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

[SpottyTeacakes]

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 please tell me it gets better?

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

[CitrusyOne]

It might change when you start solids? Who knows!

[SpottyTeacakes]

My pump is broken at the moment but I have some in the freezer I was going to try in a cup. In a bottle he will take about 2oz but seem happy with that.

He will take a dummy maybe once every few weeks he loved it in SCBU then he found his thumb but has now given up on that! At least he goes down nicely after night feeds, but only since putting him on his tummy.

I've considered mixed feeding as a last resort thought once I've started weaning him I might introduce a formula dream feed.

[haggisaggis]

My dd is now 11 (years - not months!) so probably shouldn't post here - but she was like this. Worse in fact - it was around hourly through the night. But we co-slept (I went back to work when she was about 5 months - so only option to get ANY sleep). Ended up doing cc with her when she was about 8 months just to get some sleep as I was working. However - it does pass, eventually! She is now the most wonderful 11 year old you could possibly meet. (and sorry but formula / weaning made NO difference - it was the control crying which eventually got my life back, but know that's not popular on here now).
Not very helpful but just trying to reiterate it is a short stage that does pass eventually..

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

What about expressing milk ? See if he will take bigger quantities from a cup or bottle?

Is he comfort sucking would a dummy help?

Is mix feeding an option so you can get a break?

[SpottyTeacakes]

Unfortunately citrusy ds has always been like this I have those same feelings re formula though so nice to know I'm not alone!

[CitrusyOne]

My advice contradicts gecko's!

Go with what you think!!

[CitrusyOne]

Ahhhh, I can reassure you! I was going through the same thing with dd at five and a half months. She'd been a good sleeper before that and then went to every two hours day and night. Hv said that there's a huge growth spurt at five and a half months and go with it if I could, it's not a sign that she's ready for solids and it will pass. I was almost demented, but did what I was advised too. Dd is now six and a half months, she's made a start on solids- mainly finger food- but is loving it, and feeds are down to one boob every 3-4 hours or so. Oh, and more importantly, sleeping from 7pm til around 1:30am, then til around 6:30am.

Dd is still bfed (no formula). At our sleep deprived worst I thought it would never pass but we're in a much calmer place now!

You're doing a wonderful thing by breastfeeding- when I was up at 4am doing the 3rd feed of the night, I remember thinking 'she'd be sleeping if I gave her formula.' But now we're through it I'm proud that we did it! Keep at it xx

[Geckoandthemonkey]

Start your dc on solids. It's ok to start bfing on a sort of a routine. Introduce water in a sippy cup (dc may be thirsty during the night as weather is warming up). I would also replace half a bf with 1 fromage frais then move onto 2 to eventually replace an entire feed, during the day, 10am or 3pm bf.

Finally, consider co-sleeping.

I follow a similar 'routine' with dc (12m) & he's now sleeping through 8-6. He has on average 4 bf 6am-8pm, each vary in length. We do co-sleep, onlya small sacrifice, as I get zzzzz.

[SpottyTeacakes]

Yep that's why I haven't weaned him 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?

[TanteRose]

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

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

[SpottyTeacakes]

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

[Forgetfulmog]

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

[SpottyTeacakes]

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

[SpottyTeacakes]

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

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

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

[Justawake]

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]

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!

[Mosschops30]

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

[Mosschops30]

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

[squiddle]

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.

[SpottyTeacakes]

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

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

[Mosschops30]

Did your dc always feed this frequently?

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

[SpottyTeacakes]

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

[MsElisaDay]

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.

[SpottyTeacakes]

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 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