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!)

[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.

[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

[CitrusyOne]

My advice contradicts gecko's!

Go with what you think!!

[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!

[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?

[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..

[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.

[CitrusyOne]

It might change when you start solids? Who knows!