My 16 week old breastfed son wakes every 2 hours at night and the longest he'll go without feeding is 3 hours.

Question

I try not to feed him everytime he wakes up, but once I've settled him again he will only settle for a maximum of 1 hour. He grows a centile in weight every month (having started 2 under average). The health visitor isn't worried about overfeeding, and has monitored how I feed etc. but having so much disturbance in sleep for so long is really getting me down. I'd much rather not resort to bottle if avoidable. Any advice?!

Answer 1

Firstly you have PLENTY of milk. Breastmilk digests in 90 minutes and some babies just do not tolerate an empty stomach. Also their stomach is supposed to be the size of their fist, and unlike formula babies who tend to drink larger and larger amounts because a) they are encouraged to "finish the bottle" and b) bottles drip so they keep eating once they are "done".

Babies don't sleep like adults, they are meant to have shorter sleep cycles and they go into a very light sleep. This is because they do not have the ability to rouse themselves from deeper sleep if they are hungry, cold or hot.

Also you can't expect a breastfed baby to act like a formula fed baby. Yes formula fed babies act more "content" this does't mean that is the way babies are supposed to be. Think of your family after Thanksgiving dinner, content, logey, pants undone. Now think of after a more reasonable lunch. You have energy and you're full. Does that mean you should eat like Thanksgiving dinner all the time so you will be content and sleepy? No, and that is what formula is like, a slightly overfull feeling. Probably not as bad as most of us do at Thanksgiving BUT formula doesn't digest as readily as breastmilk, it is thicker. That doesn't make breastmilk is inferior. Breastmilk is the norm, formula is not. It is a sad state that most people are more familiar with how a formula fed baby acts.

You should read these articles and also consider ways to get more sleep while respecting your child's needs. Co-sleeping is great:
"So I Nursed Him Every 45 Minutes"
http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/elizabeth_baldwin.html

"Sleeping through the night"
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/sleep.html

Studies on Normal Infant Sleep:
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/sleepstudies.html

"Will giving formula or solids at night help baby to sleep better? "
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-sleep.html

"CO-SLEEPING: YES, NO, SOMETIMES?"
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T071000.asp


"8 INFANT SLEEP FACTS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW"
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070200.asp

"31 WAYS TO GET YOUR BABY TO GO TO SLEEP AND STAY ASLEEP EASIER"
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070300.asp

"SLEEP-TRAINING – NOT FOR BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS"
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070700.asp



Fussy Babies:
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussybaby.html
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

"5 REASONS WHY HIGH-NEED INFANTS SLEEP DIFFERENTLY"
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070900.asp

"Science Says: Excessive Crying Could Be Harmful to Babies"
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/handout2.asp

Answer 2

Breast fed babies do tend to feed more often but I definately understand the frusteration of being up all night. My son was like that, often only going for 45 minutes between wanting to nurse. I was desperate to find the reason too. It turns out I was not making enough milk for him. This happens more often than people talk about. I ended up with a referral to a breast feeding specialist. The easiest way to tell if you are making enough milk is to weigh the baby before and after feeding. You will need a really accurate scale like they use at the doctors office. In fact I did this at the doctors office. First, don't feed the baby for two hours (this is hard I know), then weigh the baby. Next nurse on one side then weigh the baby. Finally, nurse on the other side and then weigh the baby. If you milk supply is adequate the baby should have gained approx. 2 oz per side for a total of 4 oz.

If your baby did not gain the 4 oz, you might need help to increase your milk supply. Stay well hydrated. There are a number of herbal remedies and your doctor can give you a presciption for Domperidone or Motilium. This stimulates Prolactin and increases breast milk supply. You can also try pumping after each feeding, especially in the morning to increase Prolactin levels and therefore milk supply.

If you did make the 4 oz, your baby might just be going through a growth spurt. Try and rest as much as possible (funny I know), drink lots of water. A bottle is not a horrible thing. Try pumping and let your hubby take over a feeding then go to bed, take a bath, relax. My Husband loved finally being able to help with feeding. If it is still not getting any better, talk to your doctor about giving a few spoonfuls of rice cereal in the evening. I know you are suppose to wait until 6 months but that is a general guideline, not for every baby. I am not a big advocate of crying it out or giving water but those are personal choices. Good Luck.

Answer 3

This can be common is some breastfed babies. Nursing a lot does NOT mean you don't have enough milk. The important things to think for in determining whether you have enough milk are:

1. the baby is wetting at least 5-6 times a day
2. Baby is pooping at least once a day
3. Baby is gaining weight

It sounds like your abby is just having an intense need for nursing right now and you are doing everything right. One thing that may help is if you bring your baby into bed with you (some Moms don't even really wake up to nurse) or you could have him in a side car on the bed (crib attached to side of bed).

