Are big babies hungrier?

[lizzlebizzle33]

My almost 3 month old is a little pudding, he was big at birth (9.5lb)
He is BF and seems to want to feed all the time! Sometimes every hour and still 4 or 5 times in the night.

His last weigh in he was 15.1 so he's not going short at all but I don't understand why he is feeding all the time, is it because he is night he needs more?

Basically it's because he's a normal baby. At 3 months they still fees really regularly but they won't take on more than they need so you have to just keep going on demand.

My 12mo DS was nearly 10lb and fed for shorter periods than my 8lb DD did. They both fed frequently though and DS will still have phases feeding 4+ times a night.

The thing you've got to remember with breast milk is that it's very easily digestible because it's completely natural so nothing is wasted. Whereas formula has the same make up whether the baby is 2 days or 2 years so lots gets wasted and it's harder to digest - so longer between feeds.

It does get easier but try not to worry and keep going on demand. Find BF support groups in real life or on line if you want more reassurance about how normal frequent feeding is.

Good luck!

Sorry I meant to say is it because he is big he feeds more

No. Breastfed babies feed in all kinds of patterns. It's all within the spectrum of normal!

Totally normal. He won’t over feed.

I think bigger babies are hungrier - both mine were just shy of 10 lbs at birth and fed like demons - every 3/4 of an hour in the day and 5/6 times at night. I had a diy co sleeper cot which helped a lot. The night wakings did become habit once they'd started on solids though so when they got to 8 months I'd give them a porridge supper and instigated some sleep training.

Does your baby feed for long? Mine were very snacky which I don't think helped!

Hi sleepyhead, he sounds similar to yours, he's very snacky unless we go out with the Iran and he has a good sleep he will feed well after that. If it's bad weather though and were in all day it's every 45 minutes sometimes.

I've tried giving him a dummy hoping it will help him go a bit longer in between feeds so he would take more but it's not really made much difference.

Lol with the pram that is meant to say nor Iran ha ha

Constant, very frequent and/or long feeds can be a sign of tongue tie. Has he had a proper tongue tie assessment by a trained professional (and I don’t mean a HV or midwife, I mean a good breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant)?

If not please look up breastfeeding drop-ins near you and take him to get assessed. Might not be that but it’s important to rule it out, and either way they can give you support and advice.

FWIW my son was 9lb4, breastfed constantly and he had tongue tie. I posted on MN and I also had plenty of people telling me it was “completely normal” 🙄 It might be in some cases, but it wasn’t for me.

Tongue tie information (includes signs of possible TT and info about TT assessment)

Thank you that was an interesting read, I will definitely look into that. There is a BF clinic near me on a Monday.
He has gained weight really well though, even gone up a percentile so that's not a problem and he rarely brings anything back up. It's just the constant feeding is such s drain. Especially as I Also have a 22 month old........ Sigh

You’re welcome. Yes the relentless feeding is exhausting isn’t it? You’re doing an amazing job

FWIW my son’s weight gain was fine too (he also went up a percentile) he was just working extra hard for his milk bless him. I got mastistis which is one of the signs. Anyway good luck on Monday, they should be helpful!

Hi just revisiting thus hoping for anymore advice or experience.
My son is 3 months old now and he is big, already 16.5lb, more than his brother weighed at 7 months . He still is wanting to eat every hour, I only get about a 3 hour stretch of sleep at night and then he is up every hour again.
I just don't know why he is so hungry, I'm sure he is getting enough at most feeds, I can hear him actively suck/swallowing for a good while and his nappies are soaking through yo his clothes sometimes in less than 2hours.
I've tried a dummy and it did help a little but the minute it drops out of his mouth he's all frantic again and won't settle until I feed him again.
I'm absolutely exhausted and considering switching to formula as I have a 2 year old tantrum machine to deal with all day too and I'm really not coping very well.
I worry I am feeding him too much and he's getting too fat but I have no choice as he will be screaming otherwise.
Any words of wisdom are welcome.x

Did you go to the drop-in on Monday?

I didn't make it namechange no,
Just took too long trying to get them and myself ready to go out an then it was raining ( I don't drive and it's a 40 min walk to the children's centre).
I'll try again this Monday.
It's so hard trying to get out of the house by 9am 😬

That's still perfectly normal for a BF baby, OP.

You need to bear in mind that BFing is not just about food. Babies BF because they need comfort, reassurance, they're in some kind of discomfort, because they're going through growth spurts and feeling unsettled about everything new happening...because...because...because... and not one of those things is any less important than the feeding element because it's essential to their healthy development.

Both of mine were 1-2hrly feeders (or more, around the clock) until well past 6mo. The night feeds continued to be 1-2 hourly until I night weaned at 14mo. It's normal. It's knackering, but it's normal, and as PPs have said, he can't over feed. Some of those feeds he might not even be taking much as he may be doing a lot of non-nutritional sucking. I did try a dummy with DS2, but he was not longer fooled by 6mo and only boob would do! Introducing solids early will also make zero difference in case that's crossed your mind - it goes back to my point above about nutrition being only one of many reasons for BFing.

Introducing formula may not make a huge difference either, again because it's not just about the food.

Best advice I have is to co-sleep safely and feed lying down to deal with the night wakings and use a sling during the day so he gets his quota of closeness to you, without you necessarily feeding, plus it leaves your hands free to deal with your toddler.

