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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

6 weeks old still demands food every 2 hours

15 replies

Sandra2011 · 31/03/2012 18:56

My son is currently 6 weeks old and a very hungry boy. I only managed to (partly) breast feed him for 3 weeks.

He has 100ml of Cow & Gate ready to feed milk every 2 hours, day and night.
Two days ago we started giving him Cow & Gate hungrier baby milk, which according to our HV should be done gradually starting with one feed per day.

I haven't noticed any difference with that, maybe we need to give more time until we see proper results.

At birth he was 3.3kg / 7.7 lbs, now at 6 weeks 4.1kg / 9 lbs. So he was/is normal weight and length.

I also had a severe hip pain during the last 4 months of pregnancy so haven't had a proper nights sleep in about 6 months. So mummy is a bit tired :)

How often and much does your similar age baby eat?

OP posts:
tiktok · 31/03/2012 19:21

This is a normal feeding frequency for a baby of this age, sandra - best thing to do is to accommodate it how you can, with help from others and lowering expectations for all the other stuff you might do. Do you have help and support?

LittleWaveyLines · 31/03/2012 20:05

My 9 month old feeds every 2 hours day and night and has always done so.... you do get used to the broken sleep (although the 4 month mark was a killer for some reason) - although I breastfeed so don't have the hassle of making bottles up - but then can't get anyone else to do a feed! (Also had SPD in pregnancy so I know where you are coming from...)

To cope, if nothing else changes, I recommend a walk in the morning when you feel worst, rest when the baby does, sod the housework, and eat chocolate! Grin

Hope you get some help occasionally to get a longer stretch...

charitygirl · 31/03/2012 20:12

2 hours is totally normal I think - my 4 monther was going a bit longer than that but stopped gaining weight so I started (firmly!) offering the breast every 2 hours in the day (and probably every 3 at night - he woke for it though) and weight gain restarted. I think it's a very normal pattern at 6 weeks, but I know its a killer at night. Good luck.

ArcticRain · 31/03/2012 20:19

My 16 weeker feeds every 3 hours during the day and every 2 during the night . Some weeks it doesn't bother me , some weeks it feel like I'm very tired and irritable . Those weeks I don't drive , I watch tv and eat high energy food . I've resigned myself to it now and accepted it , and its become easier .

She's had D and V this week and feeding for a few minutes every hour , bless her .

Grumpla · 31/03/2012 20:27

My five week old is about the same, one or two feeds in every 24 he will have about 150mls and the go about 3.5 hours to the next feed, the rest of the time he has about 100mls every couple of hours.

What I find helpful is going to bed early (about 9/10pm) and leaving DH to do bedtime feed at about 11pm, then I do the first night feed at 2ish. Gives me a first "block" of sleep, as long as that is over 3 hours I'm usually okay the next day!

showtunesgirl · 31/03/2012 20:28

My DD fed very frequently at 6 weeks too and I gather that's pretty normal. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to say regarding how much formula as I EBF.

TiddlerIsTardy · 31/03/2012 20:38

My 8 month old rarely goes more than 3 (bf though). At 6 weeks they can cluster feed too - it is normal I'm afraid. Get as much rest as you can & roll with it. This too shall pass.

LittleWaveyLines · 31/03/2012 20:46

To be honest I probably don't go much more than 2 hours without a drink or snack either at the moment! Grin

... right, now where was that chocolate?!....

Original poster
Sandra2011 · 31/03/2012 21:54

My older son started sleeping through the night when he was 3 months old.... so fingers crossed :)

Grumpla That is exactly what me and my DH do. I go to bed when my 2.5 year old goes... around 9pm. Then poor DH stays up til 1am and then brings baby to me.
But after 9pm I have my shower so cannot go to be immediately. I feel soooo tired all the time. I cannot even count how much coffee I drink these days.

3 hours of sleep is not enough for me and I've never been able to sleep during the day :(

OP posts:
LittleWaveyLines · 31/03/2012 22:04

I would love to get 3 hours sleep... forgotten what that is like after 9 months!

TheSecondComing · 31/03/2012 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Belmo · 31/03/2012 22:52

My 6 month old feeds at least every 2 hours during the day, and 2-3 hours at night. She did sleep through once at about 12 weeks but has never done it since!

mathanxiety · 01/04/2012 07:07

Stop drinking the coffee or cut down a lot.
Find a physical therapist to help with your hip. I had hip pain and it's a killer.
Try to get out for a walk every day even if you feel you are half dead.

Every two hours sounds about normal for a six week old, sad to say. You can look for ward to a longer stretch between feeds when he gets to about 12 lbs and maybe even try cutting back a small hours of the morning feed at about 15 lbs. Have you tried a little extra in the bottles? Does he drain every bottle he gets?

Original poster
Sandra2011 · 01/04/2012 08:05

I had hip pain last 4 months of my pregnancy. It luckily disappeared after I gave birth. Reason was low lying baby. Now it's good as new.

He only drinks 100ml. I have tried to give more but that's all he takes.
This is not my first baby so I have tried all the tricks.

I will do as Health Visitor recommended and give hungrier baby milk and see what happens.

I do get out alot as I mentioned earlier I have a very energetic 2.5 year old son.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sandra2011 · 01/04/2012 08:06

After last nights hugry baby milk he slept 4 hours!

I feel like a new woman now :)

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