Taking Full Feeds at Night Habit?

[JennVanessa1083]

Hello,

My EBF 6 month old (turned 6 months on 12/4/15) has been waking up throughout the night for a week wanting to take full feeds between 2-4 hours. I spoke to a nurse about it and she indicated that it could be out of habit...I'm not sure if I agree with that because if it were habit wouldn't it impede on his daily milk intake? He still takes full feeds throughout the day as well. I also introduced solids a couple of days ago starting at one meal a day as recommended by my pediatrician.

Is this true? Am I creating a nighttime feeding habit thinking it is genuine hunger?

I should note that he is teething and recovering from a cold last week.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Is it possibly a growth spurt? There is usually one around this age.

[JennVanessa1083]

That's what I am thinking and that it was a good time to really get solids under way...do growth spurts last longer than a week?

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Not generally but then every child is different! What were nights like prior to this?

[JennVanessa1083]

Prior to this it was usually 5-7 hour stretches; sometimes 8 hour stretches before waking for a feed.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

And his day feeds are the same? Just the added solids meal?

[JennVanessa1083]

Hi!

Yes feeds are pretty much the same. Last night was much better. Only woke up to feed twice so perhaps it was a growth spurt.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Oh that is good!

[JennVanessa1083]

Yes! Thank you so much for your help!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

You're welcome...fx the nights continue to get better!

[JennVanessa1083]

Hello...I'm back!!

So the last two nights he is back to feeding every two hours to the tee! 

I am still feeding one meal of solids a day (mid afternoon; about one tablespoon). And he feeds every 3.5-4 hours during the day. I had one night of bliss then it went back. I'm working with another mod on the EASY board to tweak my routine; however, it doesn't explain the full feeds he is taking at night. I have tried settling in other ways and he does know how to fall asleep on his own because he has done it before. I'm just confused 

Am I just not feeding him enough during the day? Is it a growth spurt that hasn't ended? Is it teething? (He is teething; nothing cutting just swollen gums).

Not sure if this matters but he was born with a smaller than average stomach not sure if this is a factor to his eating patterns. I used to give top ups before he was able to stretch to 4 hours; but perhaps due to 6 months being a time of a lot of growth and development maybe I should reintroduce? I don't want a snacking habit and I also don't want a nighttime habit if that's possible.

Thank you in advance!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

We kept the top up feeds until solids were a bit more established, so that could help. If he is only feeding every 4 hours in the day then the night feeds may be necessary for him at this point.

[JennVanessa1083]

Ok that definitely makes sense. I'm going to consult with the Pediatrician on Monday to see if I can increase solid intake. In the meantime I can definitely reintroduce top up feeds and hopefully that will help with the NF.

Thanks so much!