Breastfed babies, number of night-time feedings

Carrie - posted on 12/14/2009

Quoting Lacey:

My son is 6 months and wakes up every 2-3 hours during the night to nurse. He sometimes will go to sleep around 8 or 9pm and usually is awake around 7 or 8am. He is now having solids during the day so the feedings during the night have been more like every 3 hours but not always. Julian somehow knows when I want to go to sleep for the night because no matter how long it has been since he last ate he will wake up right as i'm getting ready to go to sleep. (He is in his own room)

That would always happen to me, too. No matter when I was getting ready to go to bed, be it earlier or later than usual, she would always wake up just then.

Lacey - posted on 12/14/2009

My son is 6 months and wakes up every 2-3 hours during the night to nurse. He sometimes will go to sleep around 8 or 9pm and usually is awake around 7 or 8am. He is now having solids during the day so the feedings during the night have been more like every 3 hours but not always. Julian somehow knows when I want to go to sleep for the night because no matter how long it has been since he last ate he will wake up right as i'm getting ready to go to sleep. (He is in his own room)

Emma - posted on 12/14/2009

My son is almost 6 mo and still wakes 3-4 times a night to feed. He goes to bed approx 7pm everynight and is up 7-8am. Pefectly normal.

Lisa - posted on 12/14/2009

Hi

My son is almost 7 months, wakes twice between 10pm and 6am... one thing i've learnt about breast fed babies... none are the same, and just when you get used to their feeding habits, they change! 3-4 times sounds a bit much but I dont think its abnormal. Hang in there, the short season of breast feeding is over so quickly try to enjoy it even when its not fun.

Carrie - posted on 12/14/2009

At 5 months, she should be able to go at least 5 hours without feeding. She should need only 1 or 2 night-time feedings. Waking up more often than that means that she wants your help to go back to sleep and that she's used to getting the comfort. If waking that often is not a problem for you, then fine. But I lost my sanity when my 5-7 month old kept waking every 2 hours or sometimes more often, so I had to do the Ferber method. It is a gentler version of cry-it-out. It just teaches your baby to put herself back to sleep and that she doesn't always need you there to help her. I googled the method and it really worked for me. I'm having other issues with her getting colds and teething and waking up now, but the method saved my sanity. I never ever thought I could let my baby cry but doctors assured me that it is just training and you are not neglecting them if they really need something. But they don't need to feed so often--it is just a habit. And as with any habit, the person will protest but then they'll establish a new healthier habit.

Dana - posted on 12/14/2009

Yes, that's pretty normal. It will get better, and by that I mean you will get used to it. Although at this point you may think your body is as used to it as it can, it will go even further. My son started sleeping through the night at 12-13 months. He goes to bed at 7:30 a.m. and wakes up anywhere from 6:30 - 7:30 to nurse and we'll usually drop back off to sleep again. I also put him in his own bed at that time which helped but, if you're co-sleeping, I'd continue to do that for now. It makes it much easier to feed.

Tina - posted on 12/14/2009

My two month old sleeps all night at 12 weeks. When I went to our last Dr. visit she said to make sure i put her down before she is asleep but almost there. and if she gets up to give her a chance to settle down before you pick then up and if they don't settle down to rock and cuddle to see if they will calm down before feeding.. She said "If I have a snack at 3 everyday I'm going to want to eat at 3 if I feel hungry or not."
Thats just what she told me. It could be that my baby just really likes sleep. LOL
Good luck!

Vesna - posted on 12/14/2009

Quoting Lisa:

My 14 month old nurses every two hours during the night.

Breastfed infants are expected to receive 25% of their nutrition during the night for the first 12 months. But breastfeeding is a great source of comfort as well, and nursing during the night keeps prolactin levels high.

See:

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detfreq.ht...

Lisa, thank you for the information! Very helpful

Sara - posted on 12/14/2009

I have two little ones and they both breastfed for a year and they both woke me up every two hours to eat, they both slowed to just 1 time a night when they started on solid food around 6-7 months.

Minnie - posted on 12/14/2009

My 14 month old nurses every two hours during the night.



Breastfed infants are expected to receive 25% of their nutrition during the night for the first 12 months. But breastfeeding is a great source of comfort as well, and nursing during the night keeps prolactin levels high.



See:



http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepth...



http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsuck.ht...



http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detfreq.ht...