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?

Glad you had a good night!

No, no poo here, in fact she only goes every other day..... Nappy smells like a hamster cage in the morning, poor weeble bottomed child (using real nappies), but no poo.

Count yourself lucky then lol!!!

Hello ladies, may I join you? Almost-4-month-old DS is (has always!) feeding with the same regularity as your 2 wee ones, such fun isn't it!

Mam: not every morning, but we also have a stealth pooer, who has stained many a baby gro and sleepsuit... He never ever tells us he is dirty/wet though. DH reckons that our boy has inherited his body clock which demands an early morning poo... Yup, I said TMI as well...

Hi tickle!! Very welcome!! at your dh!! The poonami's are a nightmare aren't they!! How are you managing with everything? Have u any other kids?

Glad to welcome another one!

I currently have a very awake baby who will shortly be a very grumpy baby if she doesn't bloody well nap soon! Been awake since 7 and had 2 feeds in that time, but not the slightest hint of eyes closing....

Can I join too?! you know you've got a high needs baby when your three year old says 'don't feed him again mummy, he's just had food' when the aforementioned baby is chomping on his fists and staring meaningfully at your boobs!

I too have regular comments of 'he can't be hungry again' and 'can't you just not feed him?' that one is my Favourite

Are high needs baby generally high on the centiles? ds2 (12 weeks) is 91st but creeping to 98th. He's not fat tho, just a bit chubby but in proportion iyswim.

We had a miracle night on Saturday, he slept from 2 till 6, I was astounded! last night he was back to normal tho, feeding every two hours :(

I think I'm going to have 'this, too, Will pass' tattooed on my forehead

He he!! Hey Birnam... Glad to have you!! Nice to know some other mummies understand fully!' 2-6 wud be bliss!! At least u know it's possible

Ps my ds on 50th centile so not sure bout that one!! Oh... But WILL it pass??? I'm worried about the answer to that

Thanks ladies, it's a relief to meet some mums whose babies did not sleep through (or anywhere close!) by 3 months!

He's my first, so while I am lucky in that it's just me and him I have to tend to during the day, he rarely naps longer than 20 minutes, unless he's laying on someone, and likes to be held more than his 16lb 8oz frame and my aching back will allow. It's tough to get anything done or even to eat sometimes, needy little fella.

He also hates his car seat and going out in the pram, so no respite there. Am becoming a bit of a hermit to be honest as I just know how much of a fuss he kicks up when we go out. Need to toughen up I know...

How are you all doing today? He's managed a 20 min nap in his pram (almost unheard of!) but is crying now and is either still tired or hungry, but will fuss when put to the boob...

Ladies- ds just grabbed toast off my plate!!! Shoved it in his gob soo fast!! Took it back due to gluten etc, flip- should I start weaning?? Have posted in weaning too x

Tickle, have you tried a sling? It's been a godsend for me, especially with a three year old to entertain too!

Mampig, I think weaning is on the cards for you! good luck :)

Birnam: I have 3 slings/carriers - the Babasling, which I can't get along with at all; the Moby, which is great - suppose I don't use it enough really; and a carrier from mothercare, which I'm going to try him in this week. I'm new to all this babywearing stuff (well... New to baby-everything to be honest) but I'd love something idiot proof, easy to just stick on, get baby in and be easy to get him out quickly (he bores easily!)

Was considering a ring sling or a mei tai but no idea what I'm looking for to be honest!

Glad you are finding them useful, perhaps I need to persevere. Although I'd love to just take him for a nice relaxing pram ride without it turning into WW3

Wow Mampig - BLW already!

My DD is 25th centile and 50th for length so not high centile here.

I also sling her a lot as she needs to be held A LOT. Also hates the car seat so I know your problem there! Try to get out even so, but am limited to 10min drives mainly - she loses it if they're longer.

We're jusy off out for our afternoon sling-walk (will yell in the pram...)

