sleep.

Good luck!

Mampig · 07/11/2011 16:26

My 19 wo ds is the same!! He's my fourth and the others slept thru very early. Soooo tired even though we cosleep. I keep thinking I need to be feeding more during the day- but he is 2 hourly as it is!! We rarely even get a 3 hour stretch at night. Last night was hard as my 5 yo wasn't well, and had to sleep with us. I got zero sleep between feeding and looking after her. I'm actually thinking of topping up with ebm after the 11 pm feed to see if that helps- don't shout !!!!

EauRouge · 07/11/2011 16:40

Some people lie about it to avoid 'helpful advice' or because they are worried what other people will think. Some people sleep train their babies at a very young age (I would do a lot of reading about sleep training before even considering it). Some babies just sleep more than others.

Co-sleeping does help a lot of mothers but do read up on the safety guidelines first.

Mampig- There's no evidence that a FF top up will make babies sleep any better, in some instances it can make things worse because formula is harder to digest than BM. Feel free to give it a try but give it a good think first. Waking every 2-3 hours is normal for a lot of babies, especially at this age. Some experts believe that frequent night-waking helps to protect against SIDS.

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 07/11/2011 17:05

Trust me to pick a dodgy one ha ha

OP posts:

Mampig · 07/11/2011 17:10

Eau- wud be bm top up

EauRouge · 07/11/2011 17:22

Oh sorry, I didn't read your post properly

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 08/11/2011 08:31

Well last night was worse than ever....woke at 12, 2, 330, 5, 6, 7

Im going to move her into her cot tonight as her moses basket looks too small for her to stretch out now and she keeps whacking her arms off the side.

I really cant do this much longer.

Argh!

OP posts:

LittleWaveyLines · 08/11/2011 09:01

Well it's worth a try!

I feel your pain... last night we had bed at 7.30, feeding at 8, 8.30, 9.30, 1.00, 3.00 just plain awake at 4.00-4.30, feeding at 5.00, 6.30, awake at 7.30

tickleme63 · 08/11/2011 09:07

Feel your pain Snow. 16-week old DS has been feeding at least every 2 hours throughout the day and night since he was born (save for 3 glorious nights (not in a row...) where he only woke for a night feed twice). No advice at all here, but just wanted you to know you're not alone! He doesn't really nap either, and has a cold at the mo which isn't helping matters!

DH and I make little bets before we go to sleep on how many wake ups and at what times - sort of lightens it up. We know it's inevitable that he'll wake (not that that makes it any easier) but we're both secretly dying for the day that we wake up in the morning and realise he's slept through. One day... :)

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 08/11/2011 09:17

It wouldnt be so bad if she slept in the day, which she doesnt do unless out in the buggy and its raining hard here, or in the car, and im too knackered to drive.

I dont have any help either nearby which makes it worse.

OP posts:

Mampig · 08/11/2011 09:18

Every 2 hours on the button for me last night. Didn't do the top up as he took really good feed at 9 so was hoping! But no.... Dunno what to try next!

Original poster

snowchick1977 · 08/11/2011 09:27

Dd is ebf but has a bottle of formula before bed......last night she took 9 ounces at 8pm, then another 7 ounces at 10pm and still woke at 12.....i gave her an extra bottle hoping it would make her sleep longer.

Its horrendous, not enjoyable at all.

OP posts:

shuckleberryfinn · 08/11/2011 09:46

There's a reason sleep deprivation is used as torture, it's horrible. It's true, some kids sleep a lot some less.

We spent a lot of time "sleep-training" our son,it was exhausting and stressful. Our daughter? I went down the bed-sharing baby wearing route. It's still frustrating sometimes but we both get more sleep and less stress that way.

If this is your only kid might I suggest you abandon all housework and just sleep at every opportunity. At least you'll be a little more rested and be able maybe to figure out how you'd like to tackle it.

SpannerPants · 08/11/2011 10:01

DS is 16.5 weeks and for the last 2 weeks has gone from waking once or twice to waking 5 times or more. Thank god for cosleeping, it's the only way we're managing!

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