5.5 month old - breastfeeding & sleep

[LMac502]

Hello

I recently managed to get my daughter into something that resembled a routine:

7/730 - Up for the day
9.15/930 - Nap between 30-60 minutes
1230 - Nap for 90-120 minutes
1630 - Short nap while in pram
1800 - start to wind down, bath, fed, story and bed for around 1915
2215/2230 - dreamfeed
For a few nights, she would wake once or twice, which I can handle. But now she’s back to waking hourly after midnight and then is wide awake from around 630 which kind of throws off her nap times.

Her feeding isn’t great, she’s exclusively breastfed though we are trying to introduce a bottle (with breast milk), so dad can help more. During the day I’ll offer the breast regularly, in the hope she’ll be fuller at bedtime, but for weeks she’s only been taking around 3 minutes of feed at each time, and only one breast. Her nappy output seems normal, but 3 minutes just doesn’t sound right. She’ll take longer through the night - both breasts and a good 5-7 minutes each.

Any advice on the waking up or short feeds, and also, should I change the nap times when she wakes so early, and/or make them longer?

Thanks

Thanks @GrumpyHoonMain, I think she’s definitely an easily distracted baby! Mine does the 2-3 minute thing, but very rarely goes back on (during the day anyway). I’m working on reducing the night feeds so hopefully that increases day feeds 🤞

After three breastfed kids, I’m here to advise that there is no rhyme or reason to either sleeping patterns or feeding.
Have you thought about just going with the flow, feeding on demand and accepting babies wake a lot in the night? I tied myself in knots with the first trying to get them on a schedule.. was much happier when I just went with it and accepted random feeding and wake ups.
They all sleep eventually, they all grow out of being fed to sleep and accept being rocked instead or you just laying with them. Good luck

Thanks @Oly4, I appreciate your input. I’d happily go with the flow, if she would feed a bit better. I know babies become more efficient at breastfeeding, but when the 3 minutes is on/off on/off, and my breasts don’t feel like they’re being emptied, I can’t see how she’s getting enough. She’s really quite unsettled during the day, which I feel is her lack of feeding. Although, as I mentioned earlier it could potentially be teething or silent reflux. It’s just frustrating to not be able to appease her through the day the same way I am able to at night. It’s actually really putting me off breastfeeding now 😭😭

Should have clarified... The 2/3 mins feeds my DS does are on/off the whole day. I basically need to let him play or release his energy after 3 mins then put him back on. He feeds better at night as there are fewer distractions I think.

But I think this is normal. Some babies are just snackers and there’s not much you can do about it. They do get better as they get older. And all 5 month olds are unsettled on my experience- they are clingy, want to be carried, don’t nap for very long. Again, it all settles down as they get older. It IS exhausting, I’m not saying it isn’t. I remember it well.. you feel like a zombie!

Thanks @oly4 - zombie is right. Good to know it’s fairly normal. I think being FTM and the only person in mine or DHs family to breastfeed is making me more anxious as they all thought I should have stopped months ago 🙄
Think this is my second post on mumsnet and must say everyone has been so helpful, so thanks again x

Ah, I had the same with my first and everyone encouraged me to stop. I regret it. It’s hard to know what is normal but if your baby is gaining weight and has regular nappies, they are fine. And that’s whether they feed 100 times a day or 10. I was very anxious about it but as long as weight gain is fine, you’re fine. It’s just REALLY tiring. I fed all mine to sleep TIL they were about 15 months then switched to rocking or soothing music and laying with them. Eventually they sleep through the night.. promise!