7wo feeding every 3 hours in day but every 1.5/2 hours at night

[NichyNoo]

DS2 is 7 weeks old and EBF. He tends to feed every 3 hours during the day. Quick 10 minute feeds each time but is putting on lots of weight so no issues with that.

However, recently he has started waking for a feed every 2 hours or even every 1.5 hours at night. Sometimes to only feed for 4 minutes before falling asleep or clamping his mouth shut and refusing to take any more. The lack of sleep is killing me (also have a 2.5 year old so can't sleep during the day). I can't just let him cry and try to settle him without a feed as his crying will wake DS2. I have no idea what to do...any ideas please? Thank you.

Poor you, how exhausting. It sounds totally normal, though I know that doesn't help!

Are you co sleeping? If not could you try it? Lots of mums find they get more sleep that way.

This too shall pass!

Sounds exactly like us - here with 3 wk old! I have 3 other DCs so appreciate your pain. I am co-sleeping to get some rest as CelticPromise suggests. It will pass! I try in the evenings to waken her a bit more to get in a few more feeds before bed. My girl though tends to then feed for about 20 mins. If your DS is only feeding for such a short time, is there anything else you can identify as waking him? He could just be looking for comfort maybe?

Have you tried offering feeds more often in the daytime - especially in the evening?

Watching with interest - DS is 18 weeks and still doing this...also have 2.5 year old so no rest in the day. Feel like I'm losing the plot!

Glad I'm not alone! He tends to cluster feed in the evening so maybe once an hour between 7pm-9.30pm before finally falling asleep. He can then go for as long as 4 hours until the next feed (it goes without saying that I go to bed when he does to try and profit from this 4 hours!) but after that it is every 1.5-2 hours. He'll then have a long nap in the morning and start the 3 hour daytime cycle.

Also watching with interest - have 3 wk old DS and 2.5. Yr old also. I coping with the 1.5-2 hourly feeds at present but only as I hope they extend! My DS also only feeds for 7-10 mins before falling sound asleep. Though is wide awake the minute I put him in moses...

Hi there. I have a six day old DD & I too have been experiencing this. I mentioned it to my midwife and she said this is completely normal. Apparently Mums' hormone Prolactin is in higher concentration at night. This is passed onto baby which triggers a need for them to feed more regularly at night. Not sure as to the evolutionary rationale for this, but there does seem to be some science to it.