How often do you feed at night?

[TacoTime]

Hi, I am part of a mom's group (we all had babies around the same time in March 2013) and it seems like the majority of their babies are sleeping 6+ hours in a stretch. My little boy (4 months) seems to be in a schedule of 4 hours, then 3-4 hours, then 2-3 hours. How long are your little ones sleeping for before they wake up for a feeding? I am just not comfortable to let him cry bc when I give him the breast he sucks like crazy so it seems like he is hungry. Oh I exclusively breastfeed. Should I let him cry? He doesn't like a soother. We nap together during the day so I'm not too tired but it would be nice to go for a longer stretch at night.

 

[Joygrrr]

My boy was born start of April so similar age - he only goes around 4 hours even at night - then very much like you said, 2-3 hours and sometimes as sort as and hour n half - I tried just giving him his dummy instead of a feed but he just wants food!! I have no idea how to break this cycle but I need more shut eye!

 

[justkitty]

That's normal. If baby is hungry then feed him.

 

[MissCurly]

Oh yeh, isn't it worrying when all you hear is other babies are sleeping through and your baby shows no signs of that happening?

Well, as justkitty says, just feed away!

Every baby is different, and it is VERY VERY normal that babies do not sleep through for a long time.

I think i was very very lucky for about 10 weeks when my boy slept 6-7 hours a night in the first 3 months, but it ALL changed. He could wake up 3-8 times a night and i put him to the boob every time. Although i have not given him pacifier or another way to sleep. I would hate for him to cry to sleep, its just something i wont do.

But he feeds loads, and i am happy for that to continue. (AT the moment, lol!).

 

[cautious...]

My LO is 5.5 months and goes 3 or 4 hours, then 3 hours and then up for the day (and feed) 3 hours later, sometimes less. A few weeks ago he was feeding every hour in the night so this is a blessing!

 

[justkitty]

My first was ff and he didn't sleep through until 6m and even then not consistently. I would feed him at 8/9pm depending on what time he wanted it and then he'd wake once before midnight and once after before starting the dsy around 6ish.

It's hard work esp as bf only you can do it but it does pass.

 

[JenX]

This sounds very similar to our night schedule. I think it is pretty normal.

 

[Kellen]

My LO is 5.5 months and was (last week) going to bed a 7:30pm and sleeping until 5am for a feed. However last night.... Bed at 7pm, awake at 11:30pm for a feed, awake at 1am for a feed, awake at 3:30am for a feed... after that I finally just let her sleep in the bed with me. I think she fed twice more after that. It is the week before AF is scheduled to show up again and my day time supply drops so I'm not too surprised at the ravenous nighttime feeds. However lack of sleep combined with PMS does not make me a safe person to be near right now. Poor DH.

 

[JessPape]

On average, two to three times a night. Some nights she will sleep though, some nights she wont.

 

[TacoTime]

My LO is 5.5 months and was (last week) going to bed a 7:30pm and sleeping until 5am for a feed. However last night.... Bed at 7pm, awake at 11:30pm for a feed, awake at 1am for a feed, awake at 3:30am for a feed... after that I finally just let her sleep in the bed with me. I think she fed twice more after that. It is the week before AF is scheduled to show up again and my day time supply drops so I'm not too surprised at the ravenous nighttime feeds. However lack of sleep combined with PMS does not make me a safe person to be near right now. Poor DH.

This sounds like exactly like my last night

 

[seaweed eater]

Feed away, you're doing great. Twice a night is really good for 4 months old -- it's normal for them to legitimately need to nurse that often at that age, and it doesn't indicate excessive waking from being unable to get through sleep cycles. So in a couple months you may find that you have a naturally great sleeper on your hands

 

[lily28]

Your baby's sleeping sounds normal.

My boy was born in late April, he sleeps from 10 or 11 pm (we go to bed together and I also nurse him at that time) till 3 or 4am (rarely 5am) where he starts chomping on his hands (in his sleep). I never let him cry/ has never cried for a feed in night, we co sleep so I immediately feed him with the first cue of hunger. Next feed is around 6.30-7am, and next one at 9. He completely wakes up at 9 or 10 depending on what time we went to bed the previous night. I consider this STTN, but not all will agree. I want to nurse him during night for as long as possible, despite people's recommendation to wean him as he seems he can STTN. I don't mind it at all, I want him to take as much milk as possible He is still growing and he is not as chubby as I would like lol