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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Hourly night time feeds for 5month old ????

20 replies

WriggleJiggle · 16/09/2006 23:08

Help! Baby has woken up again for a feed (b/f). Surely at 5 months old she can last a little longer? She used to go 4-6 hours until only a few weeks ago.

I've just offered water - which she hated - and put her back down again, but she is screaming. Feels like I'm being used just for comfort during the night times.

Should I have fed her just now? What should I do?

OP posts:

auntymandy · 16/09/2006 23:11

if you dont feed her does she go back to sleep?
Does she have a good feed at bed time?

hairymclary · 16/09/2006 23:12

she may be going through a growth spurt. how long does she feed for each time? can you try and get her to take a bit more?

Original poster

WriggleJiggle · 16/09/2006 23:14

She had a realy good feed at bedtime. During the day she is regular as clockwork with 4 hourly feedings.

Just about to check if she's asleep yet.

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 16/09/2006 23:16

WJ, can you fit in another feed during the day - how many is she having?

Four hourly plus a decent stretch of sleep at night may not be enough.

auntymandy · 16/09/2006 23:17

well she can be crying very loudly!!!!

FillyjonktheBananaEater · 16/09/2006 23:21

at 5 months its probably a growth spurt, it won't last that long.

Also, she's getting more aware of the world, more aware that actually, you aren't her...and nightime is scary. Yes, you are being used for comfort

I would say don't offer her water though, btw. Bf babies don't need it.

Original poster

WriggleJiggle · 16/09/2006 23:30

The cries turn to quiet sobs when I go in and let her know I'm there, then return to screams of course as soon as I put her down. I don't want to feed her if its just for comfort, but if its a growth spurt then thats totally different.
What do I do?

OP posts:

hairymclary · 16/09/2006 23:32

I would feed her personally. she's only little

hunkermunker · 16/09/2006 23:34

Why don't you want to feed her if it's just for comfort?

She's your baby, you have something you can comfort her with - there's no way anyone can tell you on here, or by looking at her, whether she's hungry or not - I would feed her. Otherwise all you're doing is upsetting you both.

If you feed her, she gets food/comfort and you get a lovely release of bfeeding hormone. Win/win situation

hairymclary · 16/09/2006 23:35

plus, you never know, she may have a nice long feed now and then have a bit longer sleep.

auntymandy · 16/09/2006 23:36

but if you are tired and dont feel like feeding her and you dont think she is hungry, thats ok too. If you can/want to make her go an hour and a half so she will take a bit more and maybe sleep a bit more, try that!

Original poster

WriggleJiggle · 16/09/2006 23:37

Ok, off to cuddle and feed my little muncher. Need to think of some good responses for all those 'well meaning' people who keep asking if shes sleeping through yet, and 'shouldn't she be going 6 hours between feeds by now etc etc.

Thanks to all

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/09/2006 23:37

I second everything hunker said.

archiesmummy · 16/09/2006 23:39

If it helps, DS behaved like this for a short time around 5-6 months. Never understood if it was teething, growth spurt or something else but one night I lost count of the times I fed him (after 10 times )
And I just like to say that I agree with Hunkermunker re the comfort.
Good luck

hairymclary · 16/09/2006 23:40

you could also try co-sleeping so that you don't have to get up every time she wants feeding

hunkermunker · 16/09/2006 23:46

WJ, six hours between feeds during the day? Ask anyone who asks that particularly dim question "how long do you go without putting some food or drink in your mouth?" - it won't be six hours.

As for "is she sleeping through?" you could try "no, she's a baby" or "aren't you minding your own business yet?" depending on how little sleep you've had

hairymclary · 16/09/2006 23:50

when people asked me if ds was sleeping through (pretty much from birth onwards!) I just used to say "no" and give them a look like "why would you think that???" lol

hairymclary · 16/09/2006 23:51

altyhough, annoying though it is I think half the time people just want something to say. which in itself is rather stupid.
I can't believe that so many people would truly expect a tiny baby to be sleeping through, it's just one of "the" questions that people ask.

along with
"are you still feeding him?" (no, i'm starving him now)
"is he good?"
"does he cry a lot?"

etc etc

Astrophe · 17/09/2006 00:03

If it makes you feel any better, my DS is 6 months and is doing the same. Is not sleeping through, never really has. But when people say "ooh, is he a naughty baby then?" I want to slap them. HE'S 6 MONTHS OLD!!! Obviously it drives me mad and I wish he'd sleep, but hes hardly 'naughty'. Grrrrr. Sorry. I just feed (and sob, if its been a bad night) then go back to sleep.

Original poster

WriggleJiggle · 17/09/2006 17:12

Just gone back online again and read thelast few posts . Strange how the daytime puts everything in perspective again. She'll sleep through when she is ready and old enough to, and feed when she needs to .
Must try and remember how lucky I am to have such a georgeous little girl.

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