You are doing the most important job in the world right now. Try to sleep during the day with baby when you can and remember that this stage will pass.

Answer 4

Breastfed babies will eat every 2-3 hours for some time and often wont' sleep through the night until much later. I would suggest having him sleep close to you so it will be easier to take care of him and you won't lose as much sleep. He is only 4 months and most babies still need the night feedings until at least 6 months old anyway. This too will pass. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Answer 5

you might not be getting baby enough milk through breast at night. Might want to try pumping so can have some stored up for the night. By this time baby should probably have a good 4 hour sleep pattern at least 3 to 4 times a week. Make sure they get about 30oz of milk a day. I understand how difficult it is. Hopefully, you don't have to do this alone. Being a mother during the first 3 months is very difficult time.

Answer 6

Please try to keep on breastfeeding. He will sleep through the night soon enough, and be so much healthier and stronger from breastfeeding! Hang in there! Is there any way you could pump a few bottles and have your husband or partner handle some of the nighttime feedings and give you a rest? Also, can you nap during the day so you feel less tired.
good luck!

PS Because the nutrients in breast milk are so easily digestible to the baby (because they are made especially for him) babies digest the milk more quickly and usually need to be fed every two hours. This does not mean anything is wrong, and obviously if you baby is growing in weight, he is doing just fine on breast milk.

Answer 7

My breastfed babies ate every other hour until I started solids (not until at LEAST six months of age, longer if possible). This is normal for a breastfed baby, since breastmilk is so easy for babies to digest. Formula only lasts longer in a baby's stomach because it is so hard for them to digest, and this can cause problems. My recommendation for sleeping is to put him in your bed, if you can. I co-sleep with my baby with a toddler bed rail (just to be extra safe), and sometimes he nurses all night long. I don't usually wake up much when he eats, though, and that's the beauty of breastfeeding! I just roll over, lift my shirt, and he goes to work. Be sure to follow the safety precautions for co-sleeping (see source below), and don't do it if you are an especially heavy sleeper. But co-sleeping may be the answer to your prayers at this stage in your baby's life. Bottle feeding will just give you LESS sleep, since you have to get up, prepare a bottle, warm it, feed him, then put him back to bed, only to gain possibly an hour (that was lost in the prep time anyway, and also in the extra time it will take to get your son to settle down now that he's worked himself up waiting for his food). You CAN'T overfeed a breastfed baby. He will take what he needs and be just fine. Even if he gets fat, he will need that fat when he becomes a toddler and stops eating (trust me, mine did!!). Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed; stick with it as I'm sure you already know it's what is best for you AND your baby!

Answer 8

My son is 19 weeks old. My pediatrician told us to let him cry himself back to sleep - it usually happens pretty quickly, within 5-10 miunutes. You should also be able to start giving him cereal now (and introducing the fruit & veggie purees). I breastfeed my son a little bit, then give him cereal mixed with breastmilk about an hour before bedtime, and then feed him a little bit more breastmilk before he finally goes down. He started sleeping longer and longer. Is your son in your room or his own? I had to move my son into his own room 2 weeks ago because I realized that my husband's snoring was waking him up. We also use a sound machine that makes nature sounds - that has helped tremendously! At this point, some of his nighttime feedings could be to pacify himself - let him learn to find his hands instead.

Answer 9

He might be going thru a growth spurt and needs the extra feeding. Make sure the room is dim/dark at night, to indicate that it's night time. Is he nursing for comfort? Maybe a paci would help. Nap when he naps (that's what I did). If you have someone who can help do one of the feeding, go ahead and pump so you can at least get more sleep.

Hang on in there, this too shall pass.

Answer 10

I totally understand what you are talking about. You can try expressing your milk or your could suppliment 1 or 2 feeds a day with formula. This way the majority of the feedings are breast milk feedings. Formula is heavier and might help your baby sleep better.

I breast feed my child primarily but if i am going to be out of the house with my child i do formula feed if there is no place for me to go to privately nurse. I was completely formula fed as a child and i am healthy person and was not a sickly child... don't feel bad about giving yourself a break.

Answer 11

Breastfed babies do eat more often than bottle fed babies. They take in less milk at one time. Also even he starts to get a bit chunky, he will even out later on. Breastfed babies tend to be thinner adults than formula fed babies. Just stick with the long nights, you will be so happy if you do. Things will get better with time, I promise.