11 weeks - Eating Schedule

JaysonandKristin

DS is 11 weeks old and he barely makes it 3 hours between nighttime feeding it's more like 2.5 hours.  I'm a SAHM with no other kids so, the sleep deprivation is not a big deal for me, but should he be sleeping longer?  Is this indicative of something I'm doing wrong with his feedings?

I offer him as much as he'll take before he goes to bed at 7:30, and then I give him one breast at each feeding when he wakes up.  I though you weren't supposed to feed them both breasts...  Am I wrong? 

Bhobbsdz

Not sure about the bfing part, but some babies take longer to sleep through the night.  I have been told by several people and have even read on here through the last couple of years that some children are 2 yrs. old before they stop waking up during the night.  I am sure you are not doing anything wrong, he is just not ready.  Best wishes.

nkemp

My LO is 9 weeks and she feeds every 2.5 - 3 hours.  I do the same as you and she's growing and is healthy.  I heard it just takes time.  You're not doing anything wrong!  Hang in there.

 

Alyssajoy87

N just started sleeping through the night. Prior to that, we were on the every 3 hour schedule. All of a sudden, one night he just slept for 8 hours. It was fabulous! So bear in mind that your LO might start STTN soon.

And you don't HAVE to give your LO both breasts at a feeding. But one thing I found helpful was to feed N until he was sleeping and then change his diaper. That woke him up and he was able to eat a little more.

Diaper changing might give you a little extra sleep! GL!

ELPB

DD just turned 12 weeks today, but lately, she has been eating every 2.5 to 4 hours, based around her sleeping/waking up... at night, she goes 4-6 hours. I am a bf'er.

GreekyPie

You aren't doing anything wrong! Remember that they digest breast milk in only 2 hours. His timing sounds fine.

ibis

Mine's still eating that often at 10 weeks.

I would offer both breasts if he wants both, though. I'm not sure why you heard that advice unless it was to make sure he got the hindmilk. I feed him as much as he will take at a night feeding - the more they eat, the more they sleep. 

dunvilles

Make sure he gets as much out of the first breast as possible. If you switch too soon, he'll fill up on foremilk & it doesn't have as much calories as the hind milk. He would be hungrier sooner if that were the case.

Also, if you can pump a bottle & give that to him before bed so that you can make sure he eats enough...

aledavidson

My baby is 11 weeks and I usually feed him at 8:30 or closest to 9 pm as possible. He usually naps around 5 until I wake him up for the night time bottle. I was BF until I had to go back to work. But I found that BF at night time and giving him a bottle allowed him to sleep more at night. I wasn't producing much milk and he would eat every 30 mins to an hour. So I had to start suplementing with formula. Enfamil has a night time formula Enfamil Rest Full Lipil. It is thicker than regular formula therefor stays in his belly longer. He sleeps from 9:30-10 until 5 am every night. You might want to try it and see how it goes. It wont hurt him if you BF and then give him a bottle until he is full just at night time so you can get some rest. I would start with 2-3 oz if you decide to try it out. If you do, you might want to get a nipple with a bigger hole for the bottle, they have the slow and fast nipple. Since the milk is thicker is harder for them to suck it. It took my baby almost 2 hrs to drink it the first time bc it was a slow nipple until I changed it to a fast nipple and he ate it within an hour and went right to sleep through the night.
I hope it helps!!!

PS If you are worried about making him constipaded it wont, since you are BF and giving him a bottle your milk will clean his system in the morning feeding.