Breastfed babies sleeping

So my 4.5 month old son is exclusively breastfed (except when im at work and takes pumped breast milk) has been waking up every 2-3 hours at night crying...seeming hungry...any advice on how to wean him off at least one over night feeding? I swaddle and try the pacifier but he screams until i give in and put him on. I wouldnt think at this point that he needs those thru the night feedings... He is still in my room in the co-sleeper...more bc I would be too tired to get up 2-3 times a night. Any suggestions would be great...Im exhausted!!

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

I have no suggestions but I wrote a similar vent this morning in another forum. MY son is the exact same age, exclusively breastfed, and is up constantly during the night. I'm in sleep hell and don't know how to get out of it.

Breastfed babies sleeping

I went through that too. My Breastfed baby didn't start sleeping through the night until around 12 months!! At 4.5 months I was still getting up twice during the night to nurse. I don't know if it was hunger; if it was reverse nursing to make up for missed sessiond during the day? habit? It was hard; but it passed. It will get easier!

Breastfed babies sleeping

Maybe it might have to do with the fact that you are back at work and that is his special time with you so he wakes for you.

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

DS1 woke up 2-3 times per night until 6 months and then he dropped down to waking once per night. He didn't STTN until 7 months. You could try feeding DC more often during the day, but it may not work. Some babies take a while to STTN.

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

Is your DS taking a good feeding before bed? Has it always been this way or only recently? I know I used to feed my DD 2 hours before bed and then not again until she was ready to go down. She would take a good feeding and then comfort nurse to sleep. I used to let her comfort nurse for a while and then put her down. At that age she would sleep from about 10p until 4ish (there was a week or so where sleeping was a disaster, but I think that was a comfort thing).

At 5 months we started oatmeal cereal at dinner and started putting her in her crib. She immediately started sleeping through the 4am feeding and got up between 6-7am

Message edited 3/6/2014 12:00:17 PM.

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

I'm still dealing with this DD will be 1 in two weeks!! Mama needs sleep!!

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

Did you'd DS sleep well before you went back to work or is this something new? If it's a new occurrence I would say it has to do with you going back to work. Also, my first DC started waking a lot around that age after sleeping through the night since 8 weeks because of teething. It could be that too. Good luck!

Breastfed babies sleeping

My daughter did this as well till she was 9mo. It is exhausting. Maybe get baby out the room to start. Eventually I just did the extinction method as I knew she was getting enough calories by then and it worked! goo luck.

Breastfed babies sleeping

He could be reverse cycling. Weaning night feedings is not recommended before age 1 unfortunately. sometimes when it gets bad i just bring her in bed with me so she can eat and i can sleep.

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

Breastfed babies sleeping

Yes my DS did the same thing until 10 mos! The LC said its bc formula and rice cereal etc. extend their bellies more, so they don't need to eat as often, but that it was totally normal for EBF babies to eat that often. Frustrating, but I waiting until 6 mos to start any oatmeal/ cereal/ food bc she said that's when they can digest it well.

Breastfed babies sleeping

Thanks all for your advice/opinions! a couple of weeks after I went back to work is when it really started to get bad! So it def could be that...and I think he may be starting to teeth, hands constantly in his mouth and drolling like crazy! I too take him into bed so he can eat and i can sleep! :)

I think I will try cereal soon and see if that holds him off a little better thru the night. Along with getting him into his crib and out of my room although I am kind of dreading it!

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

My DS is 6m on Monday and is EBF (like you.. bottle while i'm at work or away somewhere).

I'm very lucky that he's been STTN since about... 6w. (By sttn I mean he "wakes" 1x to eat.. anywhere from 2-5am). He's also been in his crib since then. I say this because this all happened by accident.
After his final feeding (at that point we were doing cluster feedings before bed), DH would bring him upstairs, swaddle him, and then put him in the rnp. One night he put the baby in the crib to get the swaddle ready on the changing table. DS PASSED OUT! DH quietly left the room and it's been that way ever since (aside from the few nights when he's been sick or teething). We realized that DS was done with the swaddling and wanted room to spread out. He only sleeps in his rnp now when he's congested or for a short nap. Do you think your DC is trying to tell you something similiar?

Breastfed babies sleeping

I was told once STTN was more developmental than them being full before bed. I had a lot of Mom's tell me even after they started their babies on cereal/solids they still woke at night. That was the case for me too

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

I'm still going through this with one of my twins at 8 months - the other twin usually sleeps a solid 12 hours. He is up about 4x a night to nurse, so I know how tired you must be! I would not night wean at this point... your LO will STTN when ready. Hang in there mama!

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

Re: Breastfed babies sleeping

My twins couldn't nurse, but were given pumped milk. We didn't stop their night time feeding until they were about 9months actual 7 months adjusted. They never could take more then 4 oz at a time. I have read that BM digests faster because it is more natural.
Hang in there Mama! you are doing Great!!!!