Big 3-month old feeding through the night

[estellebelle]

My daughter is 14 weeks old and was over 10lb when she was born. She has stayed on the same centile and is now over 16lb, so she's pretty big for her age. She was sleeping up to 8 hours straight a night, but in the past 2 weeks has reverted to waking every 2 hours for feeds. She's the size of a six-month old and is hungry... I'm absolutely exhausted! I really want to keep breastfeeding her, but the thought of doing this till she's six months old and ready for solids is a killer! Has anyone else had a similar problem?

I know its not a popular mn theory but talk to your hv about weaning at 4 months. It can be fine if approached in the right way-ie no gluten. When my dd was born there were still 3 month guidelines and she's fine. Ds is now 11weeks (and 10.4 birthweight) I doubt very much we'll make it to 6m...

hmmm... I know night waking is normal, but I'm talking 5 feeds between 11pm and 7am! I just feel that at her size she's much hungrier than the average 3-month old and I'm tempted to wean at 4 months.

No one knows your baby better than you, i know all the against arguments for early weaning but I think its a definite sign that a particularly large bf baby is more hungry, but i'm not saying baby will drop weight/starve if kept on bm alone, she just may be satisfied for longer...

OK, 5 feeds FROM 11pm to 7am. It's every 2 hours through the day too. I expected this from a newborn but she should be going longer between feeds now. I'm knackered and worried I'm not able to satisfy my baby - she's permanently hungry and is crying a lot more than she used to.

yes, she is exclusively breastfed. I don't want to give her formula but I'm wondering if it might help her go longer between night feeds.

You can definitely satisfy her, she may be more grouchy cos her teeth are starting to move down or other reasons such as fighting off a virus (with which you'd be helping loads with all that bm inside her!)

I'm not trying to push early weaning at all but if you feel she's nearly ready then talk to your hv and get some facts online as well so you know what you're doing.. Its very draning and hard work when they are feeding that much, well done you for keeping up with it

Yeah I second fiofio with the ff, sometimes I give one before bed but makes no difference if i do or don't with ds, in terms of how long he sleeps for...

OK, we'll see how we go! Meanwhile, time for another feed... Thanks for the advice.

Hi
I have a very big 13 week old - he is 16lbs and he has started to teeth and he too has started waking more frequently for milk and I think a bit of comfort. He is also pinging off my breast duri8ng the day I think because he is distracted by his sore gums - I think you just have to go with the flow - i think it will settle back down again