Every hour breastfeeding 5 mth old overnight

[ohthegoats]

My 5 month old is waking every hour/90 minutes overnight to feed. We try comforting her to see if that's what she's after, but she always wants to eat. She'll drain a boob every time in about 5 minutes and fall back to sleep easily either in her crib or next to me in bed (depending on whether I've got the energy or wherewithal to put her back).

During the day I feed her every 2 - 3 hours.
In the past she routinely managed 7 - 11, 11 - 4, 4 - 7.
She's ebf but will take a bottle.
Shes 25th centile, which is standard in our petite family.
Is contented and not really a crier - only at night.

Any suggestions?

It sounds like a sleep regression. They're developing so much at that age.
My suggestion is to carry on as you have been and give yourself the opportunity to catch up on rest where possible.

They don't need to be fed that often at that age, surely? If op carries on doing this she'll be exhausted.

I'd offer water only and cuddles in the bedroom. Then I'd do pick up put down. But then I'm mean.

Water in the bedroom is my mum's suggestion too. I suppose that so long as I know she's had a 'full' formula feed at 7, and then boob at 11 or so, then she's had enough to get through to 3 or 4am with only water/cuddles in between.

I can't catch up on rest - she only sleeps for 3 x 30 minutes during the day - barely enough time for me to fall asleep. I wake up feeling worse.

Yes they do in a growth spurt! But it doesn't last forever.

I found it particularly noticeable as my dd suddenly got more hungry in preparation for weaning at 6 months AND clearly growth spurt-y AND sleep regression at the same time. Horrid! Plus the nappies at 5am when it used to be a night pampers saw us through.

The good news is it only lasted from 4 1/2 months for 3 weeks or so.
I just rode it out. She now feeds 2 or 3 times a night again same as she has since 10 weeks.

Mine is also petite.
I checked with the hv and it's not unknown in these little ones!

The draining to me suggests hunger not comfort - also that it's drink/sleep no fuss.

But squiz, 2 or 3 night feeds still seems like a lot at nearly 6 months old.

But squiz, 2 or 3 night feeds still seems like a lot at nearly 6 months old.

Really? I'm just comparing with women at my NCT group (including a trained feeding lady), friends etc but from them it doesn't seem all that unusual.

The Hv encouraged me not to discourage night feeds so I've just gone with that, as she's in a sidecar it's relatively easy.

I'm not judging, honest - if it works for you then it's all good. Mine weren't fed at night at that age (though DS had a dreamfeed at about midnight).

Oh if you exclude feeds before midnight/adult bed time it's just the one, maybe two iyswim.
She goes down at 7, feeds 10.30/11 then either 1.30am and 5am OR a bigger feed at 3.

As tiring as it is, just be led by baby. They are clever little things that know what they want!

My 10 month old DS2 feeds 1-2 times a night (goes to bed at 7pm and first feed will be no earlier than 2am) and goes straight back to sleep, path of least resistance and all that.

Not forgetting bf is about more than just nutrition.

Do what works for you but don't let people tell you it's abnormal at that age to feed in the night, it's not.

When my DS used to feed during that night I'm pretty sure 90% of it was just for comfort as opposed to hunger. He typically sleeps through now (almost 1yr old) but if he wakes up during the night and appears to be upset I will breastfeed him and as soon as he's latched on he calms down.

Remember that a baby's favourite place to be is on his mother's breast as that's their safe and secure place and where they find their comfort from. It's magical really.

Your baby won't be breast feeding forever hopefully so if night feeding is manageable for you then enjoy that special bond you have and don't let anyone tell you it's not 'normal'. A baby wanting some comfort from it's mother is probably the most normal thing there is.

I don't mind one or two feeds between 11pm and 7am, but every hour is debilitating. Means I'm pretty much incapable of doing anything decent during the day, including being fun for the baby.

I know on mn it is massively frowned upon to even mention solids before the magical 6 month mark and the mere suggestion is shouted down.

However if she is showing any other signs of being ready to wean I would be very tempted to see if it helps. So shoot me I need my sleep and being woken every hour is not fun.

Fwiw I weaned my dd very slowly from around 5 months, she was showing a lot of interest in food, putting everything in her mouth and could sit unaided. She loved her food and her sleep improved a lot.

OP I'm sure you've had this advice already but I would eat a diet full of the things that increase milk supply (not suggesting it's your supply bit more milk is not a bad thing), drink plenty and try to feed as much as possible in the day?

Girlie it depends on weight gain as I understand it. As you can only offer veg and baby rice, they should be fine if they're strong in terms of monthly gain - if not it can slow things down.

I found the opposite squizita dd was always slow to gain weight (bf) but thrived once weaning began. No way of knowing if that was coincidental though and like i said I took it slowly, small amounts of rice or veg/fruit purees to start with.

She is now a great big 9yo who still loves her food

Mine is piling on the weight after a slow start, I wonder if it's just that their stomachs get bigger around 5 months?
I'm going to go with the hv advice and wean at 6 months though though my boobs aren't thanking me right now, she's a human hoover because I'm a bit of a worrier and like to follow all the advice to the letter, even though it's clear it wouldn't harm her to have some carrot at 5 months+.

I could have written the op this last week. Neither of my children are sleeping atm and I feel like I'm going to have a nervous breakdown. Hope it passes soon!

Mine did this from 4 to 5.5 months. I struggled!

We moved him into his own room at 5.5 months and (possibly) coincidentally his sleeping improved and he went to 3ish wake ups.

He is now 9 months and for a few weeks he had been doing only 2 wake ups but since hitting the 9 month mark has been back to 3 or 4.

Im presuming its a growth spurt or the next sleep regression.

DS did this at 5 months.

Then a tooth appeared.

He's doing better, but still waking a couple of times a night. I think he does need the food, but I think its more to do with comfort.

I have a big baby and she regressed at 4 months for about a month and a half, some nights were tough. I fed when she wanted it and now at nearly 6 months she is back to 2-3 feeds between 6pm and 7am. She feeds quickly and settles herself after them so it's not that hard. I haven't given solids yet.

I think it's unusual to have a baby not feeding in the night before 6 months. And my first daughter's sleep worsened after weaning for a month or so, she ate a lot and enthusiastically, digesting solids must have confused her! But obviously babies vary.

Sounds really tough OP. My strategy at these times is changing everything BUT the baby - extra help in the day, someone taking the baby for parts of the night and just bringing them to you for feeds, going to bed early… (I have been known to go to bed at 7pm)

My son was exactly the same at this age. It's sleep regression/ growth spurt and very common. Just go wit bit, it will get better. You have my sympathies. My baby did this for around 10 weeks from 4 months. It will get better, I promise. He's 9 months now and only wakes 1 time in the night. Good luck!

I know this wasn't my thread but these replies are very reassuring!