How to soothe young baby between meals without feeding?

[tinselcat]

My 7 week old is on a 3 hourly feeding schedule and is definitely getting enough at each feed (based on the amount he regurgitates)

However during the day he sometimes gets tired & upset say halfway between feeds but if I get anywhere near him, he starts wanting to feed (guess he can smell my milk!) and gets even more distressed if he doesn't get the milk.

Outside of a dummy, does anyone know of any good techniques to calm him down without resorting to need other peoples' help?

 

[MrsS143]

Maybe hes being sick cos he's hungry and over eating?
Could he maybe need less more often? X

 

[mellie_88]

If you're breastfeeding it's generally best to feed on demand. It can sometimes feel like you're feeding none stop but it does tend to even out in the long run. When my LO was 7 weeks I was feeding him at least every 2 hours, if he was crying in between then I'd feed him too.

Sometimes they can need more milk if they're going through a growth spurt or something.

 

[littlemonkey]

My first thought when I read the title was a dummy! Don't know what your thoughts on dummies are but after six weeks I gave in and got my LO one and I was so glad I did!

My LO wasnt BF, but he did show signs of wanting to be fed often, every three hours which on formula is pretty frequently. He would scream and cry alot between feeds. Long story short, we eventually found out he had reflux. He wasn't crying for feeds he was crying in pain and just wanted to comfort suck. Hence why the dummy was a lifesaver!

My thoughts are with you saying your LO is sicking up a lot that is sucking for comfort rather than hunger. He could simply be overfeeding whilst comfort sucking, hence the sick or he could be sicking up due to something like reflux and wanting to comfort suck because of that.

The other things we found helped LO during his screaming fits were laying him upright on one of us, chest to chest and playing Rihanna to him. We had so many evenings of Rihanna on repeat!!

 

[Smileygirl]

Hi tinselcat, we also did a 3-hourly feeding plan with our little one, rather than lots of little feeds. We found it great and Lo seemed to thrive on the structure too. However, he did seem to feed for ages and I worked out he was using me as a dummy. As much as I initially didn't want to, we also introduced a dummy and it really was a godsend. However, he did then start to 'need' the dummy so it wasn't all positive in the long run... I would also be interested to hear other's ideas as I agree it is very important to self settle. Soft music playing in the background was a good one x

 

[Sprout]

I agree with Mellie and I hate to say this but the phrase "using me as a dummy" winds me up because a dummy is a replacement for the breast, not the other way around.

 

[CARNAT22]

I've never heard of a 3 hour plan with breastfeeding? What is the point / objective?

Is it for medical reasons or to get baby into a routine?

If Bee is hungry then she is hungry and I either feed her or she screams. Although she can naturally go three hours without a feed if its her choice.

Are you completely opposed to a dummy TC? As the advice is dummy's are ok once bf'ing is fully established

X

 

[HL28]

Breastfed babies are meant to feed on demand as they also control how much milk you produce! They need to feed more often to increase your milk supply. I'd just feed. If my babies grizzle they got fed! I don't understan a 3 hourly schedule!? Breastfeeding is so different to formula feeding. And yes they use the breast for comfort is another thing they are meant to be used for! If babies aren't activtly swallowing or feeding I would probably latch them off but even if they winged five mins later I would feed again! At 7 weeks if definitely not feed on a 3 hourly schedule maybe a little older but not 7 weeks. They go through growth spurts and need to feed more! What they sick up is no indication of them getting enough x

 

[mrswoody]

Like others said breast fed babies feed on demand. So it's is best to offer the breast if he wants it.
My LO is 4 months old and it's not uncommon for her to feed every 2 hours in the day still. If she wants milk then I give it to her.
She wouldn't take a dummy so the only way I've been able to sooth her and get her off to sleep is to feed her.
You could always try a dummy and see if LO takes it? If not then at least you've tried it. x

 

[Smileygirl]

Breastfed babies are meant to feed on demand as they also control how much milk you produce! They need to feed more often to increase your milk supply. I'd just feed. If my babies grizzle they got fed! I don't understan a 3 hourly schedule!? Breastfeeding is so different to formula feeding. And yes they use the breast for comfort is another thing they are meant to be used for! If babies aren't activtly swallowing or feeding I would probably latch them off but even if they winged five mins later I would feed again! At 7 weeks if definitely not feed on a 3 hourly schedule maybe a little older but not 7 weeks. They go through growth spurts and need to feed more! What they sick up is no indication of them getting enough x

Breasts only produce as much milk as they are stimulated to do so. I believe it is better for the baby to take a full feed once every 3 hours rather than snacking lots inbetween. If he dozed off 5 minutes into a feed, I used to wake him to continue with it. My baby then used to have a really good quality sleep afterwards as he had taken a good feed and my breasts were full to give him a full feed three hours later. He only ever used to wake once or twice per night as he took full feeds at each session so he benefitted from getting good deep sleep rather than frequently waking up hungry and he also benefitted by having refreshed parents who had a good sleep too. If a baby is fed on demand, the breasts have lesser amounts continuously and so the baby tends to snack more.

