Does he need a feed?

[ShelbyO]

I have a 5 week old and lucky that once he has his feed at 10pm, doesn't cry for a feed until the morning. But..... stirs in his crib from 2-4 every morning and does this for hours. He doesnt cry but only settles with a dummy or me cuddling him.

I don't know what to do for best. Do i feed him? But surely he would cry? Constantly settling with a dummy is also a nightmare and I'm worried it will lead to bad habits.

He is suffering from colic at mo, so not sure if this has something to do with it.

My baby is nearly six months, he doesn’t usually cry when he wakes for a feed at night, just wriggles and kicks until I pick him up. He won’t go back to sleep until he’s fed!

At five weeks I would definitely feed. The dummy is probably confusing her into thinking she’s been fed which is why it partly settles her. If you find she only feeds for a few minutes then you’ll know she’s not hungry but you’ll probably find she takes a good feed and then goes back to sleep.

*he/him, sorry.

You have asked for advice and are now stating that people are being rude??
Of course you should feed the poor little mite!

My baby is 4 months old. Still feeds 7 or 8 times a day, including twice overnight (between 7 and 7). There’s no way a 5 week old baby should be having 6 feeds in 24 hours.

By 10-12 weeks though you may find that 6 feeds is enough.

I’ve always fed mine as soon as she stirs. Seemed to work well for her as now at 6 months she goes 6.30-6.30 with only one or two feeds that are SO quick - ten minutes, including walking to her room, making bottle, feeding and putting her back in cot. Because she hasn’t got herself all worked up and crying, she just goes straight back to sleep with no fuss.

(Though we are still nervously awaiting the 4 month sleep regression 😬😬😬)

My baby at 9 weeks still has two feeds in the night and has never once cried during the night from hunger. He just stirs like you have described and roots, so I know he needs a feed. 6 feeds in the day doesn’t sound a lot either. A 5 week old shouldn’t go throughout the night without a feed, their stomachs are still so, so tiny. People aren’t being rude to you, I think they are just shocked that you haven’t realised this. X

You must feed him.

It's a long time for a little one to not have a feed, OP
One of the best things I was ever told is that anyone's stomach is the size of their closed fist, so while your baby doesn't need a huge amount in one feed, there's not much in there to get them through the night iyswim.

Definitely feed at 5 weeks! That's so tiny. My DD dropped night feeds at 4 months, and I considered that to be quite early!

No one has been rude. They are telling you that your five week old baby needs feeding at night which he does. Six feeds in 24 hours is not enough. He’s stirring because he’s hungry. Just feed him

Its taken me a while to reply to this, and I have had to recreate an account to do so, after deleting my account after the comments on Sunday.
For those who didn’t think the comments were rude, I disagree. I was on my knees Sunday morning after no sleep (yes to those who would think I would rather sleep then feed my baby – you are so wrong). I had no sleep and wanted some advice from mummies. Little did I know; you would make me feel like such a bad parent you nearly lead me to breaking point.
Some advice mummies – I’m a new mum, and a lot of other mummies using this site will be in the same position as me. So be nice, you don’t know what your comments can do. Anxiety and post-natal depression are a thing, and little things like this can make a difference to sleep deprived, hormonal new moms. So yes – I did think some were rude and patronising. Not all – so thank you to those helpful advice.
Now here is some more info on my situation:
• We went o the doctors yesterday, my boy is a perfect weight and the doctor worked out his amount of feeds and he is having the CORRECT amount. In answer to one comment 10-12 feeds a day?? How many ounces!??
• My boy is poorly, so he is waking up in the night uncomfortable which we are now sorting. I TRIED TO FEED HIM MONDAY AND HE WASN’T INTERESTED. He goes into alight feed and just wants comfort. No one made any comments related to the colic…
• Some people may not agree with Gina Fords strategies on ‘sleeping’ but I have kind of been following this, so that is why I asked the question. If any of you want to understand this – then you can find info on her strategies on-line.
• I said … re-introduce night-time feeds so he was having them and the STOPPED! I AM NOT STARVING MY BABY.
And to some of the other comments – I can’t even be bothered to reply!!!
After this reply, I will not be using this site again so don’t bother replying…
So thank you for making a new mom feeling really shit about her mothering skills, when really I asked an appropriate question!

Yeah you need to calm down love. 6 feeds isn't enough for a baby that little. And no one was rude. But your shouty capital letters will probably not help.

escapade1234 - what a stupid comment. Of course I do, they are give different advice. If you MW, HV and doctor give same advice then lucky you!!

Oh and when he fed in the night - he cries. If he misses a feed for any reason he cries... so that is why I asked the question.

Anothertempusername - shouty capital letters are required!!

Are you a doctor - do you know how many ounces my baby is having - no.... the doctor has confirmed he is having enough!

People were trying to help you because you sounded utterly clueless.

You cannot overfeed a baby that age. It's not possible. Also you said you were breastfeeding so how do you know how many ounces?

OP is he properly winded at night time on his last feed? Do his bowels work well? Dummies are great for babies that need to comfort suck. You can remove these at a later date.

If he's drinking well then just offer him at his wakening time or just comfort. The sleep deprivation and hormones are thee worst! But it does get better!!! Gina Ford is not appropriate for a 5 week old. You follow your baby and months in then you can look at routines. Just let your baby guide you. Nap when he naps too.

Have you got any support?

Do you actually mean 5 weeks or 5 months?

I thought even Gina Ford didn’t recommend feeding on a schedule until 6 weeks old?
Anyway, people weren’t rude. You asked a question, and people answered. It wasn’t the answer you wanted, but that doesn’t make it wrong.
I’m sorry your baby is poorly, I hope he feels better soon.

I think OP has over-reacted but some of the posts do come across as a little patronising, to be fair.

OP, if he doesn't want to feed it might be his tummy hurting from wind, he might want comfort, he might be too warm or cold. It's a process of elimination really.

Until I saw the comments the OP added I thought 3 posts in this will be aBout Gina Ford.

Why the ultimate mission is to get babies who don’t say a damn word all night is so important in her book I don’t know.

She seems to miss all biology details.

Sorry OP this wasn’t at you, miss Gina no kids has mislead you.

Crying is usually the last sign a baby is hungry. Prior to crying they route and suck their fists and look for you so the fact he doesn’t cry doesn’t meant he isn’t hungry.
At only 5 weeks old he probably does want a feed.
Baby’s don’t form habits at such a young age, I appreciate night feeds are hard it’s very unusual for babies to sleep through the night so young

Sounds to me like some quite serious PNA - that response wasnt proportionate. OP hope you have support.

OP no one knows sleep deprivation like people on this site. They really really dont. But they are trying to help.

It's a scary time. But honestly a dr cant tell you your BF baby doesnt need a night feed at 5 weeks old.

Do you have someone to help and support you? In afraid you may have a while before the sleep gets better. My DS is 8 months and we are only just now getting stretches of 6 hours and that isnt reliable. I'm not trying to scare you I'm.just trying to show you that your expectations may not be quite right.