Help I have created a snack monster!

[ChrissyJ]

DS is 12 weeks old and feeds every couple of hrs. This has been going on since he had a growth spurt at 7 weeks. I have had quite a few feeding problems - v sore nips/ breast due to vasospasm (still unresolved but improving) a blocked duct and then last week I had mastitis - but he is gaining weight fine so that's good.

But I do think that I have really got him into a snacking habit. When he screams the place down all that seems to settle him is boob so that's what he ends up getting. He also barely naps in the day (although he sleeps well at night 7-11 then 12-5.30am) so I am finding it impossible to do things when i am on my own.

I know there are those of you who will say I sdhould carry on feeding on demand but I'm not even sure it IS on demand - I think it's just what he's got used to. I feel like human dummy. (am typing this one-handed cos guess what... he's feeding!)
TIA

12 week growth spurt is a git. ride it out it will get better! i found my girls suddenly started going longer about 13 14 weeks.

he is normal, as you know. my dd (now 2 yrs and still feeding) never ever went longer thant 2 hrs during the day before weaning onto solids. and she didn't take solids till 10 months !

www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug03p126.html\link{feeding 'on cue'} this may be helpful for you.

and here is page which links to a video . i think it is of a younger baby than yours but at 12 wks, the cues will still be there.

as my dd got older, i noticed what i thought was a more individual cue which was looking at my face then looking at my chest! probably at around 4 months i noticed it but who knows how longer it may have been before i picked it up?

feeding 'on cue'

Yup he def looks at my boobs!

Chrissy - yep, it can be hard, but a baby who sleeps that well at night more or less has to feed often in the day, sorry!

That's the biology of it

Working out ways of making it easier for yourself to go with this flow might be helpful.

It will not last forever.

Ah yes well i do know i'm blessed on the sleeping front...

chrissy - you are truely blessed, ds was a terrible napper, a terrible night sleeper too (never managed longer than 3 houra at a time until he was 9 months old), he did feed less frequently during the day past 3 - 4 months, i guess because he was getting what he needed at night !

your supply increases best (hormones) during the night so yes he is trying to get what he needs during the day.

as for human dummy, no you are his mummy, he needs you for warmth, comfort and cuddles throughout the day, that is what babies are like, it is tough, i know, i have been there, but the great thing is i now have a bf toddler (neraly 3) who is very confident and independent, not clingy and whingy, i guess all the cuddles/carrying around from dh and i when he was a baby must have helped

Chrissy J - sounds just like my DD! She is now 18 weeks and still feeding 2 hourly during the day but then the night sleep is great. At 12 weeks she wasn't off the bosom but it did calm down and she's a much more efficient feeder now so she's on and off in 10 mins so you do have more time to actually get things done during the day. Wouldn't you rather feed her 2 hourly or more often and then not to have to get up in the night??

Yes i def do prefer the night sleep option! I just wanted to check i hadn't got ds in some strange snack habit as described by tracey hogg in secrets of baby whisperer. (typing one-handed again..)

chrissy - sorry but i wouldn't bother reading that one on bf, hope i don't get sued saying this

do read kellymom.com, excellent, scientific, almost all you need to know about bf. also LLL website.