It really is a choice how you choose to do it but it is certainly not the case that feeding on demand is the only option when breastfeeding.

 

[Smileygirl]

We were also advised by the midwife to follow a 3-hourly feeding pattern when our son was first born (after the main milk came in) x

 

[claire_louise9]

My daughter is 4 months old and she feeds every 2 hours throughout the day. I've always given her a dummy right from the start to sooth her . If she's hungry she will let me know . Like others have mentioned he could be having a growth spurt or he just needs more to eat .

 

[AngelLily]

Feed on demand, do not try and replace it with anything else. Your baby will tell you when they are hungry and cluster feeding is very common, it's a comfort for them. I would advise not to stop your baby from nursing and nurse when they want it, not with an "3 hourly plan"

 

[tinselcat]

Just to clarify, the 3 hour 'schedule' I mentioned is entirely dictated by the baby as that's on average when he wakes to feed. In the last 2 days we've had a couple of 4 hour intervals too.

The baby has a specific set of behaviours when he needs feeding, with one hand 'conducting', making a sound like 'nn-gar nn-gar' and rooting/eating his fist.

The behaviour I was talking about here is a kind of shouty cry , usually when he's tired, and can be soothed by other people e.g. my dad speaks a load of management jargon at him & that sends him to sleep. However if I hold the baby instead he picks up the milk smell and starts turning his mouth towards my arm/chest. I don't believe he's hungry, but he does like being comforted.

I just wondered what tactics other people use to calm their babies when they're upset but not hungry.

 

[Smileygirl]

Feed on demand, do not try and replace it with anything else. Your baby will tell you when they are hungry and cluster feeding is very common, it's a comfort for them. I would advise not to stop your baby from nursing and nurse when they want it, not with an "3 hourly plan"

Also just to clarify, my baby was never left to cry when he was hungry - he always got fed! I encouraged him into the pattern and that bcame his norm so in effect it was feeding on demand 😊

One thing that did help was one of those light projector things which put colourful stars on the ceiling x

 

[HL28]

Breastfed babies are meant to feed on demand as they also control how much milk you produce! They need to feed more often to increase your milk supply. I'd just feed. If my babies grizzle they got fed! I don't understan a 3 hourly schedule!? Breastfeeding is so different to formula feeding. And yes they use the breast for comfort is another thing they are meant to be used for! If babies aren't activtly swallowing or feeding I would probably latch them off but even if they winged five mins later I would feed again! At 7 weeks if definitely not feed on a 3 hourly schedule maybe a little older but not 7 weeks. They go through growth spurts and need to feed more! What they sick up is no indication of them getting enough x

Breasts only produce as much milk as they are stimulated to do so. I believe it is better for the baby to take a full feed once every 3 hours rather than snacking lots inbetween. If he dozed off 5 minutes into a feed, I used to wake him to continue with it. My baby then used to have a really good quality sleep afterwards as he had taken a good feed and my breasts were full to give him a full feed three hours later. He only ever used to wake once or twice per night as he took full feeds at each session so he benefitted from getting good deep sleep rather than frequently waking up hungry and he also benefitted by having refreshed parents who had a good sleep too. If a baby is fed on demand, the breasts have lesser amounts continuously and so the baby tends to snack more.

It really is a choice how you choose to do it but it is certainly not the case that feeding on demand is the only option when breastfeeding.

The op was asking what to do help grizzling in between feeds. In MY opinion after successfully breastfeeding 3 babies I advised to feed! I'm very aware how our boobs work and if her baby is going through a growth spurt which they can do at around six weeks I would say maybe baby needs to up feeds to feel more satisfied if she wants to continue on a 3 hourly schedule. And not all midwife are very well trained in breastfeeding. So if The OP wanted a bit of advice maybe a breastfeeding support group is a good idea as they're fab at helping give expert advice. I would say babies need feeding at least every three hours that's advice I was given not only every three hours. But fab if that's babies natural feeding pattern is.

 

[sorpresa_bea]

One thing that did help was one of those light projector things which put colourful stars on the ceiling x

I've been looking to buy one of these online but I can never find the right name to search for it. Can you give me a brand / model name, so I can google it, please? Thanks

 

[claire_louise9]

One thing that did help was one of those light projector things which put colourful stars on the ceiling x

I've been looking to buy one of these online but I can never find the right name to search for it. Can you give me a brand / model name, so I can google it, please? Thanks

I have got this one but in pink. Xxx ☺

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicco-Goodnight-Stars-Musical-Nightlight/dp/B007CZBOEC

 

[juliekim0908]

Im afraid ive only ever known.. from any of my friends who breastfeed.
That they use their boob to soothe baby. Sorry probably not what you wanted to hear but, that's how they all did it. Basically, the baby using your boob not just for feeding but as a comfort. Im always told they feel like their constantly feeding. x

 

[Smileygirl]

One thing that did help was one of those light projector things which put colourful stars on the ceiling x

I've been looking to buy one of these online but I can never find the right name to search for it. Can you give me a brand / model name, so I can google it, please? Thanks

I like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifemax-1227-Star-Projection-Cube/dp/B008JCOFHU