FWIW, DS1 is now the skinniest 5yo you've ever seen. DS2 is a perfectly normal weight 3yo, and both sleep through the night.

It does end, and I still feel like a bloody warrior for BFing both of them

6mo ds feeds every 1.5-2 hours day and night (occasionally get 3 hour stretch at night but it’s rare) so I completely feel for you. I think my older dc were the same though. All did have tt though 🤔

He’s on a decent amount of solids now (considering his age anyway) and 1 bottle of formula at night - I thought this would be the magic key to longer stretches, silly me!

I agree with every word of Elphaba's post. If you've had tongue tie ruled out then it completely sounds like my experience of breastfeeding 2 children.

You can't ever overfeed a breasted baby so how often he dress, how long he feeds for and how much he weighs are irrelevant in that respect. The 'problem' with BF is you've got absolutely no idea how much they're taking and when, so what you deem to be a 'full feed' may just be a comfort suck and he actually needs the feed an hour later. You just don't know. So you either go with it and feed on demand, or you're going to have to 'routine' it in order to manage your worries about it.

You could obviously give formula, but like others have said it might not necessarily be the magic answer. It might though. We don't know!

IME, DS is now 12mo and has been feeding at least every hour or two for a long time. We've had no decent chunk of sleep. We moved him into his own room a couple of weeks ago (double mattress on the floor so I could cosleep) and within a few nights he's slept through. Absolutely pure luck of course but I do believe we've moved him at a time when he was more ready to go longer overnight and I would never have moved him pre 12mo. I got through it with a toddler (21mo gap) by cosleeping and BF lying down- amazing tool for a more restful night in our experience.

Thank you mamas, I really appreciate your replies and reassurance that it's normal, it's so tough though. I never thought it would be a walk but this level of exhaustion is, well, exhausting!

I will do my best to make it to the BF group, as younger tie hadn't been ruled out.

With the co sleeping, I would love to but I don't feel comfortable doing it for 2 reasons, scared OH will roll over on him as he is a bed hog, unless I pull his cot up against the side of the bed and have him on my side.
And the other is I'm petrified of suffocating him with my boob.

I hadn't thought of him just needing his mummy quota for the day, I do spend s lot of the day trying to put him down so I can do the laundry or dishes or play with DS1, he hasn't liked the sling the few times I've put him in but I will keep trying it.

*tongue tie they should say

My ds was feeding so often for the first 6 months at least and with no pattern to it! It was probably every hour at 3 months with a slightly longer stretch at night). He was 7.5 lbs at birth so only 25th centile but by the time he was 1 he was 75th centile and has stayed there and is tall now at 5. I think he took after his 6ft Dad but could only grow to my body size (5’3”) at birth so was trying to make up for it!!

I also think that they sometimes want comfort, sometimes a drink and sometimes food (plus growth spurts!) and it isn’t always easy to work out the difference between them (well, I never worked out the difference).

You’re doing amazingly well! I attached a cosleeper cot onto the bed and that helped a lot. Even if you can just feed lying down and get a couple of daytime naps yourself that way, it helps a little I found.

Does your eldest one go to Nursery at all? My DD was in 2 days when DS was born, 3 mornings now and it's such a relief not to have to juggle the two for a few hours! I always nap with DS (BF lying down and cosleep) just to give myself a bit of a chance to recuperate.

With regards to cosleeping, I'd definitely pull his cot up if you can. With some you can take the side off, tie it to the bed and make it like a cosleeper. Otherwise I'd give it a go with him in your bed. You won't squash him with your boob! If you put DS so he's latched on, curl your feet around him like a C and put your lower arm above his head, you really can't go anywhere. Your DH might be more of an issue Can he sleep in a spare room for a little while until you feel over the worst of it?

It is exhausting and the only thing you can do is prioritise yourself and your DC. For me that meant cosleeping, sleeping when they slept as much as possible (mandatory lunchtime nap in our house!) and trying to fit household jobs into small chunks whilst they were awake. Also batch cooking at the weekend so weekdays are only ever grab something from the freezer and heat up!

You'll get there. It sounds like your DS is doing amazingly well so be kind to yourself!

I would never have co-slept with my DH in the bed either. Pre-DCs, he once rolled over on one of the dogs in his sleep and never stirred. 😬

Would you have room to do as tea has done and put a double mattress on the floor of what will be his room and co-sleep there? If I were to have a third not happening that's actually what I would do from day one. It's safe co-sleeping with the added bonus of giving them a supported sleep association with the room that will be theirs long-term from the get-go.

No, you won't squash him with your boob There's a built-in switch breastfeeding mums have for not squashing their babies, same as the one that stops you from rolling out of bed. As long as he's clear of pillows and duvets, in his own sleeping bag, you can wrap yourself up like a sausage roll in a blanket so they don't drop over him. Button-front pyjamas or scoop necked t-shirt for easy boob-extraction purposes.

Also - caffeine is fine when breastfeeding. Unless you have clear evidence it makes him wired or sick, keep yourself perky!

Yes - putting him down is going to make him want even more reassurance you're there, in only the way boob can give! If he doesn't like the sling you've got, do you know of it can you Google sling libraries or meet ups in your area to try different ones?