Increased hunger in my 5 month old

[CoolMauvePombear]

my baby has just turned 5 months old and is exclusively breastfed via a bottle he has 5 oz bottles and used to have 5-6 a day about 6 weeks ago he started having 8-10 bottles so I assumed growth spurt but we are now on the 6th week of this. We have introduced solids and today for example he had maybe 5-6 tsp on ready brek with fruit puree then for dinner parsnip, aubergine, butternut squash and spinach then later on had quarter of an avocado and some beans and still have 7 bottles. He used to be a great sleeper doing 7-7 with only one wake up now we have at least 15 wakes a night, has 2 bottles a night now the other wakes are just for comfort. I’ve spoken to HV and others and I just keep being told it’s a growth spurt. Has anyone else experienced this level of hunger? What else could be causing this

Would he take more than 5 oz in a bottle?

At that age mine were on 5 8oz bottles a day, so about the same total quantity but in fewer feeds. Is that possible? Might help to get more of the calories in the day time.

No he won’t take more than 5oz

My son ate loads at that age. He was initially mixed fed and would have both sides then a full bottle.
at four months we had to order some special large bottles from Germany 🤷‍♀️ as they didn’t have big enough in the UK!
so agreed with pp, can he have bigger bottles? He may not be feeling really satisfied then gets confused.

Oh sorry just seen your update

It will be because they need the calories, and the night waking because they are hungry?

The night wakes aren’t for a feed he used to have one feed a night he now has two he constantly just wakes for no reason

Maybe he’s waking with belly ache because you’re giving him solids too early?

At this age his gut can’t digest solids, so he’s getting no nutrition from the food you’re giving him, so it’s just filling his belly instead of milk. He needs more milk, if you’re struggling to pump enough for him you could introduce a formula feed.

The pediatrician advised us to start weaning early that’s why he’s started to be weaned. He’s definitely not showing any signs of pain I have tried calpol thinking it was teething and that made no difference. And the amount of solids he’s having can’t be filling him much because he is having 40-50 oz of milk alongside solids these wake ups started before I introduced solids also

There is a brutal growth spurt at 5 months, but it doesn’t last more than a week, so I can’t see that it’s that. I really wish Drs and health visitors wouldn’t suggest weaning early, babies can’t digest solids before at least 6 months, they don’t have the digestive enzymes and there’s research that suggests it can put a strain on their kidneys & liver, as well as all the existing evidence about digestive issues in later life.

It is unusual that he’ll only drink 5oz at a time, a lot of babies this age will drink more than that.

Sleep does vary, with night waking coming and going, so maybe it’s his teeth getting ready to erupt? Where does he sleep, and when he wakes in the night how do you get him back to sleep if he’s not having a feed?

Babies and their energy requirements change. If you offer a second night feed does he eat it?

He may be waking for developmental reasons, for comfort, for food or due to discomfort.

Babies change all the time. He’s bigger than he used to be so needs more food :)

Oh, I really feel for you. That constant feeding and lack of sleep is so tough, especially when you’ve already started solids and it still feels non-stop. Around five months, everything seems to change growth spurts, teething, comfort, sometimes just needing you close.

Mine was the same, feeding all day and night for what felt like forever. It does settle again, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. You’re doing amazing hang in there, it’s just a phase, I promise xx