Is he hungry?

[Trix]

My DS is 6 months and wakes up twice in the night. I put him to bed around 7:30 and he'll wake again anywhere between 10pm-1am and then again anywhere between 3am-5am depending on the previous feed.

I'm not sure if I should start CC or if he is actually hungry - cos at the moment if he goes over 4 hours from the previous feed I just pick him up and breastfeed him. If its less than 4 hours I resettle him by patting him/stroking his head. I have semi-tried to resettle him after 4 hours but he seems really angry so I give up quickly and just give him a feed.

Not sure if its "normal" to feed a 6 month old this much in the night or if he's just waking for a cuddle.

BTW he is fed solids and breastfed throughout the day.

[Tam-I-Am]

When you consider that a baby's stomach at that age is about the size of a small egg, and that breastmilk is very easily digested, I think that yes, he's probably hungry. It's not a biologically realistic expectation for babies to 'sleep through' before they're about 12 - 18 months old, TBH. I know in this part of the world we just sort of expect babies to, but in other parts of the world, it's considered absolutely normal for babies to continue to wake through the night well into their toddler years.

I know it's frustrating, but have you considered co-sleeping for at least part of the night? These days I barely even wake to feed my DS through the night!

[Hollywood]

Until 12 months breast milk is still their main source of calories, so I think it's perfectly normal for them to still want a feed in the night at that age. I think it's a bit much to ask for a baby of 12 months or less to go all night without anything to drink (JMO!!)

I still BF my 2 year old through the night if he asks for it, but that's a whole other kettle of fish :laughing:. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but we cosleep and it kind of goes with the territory a bit (though I have heard of plenty of people successfully night weaning even though they cosleep).

[JabberJaw]

Sounds normal, my 14 month old still is waking in the night to be fed.

Around 6 months they have alot going on and it can disrup sleep too, like rolling,teething, growth spurts etc.

[wild at heart]

if its any consolation Trix, my DS feeds the same ampunt o/n (11pm and 4am) but only has 4 feeds per day. He isn't hungry at all as he is on three meals per day. He wakes overnight for comfort. I am planning to try to stop the 4am feed by resettling. For the last week he I have been only feeding him one side at 4am hoping that I can gradually wean him off that feed but not yet. May have to let him grizzle a bit as he doesn't actually cry for a feed at 4am- only whinges a bit.

[cmd'smum]

When you consider that a baby's stomach at that age is about the size of a small egg, and that breastmilk is very easily digested, I think that yes, he's probably hungry. It's not a biologically realistic expectation for babies to 'sleep through' before they're about 12 - 18 months old, TBH. I know in this part of the world we just sort of expect babies to, but in other parts of the world, it's considered absolutely normal for babies to continue to wake through the night well into their toddler years.

I know it's frustrating, but have you considered co-sleeping for at least part of the night? These days I barely even wake to feed my DS through the night!

:iagree:

[MsMummy]

My 7mo has an almost identical schedule - wakes up twice at night at similiar intervals.

he's definitely hungry though as I can hear him gulping down the milk.

Mine definitely doesn't wake for a cuddle as he's not interested in anything but the food. We co-sleep so he wakes me by snuffling around for the boob, he has his drink, and then rolls over and goes back to sleep!