Night Feeders Part 5. Calling all women who find themselves feeding when they'd rather be sleeping!!

[Writerwannabe83]

This is a thread for anyone who wants support when things seem tough - especially for the women whose babies don't like sleep!!

We'll do the usual introductions:

I'm a first time mom to my 6 month old, EBF son. It's been a rocky few months, lots of ups and downs but we've finally reached a point where he's asleep by 7.30pm and only waking once during the night.

He very rarely naps in the day - and when he does it's only when he's in the car or his pushchair. It's very frustrating!!

And the last little thing about us is that we have just started the weaning journey - it's fun but messy!!

Had first wake/feed at 1am and again now.

Had DS1 Hunter in the room with us til he was 8/9 months just because we didn't want to be without him!!!

This time shall only move ryder when he's sleeping 7pm-7am with no wake ups/night feeds as the boys will be sharing and don't want H disrupted.

Guidelines are 6 months to reduced SIDS risks.

Wow someone is a hungry little monkey tonight. Wanting 2,3,4 sides before satisfied... On the plus side my boobs are as comfortably empty as they've been all week!! I think there is a 2 week growth spurt if I remember right.

Bedtime routine- ours turned up sometime between 3 and 6 months god I can't remember! When the daytime naps were at reliable times. It was just a simple thing at first and kind of evolved naturally over time. At 2 years old it is quite fixed now- wind down from 6.30Pm, bath on some days, cup of milk, 7pm say goodnight to mummy baby and the cats, night nappy and pjs on, story with daddy, in sleeping bag, lights out, in cot.

I def wouldn't worry about one at a few weeks old though the differentiating night from day thing is probably helpful (exposing them to natural light in the day is the best thing for that I think)

We moved dd1 into her own room at 9 months and DP was quite resistant- he loves co sleeping... I on the other hand was failing to sleep through her thrashing and had to go back to work... She still had a night feed till about 14 months.

cannot delighted to hear all is better than hoped!!

Up for the 2nd time tonight- at least he's having 4 hour blocks as opposed to 2-3 hours when he's been at his worst.

He woke up soaked again, two layers of clothing and his sleep bag. We've had this problem for the last 3-4 nights and it must be contributing to him waking up. We even put him in the next size up nappy tonight to see if that would make a difference but obviously not. With his bedtime being earlier it means his evening nappy change before bed is between 6.30-7pm and so it means he's wearing it for about 10 hours and then he wakes up because it's leaked. Am I supposed to just randomly wake him to change his nappy earlier to prevent a leak overnight? All suggestions welcome as to how to cope with this.

When I was changing him he was screaming the place down, really distressed screaming which I think if because of his reflux. Thankfully I was able to get his medication so things should improve over the next 2-3 days as it starts to take effect.

I've given him some Nurofen as he's still constantly pulling at his ears. Maybe teething is waking him up - it's just a guessing game

Majorly hacked off with my amazing DP tonight, men do let them selves down they are never consistent. I was tired tonight so wanted to head to bed early, DP came too (he's a massive sleeper) but put DS down and he woke straight away. So DP is asleep and up still trying to get DS off to sleep! DP has to be up earlier today for work and he usually takes DS off me but I can already tell that's not Gona happen. I just put DS next to him screaming his head off...took him a while but he picked him up but now DS is beyond consolable and only boob will do aaarrrrrhhhhh
Am I being to harsh on DP as I'm tired?

writer have you had him checked for an ear infection? Lying down makes the pain worse. Have you thought about doubling up the nappies?

Ds fed every 2hrs during the day, last feed was 11pm. He just woke up at 5! That's the longest he has gone at night :)

Other than the occasional bad night, DD seems to have settled into the pattern of the first sleep being 3.5 hours, but for the rest if the night she manages max of 1.5 hrs between feeds. She only has small feeds, just enough to take the edge off her hunger I'd guess, then she zonks on me. I'd love to get her to have a proper feed as then she should go longer. Any ideas? I don't want to risk waking her as then she becomes a nightmare and won't settle until morning. I have to avoid nappy changes through the night for exactly this reason.

How can I get her to take a full feed without waking her up fully?! Seems like an impossible problem to solve

DH had to leave for work early so no extra hour for me! Saying that there was a 3.45 wake up and then about 7. So his gaps were longer and only two 'night' feeds which I class as anything between 11-6. He's now gone back to sleep on my knees, do I stick him next to me and lie in, or get up? We usually get up at 7.30 as DH leaves then. So tempted to stay in bed...

