5mo won’t feed unless asleep

[Fsult1]

My 5mo will only feed if he is sleeping. It’s been happening a while now, but I feel like it’s getting worse. I guess he started the habit since birth as I never thought the association of feeding while sleeping would be made. Only until I was reading up online yesterday did I realise that this is the case. So he basically cries and cries everytime I’m trying to settle him, and will only latch on once he’s fallen asleep, after that he will have a decent feed. However, I’m not sure how to break out of this habit of his as he won’t feed when awake, I don’t want him to starve!

Recently it’s getting more and more frustrating because I feel like my days are filled with trying to settle him he’ll have a feed with a very short nap and then in a couple of hours, sometimes less, il have to do it all over again.

He will be weaning in a few weeks, so I’m not sure if this would help the situation. Should I just ride it out or actively try to break this habit?

I’m not sure I understand- he feeds to sleep or falls asleep and only then will take a feed? If the latter it’s possible he has reflux or something as babies can avoid feeding if it causes pain.

My DD is 9 months and only feeds while asleep. She had horrible reflux and developed a feeding aversion. Unfortunately, it was hard to find a doctor to take it seriously as she was growing and gaining weight well. It's absolute shit and j wish someone had helped us earlier.

I totally understand.

He falls asleep and only then will he feed. If I try while he’s awake he will scream and scream even though he is clearly hungry.

Mileyk90 - that’s sucks, hope she’s feeling better now. How did you know she had reflux, what are the symptoms?

That sounds really hard. Definitely sounds like feeding is painful for him so he is avoiding feeding. Silent reflux doesn’t have many signs x