When to feed? Confused!

[michaeljacknnugg]

So this little guy only really makes hunger known at night and doesn't really like to get to 'hungry!!' before he eats. He also has a long A time - we're on roughly a 4 month-old's routine at three months.

So when do I feed? Here's my jottings from the first part of today:
 6.30 l, 8,15 top up, sleep 9.10-11(not sure when awake)
11.20 r, 12.30 top up, sleep 13.00-14.30(guessing!)
14.30 l, 15.45, top up, sleep 16.00-16.30
16.30r
18.30l and r

As you can see he takes a single side per feed, any more and it comes back up. DS1 was the same.

Any ideas, does this feel right? It's not many 'full' feeds which is why he's waking at night, I think. But a lot of top ups!

[julia.north]

so when he wakes up at night, is he really hungry? Does he take a full feed or does he just need "company"?

It seems like he is feeding well, considering the top ups.
It may be that he's just snacking though, only getting foremilk, and thus not lasting through the night.

How many minutes does he feed for?

[michaeljacknnugg]

He's taking a full feed each time, and also at night - should have said that really! The last feed of the day is also a cluster feed, anything from 1-3hrs. We sometimes get 1 feed overnight, most often two but this past week have had some spaced very closely in the early morning.

He's 14 weeks and growing rapidly, so I can see that he does need the calories. Previously we struggled to make it past two hours between feeds so this is progress!

[*Ali*]

Sounds like he's doing great.
Apparently the milk is very fatty half an hour after a feed so that might be a good time to offer the second side but it sounds like perhaps your DS's sensitive tummy might not handle more milk so soon. If not, just stick with what you are doing for now, I'd say.

[michaeljacknnugg]

I'm offering the same side again for a top up, is that right?

That said, a busted nap yesterday meant we missed the late afternoon feed - and he fed SO much better at bedtime. Downed both sides and dozed off instead of the nightmare evenings we've had recently, and only woke twice overnight. I think I might try that again.

[julia.north]

Yes, spacing the feeds often does the trick...
they are hungry enough to feed both sides, thus get really full and cosy ...

But I know how hard it can be to stretch the times between feeds, my LO is now 5 months old and still feeding every 3.5 hours.

Do you always just offer one side, or both?

[michaeljacknnugg]

I generally offer one side except at bt, otherwise it comes back up. Maybe as he grows we'll be able to do both sides again - we did from a few weeks old but he's clearly full after one side now.