4.5month old feeding more overnight than during the day

[Dillybear]

Hello, I’m a first time mum to my DD who is coming on for five months now. I breastfeed and also give one bottle of formula - this used to be a dreamfeed but she stopped taking much at that time so is now before bed.

In the last couple of weeks her feeds seem to have changed in that she has one big feed before bed, and two full feeds overnight (roughly 12am and 5am). The feeds are at least ten minutes, often more like 15, and she is drinking properly for the majority. During the day, however, she’s on and off and fussy and I’ve noticed her nappies are getting lighter as well. I find it hard to get much of a feed into her before around 2pm - usually only 2x five minutes and even then she can be quite fussy and intermittent.

I’m not sure what I can do to get her to take more in the day and less overnight. I’ve tried dark room without distractions which is where I do all the feeds now. If I offer more frequently she refuses and just gets cross. I’m not very knowledgeable about breastfeeding so I’d be grateful for any advice or tips from people who know more! Thanks in advance.

I think this is normal for age/stage and actually feeding only twice overnight is pretty good for a 4.5m old. I wouldn't change anything and probably in a week or two she will go back to normal. Growth spurts, sleep regressions etc all prime candidates at that age x

Thanks for replying. It’s not so much the night feeds that are worrying me more the sudden change in the type of feeds - taking so little in the day and her nappies being lighter, and taking much more milk overnight as if she’s making up for the lack of milk she’s getting during the day.

Can you bring the 12 and 5am forward by waking thoroughly, even incrementally, so they are earlier and the lunchtime feed is then earlier too? It seems vital that baby's alert and peckish for an earlier tea time feed. Are you resting and drinking enough during the day?

She will have got more efficient at feeding so 5 minutes might be plenty, especially when she's got other things to look at etc

Is her nappy output across 24 hours ok?

Is she gaining ok?

Is she teething?

You have given her a good start BF this long, well done!!

@Harrysmummy246

Thanks for saying that, breastfeeding was very difficult to get started and I’m really proud that we were able to crack it.

For her, no her nappies have definitely decreased with some being pretty much dry today. Her overnight nappy was soaking but there wasn’t really another heavy nappy until bathtime. Normally I’d expect most of her nappies to be fairly heavy. A full feed for her now seems to be around 8-9 minutes, but more often than not in the day I’m struggling to get her to feed for five. I’m pretty sure that she isn’t getting enough in the day because of the nappies. Having said all that she’s chunky and doesn’t look as though she’s losing weight. I think she’s just getting most of her calories between 6.30pm-6.30am, instead of the other way around.

@Dillybear I have no advice but my DC is doing the exact same thing apart from having only 1 feed overnight and that has stopped being as long as it was before. Her nappies are also getting quite light and she isn’t staying on the breast for very long. Nice to know it’s not just me !