5 mo old hungry @ 3-4am

[hatshetsut]

As you can see from the ticker, my DD is 5 mo, about 2 weeks old. She hasn't been sleeping great for a while, but that was mostly because I tried to wean her from the swaddle and life was pretty bad. We reinstated the swaddle, and things were better, but the last 3 days she has woken up and needed to eat. I'm sure it wasn't just a comfort nurse because she emptied both sides and fell right back to sleep. It seems sort of early for a growth spurt, but it could be I guess.

My question is: How do I up her calories during the day so that she will sleep through the night, or am I incorrect in thinking that it is hunger? Her current EASY looks like this:

E: 6am
S: 8-9:30ish
E: 10
S: 12-1:30
E: 2
S: 4-4:30
E: 6
S: 6:30

Any help would be great. Thanks!

[KathrynK]

My dd started to wake at around 4 am each night when she was about 5 mths, having previously slept all night. She was hungry and this carried on every night until she was fully established on 3 solid meals a day. only then was her tummy full enough to last all night once more!
I am not saying start dd on solids as we all know it's best for them to wait until 6 months and then go slowly as per all the usual advice, I am just saying you might have to get used to doing a night feed again for a while!
sorry.............

[hatshetsut]

Hum, not what I was hoping for, but thanks for the experience!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Do you think she could be having her 6 mo. growth spurt early?

[hatshetsut]

I rule nothing out!  I'm actually terrible at telling when they are having a growth spurt and when it it something else!  I can usually only tell by hind sight. I have been offering her formula after her BF to see if I can up her calories. Is that alright?

[nursekat]

Hi hjarovsky!  Our LOs are about the same age, and we're going through the same thing!  I've posted a few other places about a few other things, and it just sounds like this is what she needs right now - and I'm hearing more and more about how this is pretty common at this age.  I, too, give her formula right before bed as she is always frustrated during that last bf - don't know if it's supply or let-down.  Anyway, it hasn't really helped but she likes it a lot so I'm keeping it up.  I'm just figuring she needs that extra feed right now, she's gearing up for solids next month and is just getting to be a big girl.  I'm happy that it's one waking now, though - she was doing two for a while there!!     Sorry I can't offer more advice!

[hatshetsut]

Woo Hoo! It's not just me! I'm glad to hear that we are going through something normal! I will be happy when is is over however. BTW, I love your LO's name, it sounds beautiful. Thanks Nursekat.

[~Angie~]

We too went through the same thing. DD had just started sleeping through the night around 5 months. Then, at 5.5 months she again started to wake to eat. It lasted for a couple of weeks. We started solid meals around 6 months and that helped out also.

[Colin Macs Mom]

I have been offering her formula after her BF to see if I can up her calories. Is that alright?

Absolutely.