BF'ing through the night nonstop

bluejayway

For the past few weeks, my 11-month-old DD2 wakes, literally, every two hours at night every night. I nurse her, she eats for 15 mins solid and I can lay her back down and she's out, so it's not too terrible. She is BF and doesn't take a bottle, so I have to do every night waking. I would let DH go in (he is able to get her to sleep AFTER she's BF'd, so it just seems pointless), but she seems genuinely hungry. She still gets most of her nutrition from BM, as she's been slow with solids (I offer, but she'll only eat a carton of yogurt, half a banana, some cheerios and a few bites of pasta on a good day, maybe). She was only waking twice per night, which I was fine with....but I am so tired now. I have an older DD as well, and I remember she woke at night like this, but I can't remember if I did anything or if it just naturally phased in and out. 

I'm not looking for ways to "fix it" per se, but I was curious if anyone had a wakeful, hungry LO like this and how long it continued for. I'm not going to let her cry it out, but I'm tired. And worried that I'm making worse habits by running in every time to feed her (I don't like to let her get really worked up, as it wakes up DD1 and it makes it even harder to put DD2 back down).

Thoughts? Thanks. 

ncbelle

This was definitely the most wakeful period for both of my kids - lots of new stuff like walking during the day so they got more nursing in at night.  My solution was to bed share although I know that's not the solution that works for everyone.

I think it's totally fine to start trying to wean off of some of those sessions - you might check out the Jay Gordon method and definitely get daddy involved.  You could also try nursing her more during the day, even if she doesn't ask to see if she can't get more calories in that way.  The No Cry Sleep Solution is worth a look too. 

BabyButler2010

ncbelle:

This was definitely the most wakeful period for both of my kids - lots of new stuff like walking during the day so they got more nursing in at night.  My solution was to bed share although I know that's not the solution that works for everyone.

I think it's totally fine to start trying to wean off of some of those sessions - you might check out the Jay Gordon method and definitely get daddy involved.  You could also try nursing her more during the day, even if she doesn't ask to see if she can't get more calories in that way.  The No Cry Sleep Solution is worth a look too. 

 

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BelhurstBride

Like the PP, 11-13 or 14 months were absolutely horrible. DD didn't start walking until 15mo... I think she just had a lot on her mind. 

bluejayway

Ok..I couldn't remember if it was bad with DD1 because of age, or because I was also pregnant at the time and it just took more of a toll. Man, I'm not liking it with DD2. She's got much more discomfort with teething than dd1 did, plus almost walking now, plus hungry from not eating much "real" food. She's such a sweet baby, but the nights are killer. I will have to check out some of the methods recommended, thanks for those. We never really used anything specific with DD1, so I'm not sure how we got thru this whole period and came out on the other side with a child who sleeps 12 hours a night. Ha.

nosoup4u

I would send DH in for the first part of the night. Can you feed her big people food right before bedtime? Does she like yogurt or eggs, or meat? Those might help with the hunger.

Both my kids slept like crap for that first year, and I think that 11 months or so time period was extra horrible. Hang in there!

eav2c

My LO is a little younger than yours but I do feel your pain. He's been a every 2-3 hour waker every night since he was about 3-4 months old. It has been hard, to say the least, but I know that he will eventually be a better sleeper and won't need me as much. I try to do the best I can and we bedshare as a result (he is also epileptic so we bedshare for that reason too). Follow your gut as to what feels right re: how you will respond. If you want to sleep train, there are several gentle methods such as the No Cry Sleep Solution and the Sleep Lady Shuffle. I've dabbled in several methods but sleep training isn't for us. I figure, he'll get there eventually. GL.

skibunny59

My DD wakes up about every 2 hours to nurse although I think for her it's more for comfort than because she is actually hungry.  If she gets up while I am still up, then I nurse her and put her back in her crib.  If she wakes up when I'm already in bed or just about to go to bed, then I just bring her in bed with me.  I lay on my side and nurse her that way and we sleep tummy to tummy like that.  I get so much more sleep this way because she can nurse without waking me up.