"It's because you're bf that DS is having such bad nights" Argh!

[Bart1maeus]

Yes, a relative actually said that to me.

3.5month old DS was sleeping like a dream a few weeks ago (1 wake to feed per night). Now he wakes every hour, either to feed or because his tummy hurts (think it's colic?). And as he is ebf I've been told it's basically my fault

Worse is that I'm so tired I'm beginning to doubt myself. I don't mind bf meaning DS has to feed more frequently but I would hate for me to be the cause of his tummy pain.

Please reassure me that it's not bf causing the sleeping problems!

Research has shown that BF mum's acutaly get on average 20minutes more sleep a night.

Formula is hard to digest and if a baby is having tummy problems could possibly make it worse not help.

Do you have a local BF dropin group you could go to, often they are run through the surestart childrens centures.

No - its not bf, its his age! the 4 month (or thereabouts) sleep 'regression'.

DD used to sleep 10pm-8am almost from birth! Then, around 3.5 months she started waking every hour, now .at 5.5 she wakes every two/three hours or so - i'm trying the 'no-cry-sleep-solution'.

My ff friends have hit this too - so please don't believe your milk isn't enough.

If he is going to be a colicky baby then he will be a colicky baby however he is fed.

Try propping up the head end of his crib if you can that sometimes helps or let him sit up for a bit immediately after a feed.(You can use a bouncy chair or car seat. Not to say it's your fault but try keeping a food diary in case something you are eating makes him worse.

A lot of people say what your relative said, just ignore them.

Yep, I agree about his age! If you want to learn more about infant sleep then Nighttime Parenting by Dr Sears is really good, there are sciency bits and practical tips too.

It is not your fault at all, by EBF you are giving him the best start :) this behaviour is totally normal but if you are worried then going to a BF group might help reassure you. Here's a list of LLL groups.

My DS was exactly the same. He slept really well til about 4 months then picked up the night feeds again. We still co sleep and He is 7 months now and still has nights where it feels Like he is latched all night! Sounds all normal to me!

2 BF babies - one slept through the night at 3 months! And I mean 12 hours. Second one was ill a lot so not so easy - but we got though it by co-sleeping, in fact he still does. I used to wake up 6 hours later still in the same position and really very well rested. In other words, it's total crap.

Defo the age, 16w old DD now has a night feed when she went without for weeks. It's good for the supply though :-)