Reverse cycling

[CuriosityCola]

Ds will only feed for a couple of minutes at a time during the day. If he feeds any longer (about 5 mins max!) it is to go to sleep. I have previously been happy co-sleeping, but all night feeding is leaving me exhausted.

Have tried feeding in a darkened room, there is still always something interesting to look at though!

Posted to soon. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated it. I have gone from loving breastfeeding to feeling trapped and quite down. Was considering switching to formula, but I think it is just a case of the grass seeming greener. Ds is 6 months, doesn't self settle and only naps in the sling/pushchair during the day.

CC how often does he feed during the day? If it is 3 hourly or less you may want to feed more often. Have you read kellymom on reverse cycling too?

Can see why formula would be tempting but try to remember that its not a magic formula and there is no guarantee that you will get more sleep. In fact you could be getting less sleep if you switch as you would have to deal with the bottles too. Have a look at what Kellymom has to say.

Dr Sears has some good tips for dealing with nights and have you read the No Cry Sleep Solution?.

I'm going through a similar thing at the moment with my 4mo. His feeding cues have all but disappeared and he is so easily distracted it's not funny.

The more frequent nursing JJJ has mentioned in addition to feeding in the most boring place possible seems to have worked for us, I think sometimes he doesn't realise how hungry he is until I offer him food. DS has been sleeping for longer during the day and for two nights in a row slept through for the first time ever.

Last night unfortunately has been a different story, he's been feeding every two hours around the clock but I'm hoping I can put that down to the four month growth spurt...

Not sure if the above will help but I posted something similar recently and found it a huge comfort knowing others were in a similar situation :)

Looby if your DS is feeding more frequently it could well be the 4 month growth spurt.

Thanks JJJ I suspected as much, reminds me of the early days when I could barely leave the sofa! Am hoping once it passes he will sleep through again...

Thanks for the advice JJJ. I have read the Kelly's mom website and have the no cry sleep solution (will hunt it out again). The problem is that during the night he is sleepily feeding on and off constantly. I could handle two hourly feeds. I don't like to refuse him though as I know he isn't getting enough during the day. I have tried offering more and offering less during the day. I have stayed in more and fed him somewhere with less distractions. If he latches on for three minutes I'm lucky. He then flops back (unlatching first if I'm lucky) and cries if I offer him more.

I thought at first it was the 4 month regression. After two months of refusing the breast during the day and cluster feeding all night I'm shattered and I'm getting sore boobs from the on/off messing about.