BFing moms of 4/5 month olds...

LuckyBride06 · May 2010

How many times in 24hrs does your LO eat?

For how long does she/he eat on each side?

Does your LO still wake up at night to eat?

Lately, my Ds will only nurse for about 7 mins on the first side, then he gets fussy so I think that side is empty, so I offer the next side and he takes that for about 5-7mins. Then he pops on a off and smiles and giggles for a little, so I assume he's done completely. He's also been going longer between feedings during the day - about every 3 hrs (used to go every 2hrs).

Because he's going longer, he's only eating about 7 maybe 8 times in 24hrs. He is still getting up twice a night to eat too. So I'm thinking, is he not eating enough during the day, so that's why he's still getting up at night? Is 7 times (including 2 night feedings) enough in 24 hrs? He used to eat about 9-10 times in 24hrs.

Do they just stop eating as often as they get older? I tried to continue to feed him every 2-2.5hrs during the day to try to get him fuller to sleep longer at night, but he doesn't want to eat.

In addition - he seems more distracted lately when he eats. I try to make the room quiet and calm, but he's just sometimes so squirmy b/c he's now more alert & mobile then he was before. Have you noticed that with your LO too?

heather121709 · May 2010

He seems right on track. Around this age it's hard to keep them concentrated on eating because they are so much more aware of their enviorment. 3-4 hours between feedings is normal for this age. And they are much faster eaters also.

JandM110907 · May 2010

DD sounds almost exactly like your LO, except she sleeps from around 8pm-6am with a dreamfeed at 11pm... Maybe you can try dreamfeeding to eliminate one of his wakings? She also eats every 3 hours during the day and her last feeding before the dreamfeed is at 7ish. HTH!

kls621 · May 2010

My DS has cut back on feedings too, but he is more efficient when he eats and on the occasion when I do pump, I am getting much more, so he is eating more in a quicker amount of time. My DS tends to cluster feed right before he goes down for the night, so he usually STTN, but he has the occasional night where he decides he needs just a little bit more around midnight. Sounds like your little one is doing just fine. Just make sure he is still wetting his diapers good and he is continuing to gain weight and all is good.

fellesferie · May 2010

DD eats every 3-4 hours during the day. She used to STTN, but for the last 4 weeks or so, she's been getting up at least twice to eat.

honeybee111 · May 2010

DD is almost 4.5 months and she currently eats 7 times in a 24 hour period. It takes her about 10 min. to eat(I EBF), but she eats one side only at a time. She usually wakes up once at night to eat, but once in a while she will eat twice at night. She is definitely more aware of her surroundings while she eats, but she's always been a super efficient eater.

naflmj · May 2010

kls621:
My DS has cut back on feedings too, but he is more efficient when he eats and on the occasion when I do pump, I am getting much more, so he is eating more in a quicker amount of time. My DS tends to cluster feed right before he goes down for the night, so he usually STTN, but he has the occasional night where he decides he needs just a little bit more around midnight. Sounds like your little one is doing just fine. Just make sure he is still wetting his diapers good and he is continuing to gain weight and all is good.

this exactly

Nennifre · May 2010

DS eats 5 times during the day and once during the night.

He's probably eating about the same length of time as your LO.

ssmith325 · May 2010

OMG, I could have written your post WORD for WORD!!!!!!

cchill01 · May 2010

Sounds pretty normal. DD eats about 7 times a day and 2 times at night. She only eats for about 8 minutes on one side. When I offer the other side, she's not interested.

swimrbride · May 2010

DS has just gotten a lot quicker at eating in the last week. He went from taking 25-30 minutes at every feed to about 15 minutes. He also only eats 6-7 times a day, 7 if he wakes up at night (about 4 times a week) and 6 when he doesn't.

AbsoluteLM · May 2010

ssmith325:
OMG, I could have written your post WORD for WORD!!!!!!

Same here! Lol.

KateLouise · May 2010

My LO eats 5 times a day. She too has gotten very efficient at eating, but I'm also quite patient with her when she starts to play. I'll let her lie on my lap and play and I'll repeatedly put her back on the breast until she won't latch at all.

Also I need to wind her well between sides to make room for more milk because she gulps down her milk.

Basically she eats:

6.30am

10.30 am

2.30pm

6.30pm

10.30pm

Obviously not on the dot, but just as an approximate, sometimes she'll eat a bit earlier, sleep a bit longer etc etc etc.

shopgirl78 · May 2010

How many times in 24hrs does your LO eat? 7-9 times a day, i still feed on demandFor how long does she/he eat on each side? I never count the mins but not as long as he used tooDoes your LO still wake up at night to eat? Yes, usually twice. He is usually a get to business kind of guy. He eats, I don't usually have trouble with him being distracted... I remember that phase with DS1 tho!!

MrsRebecca · May 2010

How many times in 24hrs does your LO eat? usually about 7 times, sometimes 8.

For how long does she/he eat on each side?About 8 minutes per side- sometimes less

Does your LO still wake up at night to eat? Yes, just once.

Your LO sounds right on to me.

mrshutch · May 2010

Ditto to others, sounds right on track. DS gets sooo distracted these days. Plus, unlike when DD was little, he has a sibling to distract him as well! Keep up what you're doing, try to get him to eat as much as possible during the day, and hopefully really soon he'll be sleeping more. GL!

adam+katie · May 2010

ssmith325:
OMG, I could have written your post WORD for WORD!!!!!!

Me too!

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