5MO suddenly started waking every HOUR

[WhoWillDoMyHoovering]

For the last few weeks my 5MO had been waking at 12,3,6 to BF which was just manageable. She'd started to drop the 12 so things were really looking up! Then suddenly the night before last she woke at 11, then continued to sleep fitfully waking every hour throughout the night. I fed her back to sleep each time, none of which were proper feeds, all about 5 mins or so but it just seemed the quickest and quietist solution. Then she did the same thing last night only there was an additional 2.20, 2.40 then 5.10, 5.30, 5.50 before I gave up sleep for the night. Today I am so tired I can barely speak. She seems to take every last ounce of milk out of me, she doesn't have a dummy. Any advice most gratefully received while I chant 'this too will pass'....

i was you when dd was 5 months, i am still hourly wakes 8 months old. i dont know the answer. 2 women in baby group have 18 month old and the other 14 month old both bf and both hourly wakers. they dont know either.
i told an old woman once about this problem, she said to me, well just dont feed her when she wakes. it makes sense just depends if you can cope with the crying. i cant cope with the crying. good luck xxxx

I feel for you both. Here is a good link about sleep regression linky thing

It could be a growth spurt OP. They're not necessarily bang on 6 months, so all you can do is feed.

With BF or formula, some baby's sleep through (which is what your hear more about) but most don't until they're 2 or 3.

With bf'ing you can get to a point of comfort feeding at night but it depends if this bothers you and your family. I looked at alternatives to get a better nights sleep, for example there's a double bed in dd's room so she goes to bed as normal and if when she wakes in the night, I feed lying down and it doesn't matter if I sleep with her for an hour or two.

Dd is now 11 months, and can wake anything from once to five times a night and bf'ing back to sleep saves my sanity. It's when she knows she's not hungry or want me as comfort and is still crying is when I panic!

Good luck

I recommend reading No cry sleep Solution by Pantly too, it makes you explore all areas of sleep (napping, feeding, night time routine)

To reiterate as don't think my other post was clear enough, at 5 (and 8) months, I think night waking is normal.

Thanks both for your support and suggestions. I wanted to try the 'no feed' idea but it's a bit too loud for DP and hurts my heartstrings too much! We're a bit short on space but I might try and turf DP out onto the sofa for a night so that I can do the lying-down-feeding thing. (I've done this for afternoon naps before and you're right, it's brilliant!) . I'll read up on the sleep regression linky thing and the book- thankyou! It IS good to know it's all normal, that is the most comforting thing. Thanks again