shorter feeds at 5mo?

[choolie]

i know babies get more efficient feeders as they get a bit older, but DS's 1st feed of the day was 5 mins at 9am (last fed 3am-ish), then 12pm had 5 mins. then at 3.30pm had 35 mins!!! - what's going on??? he usually has a steady 20 mins or so, although on odd occaisions has a much shorter or longer feed. Is he getting enough? are these shorter feeds normal?- am esp. worried as trying to cut down number of night feeds and am thinking oh no, what if he's not had enough today and wakes even more tonight?

I think it's fairly normal - my DS never fed for more than about 10 mins at a time ( and often for only 5 mins), despite all the books telling me it should take 20 mins +.

I would be guided by him. If he seems happy and goes a sensible amount of time between feeds, he is obviously getting enough.

If he does start waking in the night, you could try and encourage him to take more in the day, but IIRC, it's pretty hard to make them feed if they don't want it.

Whatever happens, you'll be starting solids in a month of so, and that tends to change feeding patterns anyway, so it night be worth just going with it for the next month.

HTH

thanks, he's never stopped waking in the night, despite me offering both boobs he's never taken the 2nd, but last night was actually much better, babies eh? law unto themselves!

Was just worrying about this myself! DS is almost 5mths and hardly ever feeds for more than 5-10mins. He can go 3-4 hrs between feeds and is a big baby (18lbs+), so I guess they're just super efficient feeders??!!