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Infant feeding

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

6mo EBF wants to feed all the time - should I introduce a follow on milk or formula?

7 replies

Smicha · 21/03/2013 09:22

My DS is 25 weeks and is EBF on demand. He has always liked his milk but would go 2-3 hours through the day between feeds, sometimes more. He sleeps well at night, goes down at 7ish and wakes sometime between 2 and 4 for a feed then back to sleep until around 5 or 6. In the last few weeks, however, he has started to demand milk every hour and a half to two hours during the day. If he hasn't been offered the boob by the two hour mark he is screaming! Many times he'll only go just over an hour. Last week I started to give him a little bit of fruit and vegetables, mainly root veg, pear and banana, to see if that would help prolong the intervals between feeds... it hasn't yet! He will eat the food, and really enjoys it, but then wants milk almost immediately after.

My question is, could it be that my milk is no longer satisfying him and should I perhaps move to a follow on milk or formula for some of his milk feeds? Or is this just normal and at six months the milk is no longer enough, hence the introduction of solids? (I guess that seems obvious, but his desire for more milk even with some solids has surprised me.) As he's six months next week I plan to introduce some protein and carbs which I hope will help and I'd rather stick with BF, simply because I find it so easy now, but it just feels a bit relentless at the moment!

TIA.

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DorsetLass · 21/03/2013 09:28

Do you want to continue EBF alongside solids? If so I would increase his food, and ensure he is also having some waterto ensure he's not just thirsty. Make sure you are still eating well and drinking lots to produce enough milk.

If you're not worried about EBF then you could give him some formla - you will at least know he is getting enough milk. It does sound like he's just hungry - but also worth making sure he's just not slipping into regular 'snack' feeding a it sounds like he's been getting into a good routine. You don't want to end up exhausted as he's feedin so often.

Smicha · 21/03/2013 09:37

Thanks Dorsetlass. Yes, I do want to continue EBF and I am trying him with a tippy cup of water too. He seems to be able to take it... although lots more water does end up on him rather than in him! I think you're right that he is snacking and it is now time to up his solid intake!

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DorsetLass · 21/03/2013 09:43

Persevere with tippy cup as you can then bypass bottles completely and then keep BF - just another thought you've not started exercising more/upped your normal activity? Could affect milk supply??
I'd go for getting more food in - sounds like you're doing a great job though - good luck!

Smicha · 21/03/2013 10:02

Yes I have! I've started running again in the last few weeks - does that make a difference? I didn't think of that!

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DorsetLass · 21/03/2013 10:37

I think he's def at age where needs more food primarily - but I found that exercise tailed off my milk supply - worth considering but I think get more food in and see how you go!

tiktok · 21/03/2013 11:28

Exercise has no effect on milk supply either quantity or quality - there's no reason physiologically, and no evidence for it in research (its been looked at).

Any link between exercise and baby's needs/behaviour is to do with something else, or just coincidence.

OP, you are describing one of the behavioural changes that happen to all babies at various times. He may be needing more to eat/drink at present, too. The veg you are giving him, even the banana, will not add up to many extra calories (you could do the maths yourself and work it out, but there's not much in small amounts of any of the items you are giving). So he may be hungry for more breastmilk. If you are happy to feed him more often, and it sounds as if you are, then it's fine to do this :)

Smicha · 23/03/2013 08:05

Thanks TikTok, I am more than happy to keep feeding him as it is one of the few times he's nice and still and cuddly these days Smile

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