really struggling with evening times

[booyhoo]

ds1 is feeding every 1 1/2 - 2 hours during the day but in the evening, from about 6 ish he's wanting to feed 45 minutes after feeding and theres nothing there. he's getting frustrated and pulling away and crying. he's tired and wont settle but wont even suckle for comfort as he gets nothing when he latches on. im afraid ive had to give him formula twice in the last week. but even thats a fight because he doesnt want to take the bottle and refuses it for ages. he gets himself in a right tizzy. i dont want to do it again. what can i do? im at the end of my tether.

he's 16 weeks btw.

wow, an hour with no kids awake!! that sounds like heaven. yes ds2 teething aswell, his poor hands are getting the brunt of it.

Oh no.. DS1 awake at 6, but at 3 and half he's too big to be attahced to my hip, so I can just about manage a shower whilst he's awake - if I can dodge the dinosaurs being launched through the shower curtain !

Until DS was about, oh, 10mo if I didn't get a shower before DH went to work, I didn't get a shower full stop. He was a bit rubbish at naps and sleep generally and wanted to be held all the time. I tried so hard to get housework done but found it impossible.
Poor DH used to spend his days off legging it round with the hoover and polish so I wouldn't feel so bad about the state of the house!
I have no idea how people with more than one child get anything done ever.

that makes me feel so much better. my house is a mess an ive been trying so hard to get on top of it but i just dont get a break to do anything substantial. poor ds1 is left to his own devices most of the time.

Has Ds1 started school yet booyhoo? It does get easier... my DS2 is 7 months now and I'm just about getting there in regards to balancing everything - housework, time with DS1, time with DS2, cooking, moaning at DP etc etc,but today there's still a massive pile of ironing and the bathroom needs cleaning but it can wait, I'm shattered!! Both Dc up at 5.30 this morning!!

just an update

yesterday and today, ds2 sems a lot more settled, he's lasting about 2-2 and a half hours now between feeds and is going down in the evenings from about 9 and sleeping to around 3 so that is great wrt my sleep. i feel so much more positive and relaxed now and i think we are past the worst of the growth spurt/teething nightmare for the time being. until next time that is.

iwantachickandaduck ds1 started nursery on wed and im really appreciateing the 3 hours in the morning. ds2 is happier to lie on his mat and gurgle while i can get somethings done.

thanks for all the supportive posts, they really do help.

Lots of good advice from everyone. Yes, classic cluster feeding / frequency feeding at 16 weeks completely normal. Carry on feeding on-demand (and it IS very demanding, I know!) and remember to wind baby, too. Frequency feeding lasts for about a fortnight and is the prelude to a growth spurt for the more active stages of rolling over, crawling, sitting up, grabbing toys etc.. Don't forget - the more you breastfeed, the more milk you make.

Try both breasts at each feed. First the usual feed off one, then the next breast, then back to the first - will probably be shorter, and back to the second after that. For some reason, babies always seem to know which breast they want, too. And it may not always be the one we think it is!

thanks mummy

i have always fed from both breasts at each feed, ds seems to fuss after a few minutes on the left but is content on the right for some reason. i always offer the left first. thankfully he's alot more settled now.

booyhoo - thats when my DS1 started! 3 hours every morning and it's bliss! Glad things have settled for you. DS2 was going 7pm - 3pm for a while, then went 7pm - 6.30am and is now back to 7pm - 3am thanks to teething! Having that few hours in the morning makes it so much more bearable though!

remember growth spurts can last up to 8 weeks and it can be a long slog. i think it sometimes helps to know this as a lot of people think they only last a couple of weeks.

nappyaddict not sure where you have your information from re. 8 week growth spurts?

Perhaps you could clarify for me as I seem to have missed that piece of research in 13years as HP and Mother. I do like to be accurate and keep up-to-date with current guidelines and information and would not like to be the bearer of incorrect or misguided advice to another Mum.

Thanks

ps TikTok may be able to offer some clarity here?