Increase daytime feedings to reduce NFs?

[N_Mom_S]

Hello everyone!

My 7 1/2 mo nurses 2/3 times at night (and he eats quite a lot). I'd like to know if anyone has experience or knows anything about increasing the number feedings during the day in order to have fewer feedings at night, does it work? He nurses every 4/5 hours (depending on how long his naps are) and has solids 1/2h after nursing, 3 times a day. He used to be a snacker - feeding every 2h - and it was difficult to stretch the feeding times but we finally got it, I don't want to risk going back to snacking!!! 

Any thoughts will be appreciated!! 

[N_Mom_S]

Should this be in the breastfeeding forum? I'm not sure now...

[Martini~]

In general I would say that 3x day is a toral minimum at that age to reduce night feeds, and still until 9/10mo I would recommend 4 feeds a day - even if one is smaller.

[N_Mom_S]

Thanks for your answer! I do 4 daytime feedings because I do an extra one before BT, more or less like this:

WU 8:45
E nurse 9:00, solids 11:15
A 3H40
S 12:25 - 1:40  (1H15)
E nurse 1:40, solids 3:45
A 3H15
S 4:55 -5:30 (35m)
E nurse 5:35, nurse 8:00, cereal 8:30
A 4H10
BT 9:40

Do you think 5 or more feedings would help, or not really?

[Scottishmummy]

I would keep the same number of day feeds + trying for 3 full meals a day but then also try to reduce how much he feeds at night. He should then take more during the day at the times you're already offering.

Are you feeding both sides at night? Could you start off night weaning by just offering 1 side at one of the feeds/each feed?

[creations]

Hi, I think 2 night feeds are about normal for a BF baby at this age.  I will move you over to BF board though as you'll get more experienced eyes over there.

[Martini~]

Hmmm and ja he going to sleep independently?

[N_Mom_S]

Thank you both for your answers!

He usually doesn't go to sleep independently, only (very) occasionally. Most of the times with shh pat and a lot of crying.


Scottishmummy, what do you mean by full meals? Yes, I'm feeding both sides and he usually empties them. OK, I'll offer only one if he's sleepy, but he's usually anxious until I offer the second one, so I'm afraid he will cry, what should I do in that case?
And if he eats less won't he wake up earlier for another feeding due to hunger? Thanks!

[Martini~]

At that age you definitely can think also about independent sleep honey. If he wakes every 3-4h at night it might be not hunger but habit and no ability to resettle by himself. Maybe you would like to dig around on sleep forum and look for a solution? It make help tremendously with feeding at night.

[Scottishmummy]

Full meals- baby sized breakfast, lunch and tea!

I think around this age I started gradually reducing the time I let mine feed for...so if feeding both sides, time how long he feeds from 2nd side then gradually take him off one minute earlier every 2-3 nights until it's only 1-2 mins in 2nd side, at which point you can probably just offer 1 side. You can then wean off that side in the same way.
If you reduce the amount (time feeding) very gradually it shouldn't lead to waking fir extra feeds.

I agree with Martini about IS though and trying to teach sleep/resettling without feeding.  Gentle removal plan can help with this:
Gentle Removal Plan

[N_Mom_S]

He's having veggies for breakfast, fruits for lunch and cereal for dinner, is that OK?
Also, I've started to give him his cereal just before BT to see if he lasted longer, but can that be counterproductive?


Last night I tried the gentle removal plan until he was kind of satisfied. He still woke up at the same time for the second feed, and his WU time was similar, a bit earlier. I don't know if in the end he ate less than normal, I guess it was a little less. It's difficult to know when you're breastfeeding! I'll keep trying that, thanks 

About his IS, I've been jumping from one of the forums to the other, we kind of got him to sleep independently (sometimes) when he was about 5mo but he got sick and it's got worse since then. For example, today I just turned on the projector (with music) and he fell asleep by himself, but other days he gets really mad and shh pat only makes it worse. I'll keep watching his A times, I don't know if that's the problem.

[Martini~]

At that age Honey only consistency will work. So if you want him to settle independlty choose any method you feel comfortable with and just stick with it, like gradual withdrawal. However you really need consistency with every nap and bedtime and in my opinion at least for first 6-8h of the night.

Re projector - it may be worth turning it off. It can be too stimulating at that age.

[*Ali*]

Are you feeding from both sides at each feed? And letting LO come off himself? I'd probably add in another feed if you can. Sounds like right now he's feeding more often at night than in the day. He might not be able to get all he needs in 4 feeds.

Is he an independent sleeper or is the BFing at night a prop perhaps? It could just be that he still needs to eat that often though.

Maybe push the solids closer to an hour after BFs to spread the food out a bit. He might take more solid food then as he'll have time to get hungry again.

[*Ali*]

I've just merged both your threads into one to keep info all together.

At 7.5mo I would personally concentrate on milk as that should be the main source of nutrition until 12mo. In the UK we are encouraged to introduce solids slowly moving to 3 full meals between 8-9mo. I know advice varies in other countries though.

[N_Mom_S]

Thank you all for your help!

Martini - is gradual withdrawal the same as gentle removal?

Ali - I'm still a bit confused when you guys mention the term 'full meals'. Are these considered full meals: some veggies in the morning, some fruits for lunch, some cereal before BT?
When you suggested pushing solids closer to an hour after BF to spread the food out, do you mean pushing it closer to BF? I was pushing it to 2h after BF to spread it out.

This is our EASY, any ideas about when to introduce that extra feeding? Thanks!!! 

WU 9:00
E nurse 9:30, solids 11:15
A 3H
S 12:00-1:30 (1H30)
E nurse 1:45, solids 3:30
A 3H
S 4:30 - 6:00 (1H30)
E nurse 6:00, nurse 8:00, cereal 8:30
A 3H30
BT 9:30

E 1:15, E 4:45, E 7:00


WU 8:45
E nurse 9:00, solids 11:00
A 3H15
S 12:00-12:55 (55M)
E nurse 1:15, solids 3:15
A 3H20
S 4:15-6:30 (2H15)
E nurse 6:30, nurse 8:10, cereal 8:30
A 3H30
BT 10:00

E 00:45, rock 3:30 (sh pat didn't work), E 5:45


WU 8:45
E nurse 9:00, solids 11:15
A 3H40
S 12:25 - 1:40  (1H15)
E nurse 1:40, solids 3:45
A 3H15
S 4:55 -5:30 (35m)
E nurse 5:35, nurse 8:00, cereal 8:30
A 4H10
BT 9:40

E 00:35, E 4:00