6 month old feeding more at night

[claire1711]

I have an almost 6 month old son, he was doing 7-7 with a dream feed from about 8 weeks but stopped that at about 4 months.  Now he is feeding 4 hourly during the day and 3 hourly at night.  He has his last feed around 7, dream feed at 10.30 (often wakes for this) then he's waking for a feed around 1.30 and again around 4. He is breastfed but I have just introduced a formula feed for the dream feed coz I need a break! 
I have tried increasing the amount he takes during the day but if I feed him more often ie 3.5 hourly or try to increase the time he feeds he is either disinterested just sick afterwards! He seems to take a proper feed seems hungry.  He is on the lower end of the growth scale if that makes any difference.
Any suggestions to help a totally knackered mum with another toddler too!
Thanks x

[claire1711]

He also sleeps well during the daytime naps and goes straight back to sleep after the night feeds

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Have you tried settling without feeding at all? Is he an independent sleeper otherwise (ie not using it as a prop)?

[claire1711]

I can't seem to settle him unless he's been fed when he wakes at night.  Any other time for naps and bedtime he is a pretty good independent sleeper sometimes needs shh pat or a quick pupd but no real props and no feeding to sleep

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

In that case I think it is most likely hunger waking not something else!  - not really much you can do as you said you already tried upping the daytime feeds. Can your dh do the df now that you are doing a bottle so you can sleep?

[athenasmom]

How about solids? My ds was ready for solids at 4 months. Milk feedings alone could not sustain him. He did the exact same thing. So we started solids and he wad a happy champ again.

[*Ali*]

How are things going now? I expect you have started solids since he must be 7mo now I think.

[claire1711]

Thanks, we have started solids and he's taken to it quite well. He's still waking once at night for a feed but it's generally better than it was, still going with the dream feed for now and we are down to 2 good naps during the day.  Any more advice is always welcome but I guess it's just a time thing now! 

[*Ali*]

Sounds like his feeds are ok