I dunno what to do anymore

[pinkyprincess]

Tyler will not sleep longer than 2 maybe 3 hours if I'm lucky!

Last night he did
2hrs
1 1/2 hrs
2 hr
1 hr
1 1/2 hrs
2 hr

I've been fine for the whole 3 months but this week it's just hit me! He went 4 1/2 hours the other night and woke up for a feed. I was so excited about this I couldn't get back to sleep!!!

Everyone I talk to seems to boast about their baby's sleeping throughout at 4, 6 and even 'my other one was prem so went a bit longer and didn't sleep through for a full 8 weeks!' poor thing!!

I don't even want him to sleep through as if he's hungry or thirsty I'd rather make sure he gets it, but 3 or 4 hours would be nice. Really nice!


Rant over!

 

[Lilelephant]

I don't know what to suggest just

 

[Sleepy sue]

Can you keep trying with a bottle? I think you've done amazing to do 3 months as those breaks are the same as samuels and it's a killer.
The formula last night did help a little in my opinion, firstly as DH could feed so I went to bed at 10 and slept till 2, he then went back down and slept till 5
I know to some people this isn't great but like you when you're used to 1.5-2hrs it's a lifesaver!!
I do think it will get better too as he only 2oz last night when he should have 4 (according to the box)

Could you try the medela calma as that is supposed to be great and the same motion as breast?

Could it have been the temp of the milk you tried before?

Like I say I think you've done amazing, but I think you need a break I've only done those times for 5 weeks and some nights I could have cried. I'm only giving the one formula feed at night as like you I love bf xxx

 

[pinkyprincess]

We gave him a bottle every day for 2 months and tried a load of different ones. We've stopped recently as OH has been working away a lot and he has to give him the bottle. Haven't tried the medela yet. I refuse to give him formula as I don't like the idea of using anything to 'fill him' before bed. I don't think he'd have it anyway!

 

[Sleepy sue]

I don't know what else to suggest. I just don't think it's nice for lo to be waking up every 1.5 - 2 hrs just like it's not nice fir us. I'd rather both of us have a decent nights sleep with the help of one feed.
Good luck x

 

[Monkey]

I know your pain sweetie. When E was going through one of her growth spurts, she would not sleep for longer than an hr for a whole week and refused to take a bottle. I ended up sleeping on the lounge with her in her bouncer as by the time I fed her and took her back to bed I would just get off to sleep and she would be awake for another feed.

How often does he feed during the day? I have found if E feeds less in the day, she is awake more at night. Apart from that, I'm afraid I don't really have any other ideas or tips. I hope he settles into a better sleep routine for you soon and you can enjoy some longer sleep times.

 

[AugustMum]

Tbh, whether he had formula or not it might not make him go longer so I think it's right to just carry on as you are. My LO went about 3 hours between feeds (that was on formula though) and that was bad enough!!

You're doing incredibly well and just ignore others. I was always being told about peoples babies sleeping through and it really bugged me and eventually at 6/7 months she started sleeping through and is now doing 12/13 fairly consistantly (although I was up about 7 times with her the other night so it's not all plain sailing and thats at 20 months!).

Does he sleep in the bed with you? I think if I was in your position Id just put him with me in bed and have my boobs right there for him to go out when he needed. You'll probably still wake but nothing like if you were to stand up to get him etc.

 

[ISH]

I don't think formula would make him sleep longer, it's just that babies have very different sleep and feed patterns...

Maybe he likes to 'graze' instead of having big feeds?

 

[Maria1977]

Oz didn't start going longer between feeds til after he was 3 months old.

Is your LO using you to get back to sleep again or does he proper have a good old feed when he wakes?

 

[Mrs CW]

I tried the medela calma bottle with D when I was still breast feeding and he hated it! It's a lot of money to pay out if your LO doesn't like it! I know you've said you've tried different bottles but my friend suggested the supermarkets own bottles as her LO would only feed from them. The other thing we had to do when trying D on the bottle was have the milk slightly warmer than you think it should be as he won't take it otherwise X

 

[pinkyprincess]

He's never been a big feeder tbh. He generally goes 10-15 mins in the day time no amount of trying to stretch him makes him have more at night he has about 5-8 mins and is near impossible to keep awake I've tried sitting up with him, tickling, undressing a bit, feeding lying down etc and he just goes off lol!

 

[pinkyprincess]

He also sleeps with me sometimes but I'm sure he goes less when he's in bed with me.

 

[Monkey]

Have you tried expressing into his mouth when he goes off to sleep? HV said that doing that sometimes gets them sucking again, even if they are asleep.

 

[littlemiss83]

Not sure what to advise, my first LO was like this, I breast fed her & she fed every 1/2 hours, all day every day, I know how you feel, its absolutely exhausting. I had to stop BF'ing (for medical reasons) at around 3 months & she slept 6 hours straight the first night she got formula, thats not to say that your LO would do that though. I'd tried everything, my LO must not have been getting enough, but there's other reasons your LO might be doing this, maybe its just his pattern, they're all different.

xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[pinkyprincess]

Have you tried expressing into his mouth when he goes off to sleep? HV said that doing that sometimes gets them sucking again, even if they are asleep.

I could try that. I tried once to dream feed with a bottle (apparently it encourages them to get used to taking a bottle) he took a little bit and still woke up!!

 

[benjis mum]

Sorry I dont have sdvice just think you deserve a medal! I'd have cracked up and gone insane. Well done

 

[ISH]

I'm quite sure if you fed him expressed bottle at night he'd take longer to fall asleep and feed more, it's much less soothing than boob.

 

[pinkyprincess]

Ish he just won't take it at all.

 

[ISH]

Clever boy, he knows what's best for him! I'm a bit stuck with boob too, it's much more difficult to control what he does when he's feeding on you; he does what he damn well likes, basically!

 

[Bunnykins]

Not sure what to suggest hon, my Lo has formula now, he is also eating 3 meals a day (his poos testify he is eating a fair bit!!) he also has this special goodnight milk just before bed which has cereal in it and is designed to keep them fuller for longer. He still wakes every 3 hours!!!! Granted only 2 of those he cries for a bottle but the rest he lays there chatting and fidgeting so I'm awake

It's not always a hunger thing my Lo slept great ie 8- 8 from 5 weeks on exclusive breast feeds then at 3 months one night he suddenly was up every 3 hrs and it has happened every night since (apart from twice) regardless of how many naps, feeds, etc. I was hoping weaning would make a difference but that just made him poo in the night more!! I've had some right explosive 3am nappies the last 2 weeks lol!! I think some babies just have their own body clock, I just wanted you to know you aren't doing anything wrong, I'm sure he'll sleep longer for you eventually, I'm now counting on him learning to crawl to tire him out!!!