When to re-settle and when to feed

[Harrisons_mum]

Hi

I was just wondering if anybody could help with the dilemma of re-settling v nit feelings

Ds is bf and have introduced solids.  He has 5/6 feeds a day and 2 meals (breakfast  - fruit  and dinner - fruit and rice w breast milk)

E longest stretch he has done is 5hrs between feeds, but almost always wakes up every 3 hrs through the night.  I maybe get 2/3 5 hr stretches a month.

Recently he has been waking up every 2 hrs so I have been re-settling him and he then goes 4hrs before I feed him, but I'm always confused when he wakes up at 3 hrs.  I'm nervous to try settling him incase he is generally hungry but I worry that I'm creating a bad habit. double

It's so hard to stay on track in the middle of the night with 20 weeks of sleep deprivation, so a solid plan is the most likely way for me to try.

I think this maybe one of those every baby is different situations, but any advice is welcome

Thanks

Suzi

[becj86]

The general rule is that LO should go as long at night as he can in the day, so if he's going 4hr between milk feeds during the day, then resettle before 4hr and feed after 4hr (but never feed if the 4hr mark is reached while resettling without LO having gone back to sleep, even if just for 5 mins or you're teaching him to scream til he gets what he wants). I found the best way was to have a clock in my room, make the decision between resettling and feeding before I went into DS' room.

[Harrisons_mum]

That's pretty much what I thought... Problem is I look at the time and confuse myself in my silly tired brain! Hehe...  I'm going to make a concious effort over the next few nights.  I didn't know the bit about making them fall asleep even for 5mins... Totally makes sense.

Thank you