Is my 4 1/2 month old feeding too often? (EBF)

[LittleWaveyLines]

During the day she currently feeds every hour to hour and a half, except if we are out when it extends to 2 hours before she gets majorly grumpy.

At night I have one 3 hour stretch between feeds, then it reverts to 2 hourly to hourly feeds.

She has never gone longer than 2 hourly with one 3 hour stretch at night. NEVER. (I'm a but tired...)

Is this too frequent? Or is this normal? When can I expect it to stretch out a bit?

Oh how I wish I'd read this thread before I had kids, how many hours I wasted over worrying about dc2,3 and 4 feeding too much. Last Christmas I did all my shopping with ds2 latched on in sling, pain in the arse when I had to switch sides, rubyroouk I could be you. The amount of times I heard he/she can't be hungry again.

My DS still believes that the universe will implode if he goes more than a couple of hours without a feed - and he's 20 months. I'm just waiting for him to self-wean he's going to be at least six, isn't he?

I get comments from people amazed that he still feeds so often, especially as he eats normally too, mainly along the lines of 'a feed before bed is still okay at that age', but then they're amazed at how fit and active he is. He never sleeps in the day, is on the go non-stop, and is a solid ball of muscle. There's no fat on him. Well, that's why!!

BTW the downside is that I'm knackered and it's impossible to try and mop the floor. The cleaning will have to wait till he can start playgroup in February.

organiccarrotcake Congratulations!

I think learning to feed in the sling is essential... It has been one of my lifesavers or I would bnever have left the house!

(Well she's done her 3 hours sleep bit from 8 - 11, 2 hourly stints from now until 5, then hourly... and would you believe I can't sleep? )

BaronessBombyrst Cleaning?? What's that?! we'll start tracking out more than we are tracking in soon here I reckon....

Organic.... Big congratulations!! when are you due?

1 May :)

Ha ha - 1 May- Labour Day!

Oh gods, yeah. LOL. Well this time I've put an order in for a low needs one.

Sorry to hijack lines. How are things?

Hijack away! Wonderful news!

Aww thank you :)

Hello again ladies- in last few days I have been noticing something I wanted to run by you as you are at same stage- familiar with my ds habits. Feeds have increased in frequency - up to nearly hourly, but ds is pulling himself off boob to chew his thumb/fingers, then back on/off/on etc. Once let down comes he sucks away but then back to on/off/on... it's really starting to piss me off annoy me, as he won't take full feed, then feeds an hour later, doing the same. I know he's teething and have given gel, powders and even calpol, but doesn't really make a difference. He was always a quick feeder- 5 - 7 mins both sides each but I'd say we are down to 3 and all the messing around too . Even starting to think I'm running out if milk which I know I can't be but feels like it!! Any ideas?? Or this too will pass ?? Lol

Hmmmm dunno!
My almost 20 week DD occasionally does this - chewing fingers, fussy short feed - but no more than once/twice a day/couple of days so hadn't really thought about it. No answers sorry.

More irritating is her habit of trying to sneak her thumb into her mouth while feeding.... (daft baby). What with that from one hand, and pinching or pushing the breast away with the other, and twisty pushing feet, I feel I need four hands to feed properly!

I think they're at the stage where they are experimenting with feeding to a certain extent. I can see how hourly annoyingly fussy feeds would start to get boring! Lets hope someone comes along with some answers.

Thanks- ds also sneaks his thumb in!! Cute at first then frustrating!! < deep breaths>

Oh and all that other stuff you mentioned!! I now feed him my lap trying to hold his hands- works for all of 30 seconds!! Must be an age thing- you prob right.

Anyone else experience of this?

currently feeding DD for the second time since her 7.00 bedtime.... really really want a good stretch of sleep tonight!

... I don't even bother going downstairs after bathtime anymore, just camp upstairs in bed with her with the laptop.... :(

I've tried clamping one hand under my armpit, but she then gets upset....

Mampig - my DS spent several months trying to breastfeed and suck his thumb at once. It drove me mad and he kept falling off the boob, retrying and so on. If I tried to help him by holding down his arms, he would be very annoyed.

He also went through a stage of humming on the boob, giggling and endlessly stopping to see what else was going on. Oh, pinching one nipple while sucking the other. Oh and the worst of all - bouncing on the boob. When he got a bouncer, I'd have to watch afterwards when feeding him that his feet weren't near a sofa arm or he would simply use it as leverage to bounce and breastfeed.

So everything sounds a bit familiar. Now he is 15 months and we have had 4 breastfeeds tonight already. One day I will laugh about this, but not yet......

LWL- god I know the feeling!!

Ruby- you're supposed to tell us that this is a phase, it will pass etc . The bouncing does however take the .

On the plus side, he has self settled in his crib 3 nights in a row , feeding lots but can't complain as he goes straight back down- until I go to bed if course then he sniffs me out and feeds again. I need wine sleep

Aaaargh! She's asleep and I'm bloody not! Feel too tired to sleep almost.... so reboot the lappy and here I am....

Caved in and am having some wine lol!!

Well I got to sleep about midnight (fed her first) and would you Adam and Eve it that she only woke at 3am and 5am then 7.30am!

Feel like /I've slept!

Great!!! There's hope for me yet!!! Glad you feel a bit more rested!

Sorry.... anyway fingers crossed for us both tonight x

Well daytime feeds have been a bit more spaced out today - back to 2 hourly. He's less fussy today and the sneaky thumb hasn't been such a big issue today - it only really happens when he is on my left side! As he takes both boobs, I've started him on right side for most feeds today, so could just be coincidence, but hey, was bit better so i'll keep that up for a while! Hope tonight is good for us all!!!

Oooh good news about the day feeds Mampi

Well last night was pretty good. Bed at 7.30 so fed 7.30 - 8.00. Then 9pm, 11pm, 1pm, 3, 5 awake at just past 7. So non of the hourly business, but no three hour stretch. I feel OK though as I slept in those 2 hour stretches as I fed lying down and if it wasn't for the fact that she can't latch on properly when I'm lying down, I wouldn't even have woken up fully each time! As it is as I have one mangled nipple that is sore this morning :(

ah poor u! Hope it heals fast for you today!
Last night was good! Ie 2 hrly, we also co sleep, but first part of night (before I go to bed) he is in his crib. I can usually 'sleep' thru feeds thankfully! We had a 3 hr stretch from 7-10 last night, although I was busy with school uniforms etc, and x factor .
Quick question- do you have a horrendous nappy every morning? At some stage between 4-6 my ds loads the nappy with poo! Has ruined several vests and sleepsuits, but I never hear him doing it! It means he is up for the day at 6 as I have to change the nappy and clean him down ( he gets covered!) I think it's because he feeds so much in the night?