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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Does/did anyone else's 5 1/2 mo feed two hourly day and night?

33 replies

SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 06:14

Because I'm seriously losing the will to live. I can't see it ever getting better. I'm knackered it just never stops! The night before last he did an amazing 5 hour stretch, but back to two hourly last night Sad please tell me it gets better?

(Ds is dc2 but dd was ff and completely different!)

OP posts:
Forgetfulmog · 09/05/2013 06:17

Yes mine did (she's 8 mo) & she still does during the day, but tends to go a little but longer at night now. You kinda get used to it Smile

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 06:28

I don't want to get used to it! Grin

OP posts:
Mosschops30 · 09/05/2013 06:35

Have you started weaning?

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 06:37

No not yet. I don't think he's ready? (He was five weeks early if that makes a deference)

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 09/05/2013 07:37

Mine got better at 7 months and started stretching feeds to 3 hours. I didn't know what to do with myself!

MsElisaDay · 09/05/2013 07:55

Yes! And I really, really struggled. He fed around every 3hrs in the day and night and, like you, I couldn't see it getting any better.

But then it suddenly did. At 6.5 months, now he goes 11pm to 7am without a feed. He wakes up once or twice at night still, but clearly isn't hungry as he settles back down happily without boob being offered.

For us, it was solids that did it. Good luck!

YokoUhOh · 09/05/2013 08:08

DS is 6mo and has just started to go far longer at night but he still feeds all the time during the day. We're doing BLW so he doesn't get much in the way of solids. I'm trying to be relaxed about it - he'll have to go much, much longer without boob when I go back to work!

Forgetfulmog · 09/05/2013 08:22

Yy yoko, dd is doing BLW too & is the same regarding feeds. I sympathise OP!

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 08:44

Elisa I would love for ds to go three hourly during the day!

At night he seems to be snacking. He only ever feeds for ten minutes but in the night it's more like five Hmm he's worse than when I first brought him home!

When I do wean I'm going to do a mixture of mashed and finger food so I suppose that might make a difference Confused

OP posts:
MsElisaDay · 09/05/2013 10:38

My DS also definitely snacked at night at that age, often only doing five minutes and only wanting one side. But I didn't attempt to change it and he just stopped of his own accord at just over six months. I think perhaps his teeth were hurting him and he wanted the comfort.

We're doing a mix of mashed and finger food too. I know it's not supposed to help them sleep better as there's more calories in milk, but I think for us it has definitely made the difference.

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 14:13

Every 90 minutes today Sad good job poor dd is at MIL's getting some attention

OP posts:
Mosschops30 · 09/05/2013 15:18

Did your dc always feed this frequently?

I seriously think you should consider weaning if you value your sanity

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 15:22

Well in SCBU it was kind of three hourly once I was allowed to bf, once we'd been an home a while it was 90 minutes then I got it up to two hourly...so in answer to your question yes Grin

I did try a bit of purée but tbh it didn't make him go any longer.

OP posts:
squiddle · 09/05/2013 15:25

Mine did. It made me feel desperate too - especially as she would feed for an hour at a time. I introduced a bottle at five months for some feeds (my nutritionist friend who specialises in infant nutrition said it was much better to give them milk than food - it is more calorie-rich and easier digested; food doesn't really matter that much until they are a year).

I felt a bit of a failure because most of my friends did ebf much longer and I wanted to be perfect? eight years down the line that seems just plain silly!!!! Honestly, you have done brilliantly - your baby has had a great start. So you should just do what suits you now.

Mosschops30 · 09/05/2013 18:08

Just feed him fgs, start giving him foods, puréed veg and fruit, see how much he will take

Mosschops30 · 09/05/2013 18:10

Food doesn't matter until a year - what bollocks! Sorry but you can't post that and not expect me to ignore it

Justawake · 09/05/2013 19:12

Yes i am in exactly the same place with my 5 1/2 month old and its a killer! For 3 months i've had no more than 2 hous sleep in a row (previous to that he was doing 3 hour stretches) and i'm just hoping for a change soon!

Justawake · 09/05/2013 19:12

Yes i am in exactly the same place with my 5 1/2 month old and its a killer! For 3 months i've had no more than 2 hous sleep in a row (previous to that he was doing 3 hour stretches) and i'm just hoping for a change soon!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/05/2013 19:18

Yes, breast milk is very easily digested. Food takes longer. Guess which baby's tummy will be empty first?

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 09/05/2013 20:38

I will start weaning him in a couple if weeks but he's only 17 weeks corrected. Hopefully it will make a difference Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 10/05/2013 09:35

He did one stretch of five hours last night, why can't he do that every night?!

OP posts:
Forgetfulmog · 10/05/2013 09:38

Yay! My dd did a 4.5 hr stretch too! & she woke up for the day at 6.10 instead of 5.20!

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 10/05/2013 09:45

Must be something in the air! I'm expecting a bad night tonight Wink

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TanteRose · 10/05/2013 09:47

be careful though

if you start giving too many solids, in the hope that it will "fill him up", he won't be getting enough calories and will start breastfeeding MORE to make up for it Confused

yes, the food takes "longer" to digest, but his immature digestive system will mean that a lot of it won't be "digested" at all, and the calories/nutrients will be wasted.

He will get there eventually - don't expect miracles though

will keep fingers crossed that you get more sleep soon Smile

Original poster
SpottyTeacakes · 10/05/2013 09:49

Yep that's why I haven't weaned him Smile I'm going to wait until six months and go slowly. I just wish he would do a few long feeds rather than lots of short ones but I think that's usual really isn't it?

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