Redling stay in bed!!!
I just done exactly that and put DS next to me but he woke again! I just want to be able to snuggle under the duvet and not fall asleep sat up!

I don't know about the nappy issue writer, I put DS in one from about 11 until we get up or he poos. Pampers can hold this much, Superdrug ones didn't, Asda ones did. But I know when he gets bigger and wee's more and (possibly) sleeps longer then leaks will be happening. He kicks up a huge fuss at night changes which is why I don't want to do it even if he is feeding, keep him quiet and sleepy .

Writer since swapping back to Aldi Mamia nappies no leaks here and Ryder's nappy is on from 6.50pm-7/8am

When DH got up at 6, I just moved the sleepy head and went back to sleep!

Several mammoth poos and long feeds overnight. All good n healthy but she grizzled on her bed 11-1. Fine 8-11 o clock feed and 1-6 (then 6.30-9!! Lol).
Normally she sleeps through DHS snoring, think she was a bit windy and gurgly in the tummy till the largest of the poos was done!

Out of interest: if baby is sleepy and happy in sleepy head or moses basket (she's almost 1 month-can't get up to much) it's ok to nip off for a shower? Otherwise I have to move her into a bouncer chair and probably wake her/agitate her?

I would squizita where are you leaving the sleepyhead?

Next room along (bedroom) with both doors open. I'm not doing my hair, just a quick rinse down.

Unless she can roll I would leave her.

Yeah I popped in! 2 min shower, she was fine of course.

I get ever so paranoid about leaving Arron unattended

He's so full of a cold today, there is snot everywhere.

I'm lying in bed feeding him in the hope he will drop off and when he does I'm going to have a little nap with him

I think Moses basket/sleepyhead is as safe as a bouncer to leave them in. But then I've never strapped Nat in to his chair yet as he's in the lying down position and can't move that much anyway. He's trying to roll a bit on his side now though so I have to be careful on the changing unit! If only I could get on the floor easily, I'd let him spend more time on his mat, but my tailbone is still knackered. Last nights feeding him and then transferring him to cot was so painful, I just can't move/lift him without weight going on it, and now he's heavier it's hard. I can't easily stand from a chair while holding him, it's a massive burst of pain as the weight goes on it. 8 week check up on Thursday so I'm going to request physio and some stronger painkillers. Feeding in the bed is the worst, Nat never seems comfy and will cry and squirm unless I'm sat directly on it. Anyone got a nursing chair? Are they worth it? I've seen one with footstool for £104. If it means I can feed him in the bedroom in some a form of comfort I'd be happy!

Oh my god, I've found you again!

We have regressed not that it was good to the point where I am calling the professionals! Namely the HV who apparently specialises in sleep!!! Anyone got and advice?

bumpies - what problems are you having?

redling - I've got a nursing chair but haven't been able to breast feed in it since Arron was about one month old because the sides of the chair just get in the way. I suppose it depends what position you feed in but for the standard horizontal hold across your body the nursing chair just isn't practical. I tried to find comfortable positions to feed him in whilst I was sitting in the chair but it was impossible and he certainly didn't enjoy feeding because he was so squished. I think the design of my chair didn't help matters so if you are going to buy one make sure you buy a really wide one to accommodate the position you feed in allow for baby's growth.

Arron's nap earlier lasted only 25 minutes Due to him then looking shattered an hour later I decided to take him for a walk - but after 1.5 hours of walking around with him he was still wide awake. I just don't understand it. He just will not sleep in the day.

I have a nursing chair from the 70s (been in my mum's house since then, re covered it to match our house) - no sides ... it gives good back support but it is still quite low to get out of it. I also use an assortment of memory foam pillows to make a chair out of the top of my bed.

Doing bedtime feed here. We've had a nice chilled out evening so I'm hoping he will fall asleep nicely and stay that way

I've got a rare hour to sleep and I can't sleep !! MIL had DS and I'm in the bedroom chilling with ear plugs in! Lol but I miss him and I can't relax! But I am beyond tired today!

Dd has been a bit sleepy today ... hope it means a sleepy night not wakeful.

He's in his cot awake. He should go off soon hopefully