How can he still be hungry?!!

[KellyC]

Hi

Zander is almost 8 months old, having 3-4 bfs and eating 3 good meals a day.  He has a pretty long bedtime bf but still wakes up between 5am and 6am every morning hungry.  I don't mind getting up to feed him but the problem is that once he's had his feed he's ready to start the day.  This morning he started whinging at 5am but kept putting himself back to sleep but at 5.45am he was screaming for food.  Although I treated this as a nightfeed and put him straight back down he wasn't even trying to go back to sleep!  Any ideas how to get a few more calories into him?

Thanks
Kelly

[woopster]

Have you tried giving him a snack afer his bedtime bf?

[KellyC]

That's interesting, I had thought about snacks but not at that time.  I would have to give him his bedtime feed a little earlier because he's tired and ready for sleep after it usually.  It seems strange - what could I give him to eat right before bed?

Thanks
Kelly

[Kate A]

kelly - the super baby food book suggests that at 8 months of age they should be eating 3 meals plus 1 or 2 super snacks. 

her suggestions are (all age appropriate of course)
soft pieces of fruit or diced veggies
tofu chunks
whole grain cereal (cheerios)
crumbled egg yolk pieces
small pieces of soft cheese
small lumps of cottage cheese
brown rice
whole grain crackers
small pasta pieces
whole grain pancakes


so those are just some suggestions
for her timeline during the day she suggests the snack in the afternoon between lunch and dinner. HTH
eloise is waking from nap....got to go

[KellyC]

Thanks Kate, that's really helpful.

Before I read this I did actually give Zander a snack after his 3pm breastfeed today - he had a stick of cheddar cheese.  I've also just given him half of his bedtime bf and then he'll have the other half after his bath - maybe taking in a bit more than he would in one sitting!  I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Kelly

[LŠuren]

Kelly
I have also given Calum sandwiches around 6pm when DH & I eat. One with jam and one with philli. You could try your marmite rusks 

[woopster]

I also used to give DS porridge after bf and before bed.

[KellyC]

Wow Lauren, does Calum eat 2 sandwiches?!  Zander usually has a sandwich (amongst other things!) for dinner and has his cooked meal at lunch time.  I made the rusks this afternoon, good job I'm back on my diet or I'd eat them all myself!

Thanks for the porridge idea Woopster - I'll keep it in reserve!

Here's hoping for a good night 

[LŠuren]

well when I say 2, it is a slice of bed with crusts off, then cut diagonally across in 4 to make 2 mini sandwiches. They look big in his hands 

[*Natasha*]

Hi Kelly,

I have just started giving Catherine dessert after her dinner as she seems to be hungry after are you doing that?
What is the gap between dinner and last bf?
You say he has his cooked meal at lunch, could you swap it around and give it at dinner instead it might fill him up more.

[LŠuren]

Natasha what would you class as a cooked meal?

Yesterday Calum had fish with 'lovely lentils' and then for tea he had roughly chopped pasta with tomato and basil + ready Brek for b/fast.

[KellyC]

Hungry at 5.50am today again.  He's definitely hungry - I can see the difference when I try to get him back to sleep and he's still screaming and showing no signs that he'll settle.  This boy eats alot!  For breakfast today he had 1/2 a banana, a slice of cheese on toast and 1/2 a weetabix with milk.  Yesterday he had this;

Wake up BF
8am 1/2 weetabix mixed with 1/2 a banana and 3 tbsp natural yogurt followed by an oat cake with soft cheese
10am BF
12pm 6 ice cubes homemade butternut squash risotto, 1/2 banana, a fromage frais and an Organix carrot stick
2.30pm BF and a stick of cheddar cheese
5pm Sandwich made from 2 slices of bread and 1/2 an avacado, 2 organic moon biscuits, 1/2 jar of apple and peach melba mixed with some natural yogurt
6pm 1/2 BF
7pm (after bath) 1/2 BF

So you see I don't let him go hungry during the day - he seems to always be eating!  Do you think I should give him a snack in the morning too?

Kelly

[Katet]

How much is he drinking other than bf... I know that with my 11mo if he doesn't have 1.5 - 2 sippy cups of water a day, he wakes up wanting a drink at night or if he makes it to 5am a drink won't cut it he needs a bf... I think it is that the hunger is starting & even though he is actually thirsty he is hungry enough to want milk too.

Just a thought... btw 4 bf is what is recommended until 9mo, so maybe he "has read the books"

Also you may find that if you can delay his morning nap slightly he will be that much more tired that he can sleep past that 5am point, as more often than not it is a food/not tired enough problem.

[*Natasha*]

Zander usually has a sandwich (amongst other things!) for dinner and has his cooked meal at lunch time. I made the rusks this afternoon, good job I'm back on my diet or I'd eat them all myself!

Though that perhaps she could swap the two around???

[KellyC]

It's definitely an option Natasha - he's had chicken casserole from our dinner last night for his lunch and I'm thinking of making him pasta for dinner so he's spoilt with 2 'proper' meals today!

Kate - that's interesting what you say about being thirsty and I have considered it because Zander hardly drinks any water or juice, though I always offer it - he probably has 1 oz max per day but I haven't stressed about it because he's breastfed.  I have tried to give him a drink when he wakes early a few times but, like you say, hunger is beginning to kick in so it just won't do.  I know I'm desperate for a drink when I wake in the early hours so why would I expect him to get by without one!!  I've been getting a little more into him by giving him some before his naps and I guess he could have some with his snacks so long as it comes after the breastfeeds.  I worry about him having too much juice and not eating solids/breastmilk as a result but I don't think that's really a valid concern here at the moment!  I'll persist with the drinks - I bought him an Avent Magic cup today and he seems to quite like it.  I accidentally bought a pink one - poor boy!!

Kelly