Currently breastfeeding every 1hr 45 - how will this change upon weaning? 🥛

[Phoden]

DS is 4.5 months old and across the day/night, I am breastfeeding on average every 1 hr 45 min.

Once we get to six months old, I am curious as to how this will change?

Ideally I would love it if DH could take some ‘responsibility’ for feeding DS, but am I right in thinking this won’t be the case until much later?

I fed mine two hours until he was six months. The he started on baby rice, carrot, etc. I think he started to go a bit longer in between. It's a slow process. Acceptance helps. Good luck.

It will change and fluctuate for many reasons. As they get a bit older, around the year mark you can get them to wait until a more convenient time / when you get home. But depending largely on teething it can go back to almost newborn levels, particularly the molars between 2.5-3years. or if they are unwell.

DH could just give a bottle of formula now and again if you want a break now you are introducing foods.

How are they developmentally? Are they rolling over fine and showing signs of being able to sit up? As you don't have to wait until bob on 6 months to introduce solids. They might be ready a little sooner. Probably not just yet but potentially between 5 and 6 months. I get all kinds of hysterical answers when I talk about introducing food before 6 months, there was quite a heated debate that went on with people posting all kinds of sources. I was militant about waiting until 6 months with my first but started earlier with my second, he was ravenous, he was so ready for it!
Also at 4.5 months probably teething have u used any teething gel or anything?

He’s not rolling over yet. He is absolutely fascinated by watching me eat! He can sit up when supported but his head’s still a bit wobbly, he couldn’t sit up by himself. So I think he’s not really ready for it just yet.

We did have a couple of days of pain where I think there was some teeth movement under the gums so we gave some Calpol, but that seems to have settled down a bit.

I suppose the early weeks of weaning will provide him with very few calories and so the BF will need to carry on much the same?

I don’t really want to switch to FF because I feel it would just be extra hassle and expense!

Weaning is just about tastes and textures. The milk needs to stay the same.

Have you got a muslin cloth? Rub along his gums and it will help with teething.

Mine never spaced feeds in the day out beyond 2h, but they dropped night feeds spontaneously (so the total number of feeds went down). I only saw a real extension in the time between feeds once we switched to mostly formula, which also coincided with solids.

Once you can get them onto the something hearty in the evening, like porridge with peanut butter, that might help get you a slightly longer break during their first chunk of sleep - though not if baby is feeding for comfort rather than hunger.

He's definitely not ready for solids but even before weaning you should still be getting a little longer between feeds as his tummy grows and he can take more in hope things get better soon, your right in the thick of it right now! As long as dh pulling his weight with housework and letting you get some naps in the day you will be fine. There's a really good breastfeeding book called The Food Of Love by Kate Evans and the website Kelly Mom has good bf advice too x