You can't be hungry...a sucky baby!

[malibu_nikkus]

my 2 week old has put herself on a 3-4hr routine. She has a great feed after her nap and is very content.  BUT, when she gets tired and is being patted to sleep, she ALWAYS tries to suck on my arm etc.  everyone keeps saying she is hungry, but I believe she just likes to suck to go to sleep.  If I offer the breast, she will have a shorter feed and fall asleep.

Does anyone else have a sucky baby like mine? I'm not keen to give a dummy as I don't want to play the game of having to put it back in when she wakes, especially at night...no thanks.  Do I keep following my instincts and assume she wants to suck to sleep and isn't actually hungry?
Thanks

[newkidontheblock]

It is probably comfort, more than hunger. And nothing is more soothing than being at mama's breast and in her arms. At that age, my DD pretty much nursed constantly:)

[weaver]

Completely normal and natural as Fleur says.  Some babies are 'suckier' than others!  My first was touchy and really needed to suck to relax enough to sleep.  He had a soother from about 3 days old as he needed it, it never disturbed his sleep.

On the timing of her feeds, I would say that 2 weeks is very little to be on a 4 hr EASY already so I would encourage her to go for 3 hrly feeds, if you can, to make sure she gets enough during the day and doesn't wake too much at night to feed. Otherwise at 2 weeks, I wouldn't worry too much about a short feed before naps. It'll be good for her and for your supply.  As she gets bigger, you can work on putting her down drowsy but awake.  Or you can just let her suck your arm.

[*Ali*]

I agree 4hrly feeds at this age probably aren't getting enough milk in overall so she may well be hungry again even if it has just been an hour or so since the last feed. Many babies want to feed again half an hour later as this is actually when the milk is at its fattiest. Cluster feeding in the evening is also the norm and helps establish your supply so I would feed her. Many tiny babies feed on and off for hours around what we would normally call BT?

[Emami]

My 3 1/2 week old is the same, but she does it all the time not just when she's tired!  People are always telling me she must be hungry, and I know as a newborn she needs to eat a lot, but not when she's literally just had a good feed.  She won't take a dummy but she's starting to find her fingers, and when she sleeps I swaddle her but with a hand peeking out near her mouth so she can get it, or I sometimes give her a top up feed as you and others have described, especially in the evening.  Sometimes she feeds to sleep and sometimes she doesn't.  She definitely likes to suck though - arms, boobs, fingers, sleeves are all welcome!

[malibu_nikkus]

I tried waking her at 3hrs during the day but she just ends up too exhausted to take a good feed. I find if I wait for her to wake up herself, she takes a much better, full feed. I'm trying to just trust her and go with her.  She only wakes twice at night too and once asleep during the day, sleeps a long time so I kind of figured this was a sign she was getting enough food. Happy, sleeps well and good output.

Good to know milk is at it fattiest after 30mins.

I'll try swaddling her with a hand out.  She'd love that, although does their hand occasionally wake them up?

[Emami]

I haven't found having a hand out wakes her up, but leaving a whole arm out does. So I wrap the first arm tight and then position the second arm over her chest so her hand is at the top of the swaddle material.  It's just enough freedom for her to be able to get at it, but the arm is wrapped enough that she doesn't start flailing and wake herself up.  It's still a work in progress figuring this stuff out but this seems to get the best results so far. Hope that helps

[*Ali*]

She may well be happy going 3-4hrs between feeds at some points in the day (especially while she is a sleepy newborn) and I think it is fine to feed her on cue rather than wake her. I just mean that doesn't mean that at other points throughout the day she doesn't genuinely need more frequent cluster feeds.

[malibu_nikkus]

I think my DD read the memo.  As of 4pm yesterday afternoon, she moved herself to a 2.5-3hr routine.  She doesn't feed for as long anymore but certainly seems happy feeding more regularly.  At nights she would always have two feeds, one three hourly, one four hourly.  I wasn't worried about her night feeds.  Although I have to say, since she started her new routine of more feeds, she doesn't seem to sleep as deeply during the day or night and seems more refluxy (I think she has issues with silent reflux.  It doesn't seem to cause her pain yet, but even three hours after her last feed she is choking and chewing on milk).

[lauradj]

I agree with Anne, Emma and Ali, at such a young age a 3hr routine is best for healthy weight maintenance/gain.  Do you feed one side per feed or two, because that might make a difference.  I only ever offered DS one side per feed and when I tried both breasts per feed (as my friend said I should) he would spit up all over the place.  So indicative of his future eating habits!  It's just something to consider but you know your baby best.  She'll likely work it out over time.  I'm glad things are better!