Tired of being a snack bar...

Renik20

I'm going to lose my mind with this kid who won't eat enough to last beyond 1-2 hrs. EBF, but even the LC said I'm being used as "a snack bar instead of a restaurant." This MOTN every hour stuff is killing me...

Any advice on this? I need to be reminded, as I've apparently forgotten since my last kid, lol...

lalaith50

Is he eating long enough each time? If, for example, he's falling asleep after only one side, try waking him to eat on the other. Mine always sleeps longer then.

KariB509

My LO is a bit of a grazer too. Her CNP suggested training her to go longer. It's hard but when your LO wants to nurse after it's only an hour, don't do it. Make him wait another hour and then he'll be good and hungry and will nurse longer and not be hungry just an hour later. GL.

Andreabills

I agree with waking him up to eat more per feeding, try unwrapping him, cold washcloth on his tummy, tickle his feet, etc. I don't think making him wait an hour when he's hungry is a good idea. Babies this she need to have their needs met pretty quickly and letting him cry for an hour when he's hungry isn't something I would do.

Good luck!

myfriendscallmemeg

I make our LO wait about 2 hours between feedings during the day. The hardest ones are the feedings she stays awake in between. Those I have to hold her and give her a pacifier for. But it makes it so she eats enough to keep her happy for (just about) 2 hours!

Hopefully you can find something that works for you and your LO!

clo1982

I'd be hesitant to make the baby wait a full hour. It would seem that they would just get more angry. When I've had to make ds wait even a short period, (ie a car ride, pumping session, etc) he gets so worked up that he often ends up spitting up when he does eat. I agree with the waking lo back up to eat more. I have to do this every night because he falls asleep after an ounce or so. He'd be up way too soon for my liking if I let him go. So I change him then if it doesn't wake him up, I leave his sleeper unbuttoned, tickle him or if none of that is working I do the cool wash cloth. That's pretty much a guarantee of an awake baby!

AriaAmante143

I hope anyone who is doing the whole "make the baby wait an hour" thing has consulted their pedi. My pedi told us that feeding her whenever she's hungry, no matter if it's been an hour or three hours is best. Babies don't cry in hunger because they're looking for something to do, they cry because they're hungry. I can't imagine trying to soothe a hungry baby for an hour, just is you can say it's been 2 hours. Plus, frequent BFing helps encourage a good supply.

dannie2011

The make them wait and hour is old outdated advice. Some pedi's will still give that advice too. They tend to compare formula fed babies to breastfed, when the two are different. 

memo9

WickedNE said:

My LO is a bit of a grazer too. Her CNP suggested training her to go longer. It's hard but when your LO wants to nurse after it's only an hour, don't do it. Make him wait another hour and then he'll be good and hungry and will nurse longer and not be hungry just an hour later. GL.

I don't agree with this at all. The baby is hungry, feed the baby. All you'll get from denying a newborn food is a screaming baby. Then they'll get so worked up, you'll have a harder time getting them on breast when it's time. This time will pass, but making a baby hungry for an extra hour until you feel they're famished enough is terrible advice.

I totally agree!  Do you get hungry at the exact same intervals every single day?  OP how old is your baby?

ETA:  have you tried side lying nursing so you can rest when baby eats? 

KariB509

I didn't particularly agree with her advice either so I'm not sure why I even suggested it here. I've also never tried it. She started going every two hours on her own, coincidently right after I talked to the nurse practitioner about her being a grazer. And yes, a medical professional have me this advice. #-o