Newborn snacking - am I doing something wrong?

[solis25]

After advice and wondering if it's possible to stop a newborn snacking to space out feeds.

I breastfed my first born and he snacked like this so I didn't sleep for the first 12 weeks and was glued to the sofa, which was fine as I had no other babies. But now I find myself doing this with my 4 week old and wondering how I'll cope with my toddler when DH returns to work in 2 weeks.

My 4 week old feeds well until he falls asleep at breast, I put him down and he immediately wakes up and will cry until I put him back to breast. He doesn't pacify himself there, he properly feeds until he falls asleep - whether it be 2 mins or 20. He basically lives there. He won't be swaddled and won't sleep in his crib - I'm co-sleeping because of it otherwise I'll literally get no sleep. I didn't have this problem with my first baby, I wish I could get this baby to sleep not on me but he just cries when I put him down. I've tried to introduce a dummy but he's not interested. So I have two problems really. He feeds all day long and won't sleep or just be anywhere but on someone.

Am thinking I'll have to switch to formula when DH returns to work if I can't change something in the next fortnight, my toddler is 18m, I can't be feeding all day long. I really wanted to continue BF too :(

HELP!!! :(

Ps. It's so bad I have to take him to the loo and squat to pee, when he cries my toddler gets so upset and starts crying too. Argh! I can't put him down.

Sorry but I really do think it's just the way it is with a lot of EBF babies at that age. But the good thing is if you can cope with it for a few more weeks, for most babies, the feeds space out more and more as they get older. My baby fed pretty much constantly for the first six weeks, but then it
calmed down and then slowed down even more at eight weeks. Hang in there!!

It's not a snack. It's food
Also he may have silent reflux.

My babies never slept on their backs they always slept on their tummies.

I agree that you will just have to put your feet up and go with it if you can for a few more weeks. It will get much better quickly. I’d keep on with trying to introduce a dummy so you can hopefully work up to walks so your toddler can get out too. It’s very early days, you’re doing brilliantly. I also had to take my 2nd to the toilet as would not be put down for a second. Sympathies

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy please do not state unsafe things such as that. Putting babies on their tummies is deadly and increase risk of cot death

Have you tried a sling? When DD (4 weeks old) has been feeding for a long time but keeps rooting, putting her in the sling and walking about sometimes sends her to sleep and she stays in there for a couple of hours. Doesn't help you get more sleep but if it works for you and your baby it gives you a chance to move from the sofa for a while and give the toddler some attention!

@JC89 I thought of using my old sling but was kind of hoping by now DS2 would agree to lie in his next-to-me for more than 10 mins without waking! Maybe I should start using it.

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy with all do respect, it is snacking, or snack feeding, or grazing (on food!), when babies take tiny frequent feeds all day long. And thanks for your advice, but I prefer to have baby sleep on their back as it's safer.

@DGPP thanks. I didn't use a dummy with my first as he didn't mind being put down, any tips with introducing it? At the mo he just spits it out. Do I just keep trying several times a day?

Yes could he have reflux or CMPA? My CMPA baby was like this- should have mentioned that!! She definitely ate less when I cut out dairy, presumably as she was in less discomfort.

@BurbageBrook interesting as my first has CMPA, DH did as an infant too. What part of my issue makes you think CMPA? Snacking or putting down issue?
What age did your LO grow out of it? (if they have!) xx

It does but some babies just don't sleep on their backs. Like mine. So what would you have liked me to do there? Both my babies were fine. I know quite a few people who also had to do this.
It's all very well following the NHS rulebook but it's not always realistic.

@solis25 both! CMPA can cause reflux which makes putting them down hurt when flat on their back. But also, they're in pain and the only solution to feel better they know is to breastfeed so therefore they feed all the time. What are the nappies like? My baby's were quite brown and smelly, not as yellow as BF babies' should be.

With the reflux I let my baby sleep on her side (put her down like that) to help on a firm mattress, I know it goes against guidance but was desperate.

She's only 5.5 months so hasn't grown out of it yet. I eat a dairy and soya free diet and she's doing amazingly now. People often comment on what a happy baby she is and she doesn't feed that often at all.

Of course it may not be CMPA but could be worth cutting out dairy if she has any other symptoms.