how many times a day?

[kkielb]

Hi there -
my 8 week old wants to eat 7 - 8 times a day. since he's sleeping through the night now (yeah! ) - this equates to a feeding every 2 - 2.5 hrs - which doesnt allow for very long naps - so he has been kind of fussy. when will the feedings stretch out? how does that happen? do they learn to take more each time to hold them longer? i think he's getting about 5 oz each now - he weighs 13 lb 10 oz and gaining well.

thanks for any info you can share

k

[GraceKellysmom]

My ds fed every 2 hrs until he was nearly 4 months old. He could only stay up about an hour, so he did that 1 hr up, 1 hr down thing forever. And he slept all night too, isn't that funny? I figured he was getting plenty to eat during the day and I didn't mind sleeping all night.  :wink:

The feeds usually stretch out when they start being able to stay up longer. You can also try offering both breasts at each feed if you are not already, to see if he will take more per feeding (although 5 oz is plenty! lol)

Mine went to 2.5-3 hrly at 4 months and didn't hit 4 hrly feeds until 8 months old. HTH

[annamum]

5 oz is a very good amount. Eating often is not uncommon, some just have it that way and I don't think it is snacking. My Anna also nursed often, 7-9 times in 24 hours, and I was OK with that.

Yes, when they get older they nurse faster and are able to express more milk from your breast than when they are little. I think your little one is doing wonderful, think of all those moms who get 2 or 3 times a night for a quiet and cozy feeding  :lol: .

Have you been comfortable with your breasts since he started to sleep through? Many women report getting engorged because of a long stretch without feeding and some even wake to pump a little to relieve it.

[Tillymint]

i'm glad my little girl isn't the only one who feeds 2 hourly during the day! I began to think i could be overfeeding her but there's no chance of that with breastfeeding babies apparently! My lo is 2hrly fed during the day and goes from df at 10pm to about 3-4am then after that is 2 hourly again. Any tips on how to get her to sleep longer?

xx

[Samuel's mum]

Tillymint - How old is your LO?
10pm to 3/4am is actually a good stretch for a very young baby.

[Tillymint]

Hello!

She's 81/2 weeks old. I shouldn't really be complaining then if that's good. Still trying to get used to the broken sleep thing i think. From 10 til 4am is brilliant but is it normal for her then to wake 2 hourly for feeds? We only tried the df for the first time last week and it seems to be working brilliantly but it's just the stretch from 4am to about 7am i find the hardest because she won't go down for more than 2 hours.

[Samuel's mum]

OK then! At 8.5 weeks she is so so so completely and absolutely normal and your first stretch is great! It will get easier I promise. The stretches after that will improve. Soon she will surprise you. Sam was feeding around every 2.5 hours all night at that age!

[CaedensMama]

I did 2-2.5 hours during the day for a long time too - we are still only at 3 hours during the day but sleeping all night so I am not complaining - he will go longer if we are out and if we are home it is not a bother to feed him a little more often - it keeps is both happy and that is what counts!