Sorry that made me :)

I have a moby. And for the first time today put him forward facing which he loved and kept him occupied for longer (and I got a bit paranoid because everyone kept looking at me until I realised ds was grinning at everyone ) I have a baby bjorn too but I've not tried him in that yet.

It's tempting to keep buying things to try and 'solve' a problem, but I've learnt from ds1 that there isn't a quick fix and I've just got to grit my teeth and persevere as THIS TOO WILL PASS...(I'm sick to the back teeth of that bloody saying!)

I hope your lo passes through this phase soon and you can get out more, failing that, drink

Thanks B, I'm terrible with looking for 'stuff' and gimmicks that might make everything better/easier, DH always pulls me up on it. I do love the Moby, so think I'll keep at it.

Am hoping that as DS gets older and a bit more mobile, he will become a little less needy...

Keep repeating that saying over and over... :)

Tickle- as a mum of 4, please stop buying!! truly, your baby wants you!! Nothing less will do. I've bought so many things and toys etc in the past in the hope of keeping them quiet entertained, but everything you buy- they want or need you to play with them- just the way they are programmed!! So use your money for facials, treats for yourself and some time out- wish someone had told me to do that when number1 came along.

My tuppence on slings:

Baby Bjorns are horrible. They carry the infant on his seat bones and don't support his hips properly. If you look at a baby in a BB compared to a Mei Tai or a wrap (eg Moby) you can see how the legs dangling in a BB, rather than knees higher than hips in a supportive wrap which is not good for the hips, spine or crotch. They're not comfortable to wear with a baby older than about 4 months, either.

Ideally babies are best worn tummy to tummy or on your back, not their back to your tummy. This is because their spine is best supported in a rounded position, and facing out it gets tipped backwards. On the other hand with some babies this is the only position they'll accept and with a good wrap or Mei Tai it's much better than with a BB.

Baba slings are "ok" but you really need an experienced sling wearer to adjust it for you. A ring sling is harder to work out but far more comfortable. One shoulder slings are great for "popping", ie you can put the baby in and out really quickly so brilliant for nipping into a shop. How long you can carry in a one shoulder sling depends on your strength and your baby's weight.

A stretchy sling is never, ever suitable for a back carry. You can migrate to a woven wrap (which takes loads of practise but is the most comfortable of all), or a Mei Tai is quite easy to do a back carry with.

BTW once a baby can sit up a hip carry is a great carry with a one shoulder sling.

organiccarrotcake Thanks for that! I've actually been looking at another sling as my stretchy stretches too much unless I tie it too tight for comfort, and had considered a woven for back carries - so you think they need lots of practise? Would I be better off with a mei tai?

It took me a month to learn to use my woven (and I'm an experienced carrier). But it was worth it - it's fab. I still use the MT when I want a quick throw-on-back as it's much faster to tie (although if you wrap all the time it will only take a moment).

Would you be better off? Can't answer that as I use both in different circumstances. Get both . Maybe depends on how long you plan to carry for. I carried DS1 until he was 2 1/2 (with a MT, didn't have a wrap then). At that stage I couldn't carry him for more than 20-30 minutes but that was fine as it was just to give him a break from walking. Really, although in that case a wrap would have been more comfy, the smaller amount of fabric in a MT was good as I just tied it round my tummy when he was walking.

Carrot, I hope you don't mind me asking, but how do you tie a moby to carry on your back? do you have to a. Be a contortionist. b.have someone to help you (Im a sahm so am quite often on my own) or c. Wrap the baby in the sling then tie it on your back with string? :) I can't work it out!

Well I am loving carrying her (and hating my very expensive travel system that I thought I would love.... a whole other thread there) so may be carrying for a while!

Would a very tall DP get on with a shared mei tai would you think? He hates the stretchy so uses a borrowed babybjorn, which I hate because I think she lookes uncomfortable in it....

Wow, I've just been looking on you tube to see how to carry ds on my back with the moby....I don't think I'll be doing it after watching Anyone know where I can get a cheap woven wrap from?!

I'll have to fight you for them!