4mo feeds 3 times a night... and only snacks during the day

[Billys Mum]

Hi..

My ds is a large baby.. born a week early at 9lb 12oz and has continued along the 90% curve. He has been exclusively breast fed and seemed to instantly know the difference between night and day.. and at 2months he was sleeping through.

Then he had his 12week growth spurt. And since then, everything has been a bit back to front. Last night he fed at 11.30pm, 2am and 4am. These are long feeds which result in him falling back to sleep. During the day he'll feed for 5 mins on each boob, and i've even tried to offer him a bottle and he's not hungry afterwards.

It seems to me that he's getting all his calories during the night time.

Here's my usual daytime schedule:

E 6am
A
S 8 - 10
E 10
A
S 11.30 - 1.30pm
E 1.30pm
E 3.30pm (I'm out most afternoons and need for him not to be hungry)
A
S 4.30 -5.00
E 5.15
A
E 6.30 / 7.00 (Bathtime chaos as have a 2yr old, so try to tank him up as and when)
A Bath
S 8.00

I have seen that some people give water at night time? He usually wakes up at 1am regardless of what feeds he's had before... should we do wake to sleep? We've not put him on solids yet as we're waiting for him to hit 4months...

All advice gratefully received.

Emma

[Bryony]

Hi there

I am wondering if the problem is something other than hunger. I think it sounds as though he's an efficient feeder during the day, but at night I am wondering if he is waking for some other reason, and using you for comfort to get back to sleep - hence those long feedings until he goes back to sleep.

As for why he's waking - I am wondering if he's overtired (OT). Typical A time for a 4 month old is 2hrs or a bit less, with a 12hr day and a 12 hr night. From the routine you posted, your little man has 2hrs first thing, then 1hr 30 mins (both of which sound fine - and you get a decent nap afterwards which is always a sign that your A time is about right!), but then a much longer 3hrs, followed by a 30 min nap (which is almost always a sign of being OT and that the previous A time was too long) then another massive 3hrs A time before bed.

I would aim for that third nap to be after 2hrs A time, and then you should get a 45 min nap, then about 1.5hrs A time, then a much earlier bedtime. That will give you a 12hr day and a 12hr night

Hope that helps

Bryony xx

[Billys Mum]

Thanks Bryony.

I have previously put the baby down to bed after the toddler as he suffered with wind/colic/mild reflux. But I think he's past the worst of that now. Tonight the baby was down at 7 and the toddler at 7.30... fingers crossed!!

Emma

[Bryony]

My fingers are crossed for you too

xx