all night nurser

[faery]

Hi Pinky

my little one is almost 7 months old and started solids at 6 months. he is still being breast fed and we have been co-sleeping since he was born. He has to be fed to sleep lying down or he will wake up, the hardest part is that i am the only one who can get him to sleep lying down.

the first few days after starting solids, he slept longer and sounder. the last week or so he has gone totally boobie crazy, waking every 2 hours (sometimes less) for a drink. mostly just for comfort. he sleeps next to me so it is not that difficult but i could do without the all night nursing.

wondering if my supply is dropping off too much with the solids?? he still has boobie every 3 hours or less during the day, so it seems unlikely, but i can't understand the frantic night feedings.

[bubhub]

(posted on behalf of Pinky)

Hi Faery,

Often babies step up feedings when they are 'coming down with something' or
going through new developmental stages -babies process information in their
sleep and tend to 'practise' new skills such as rolling/ crawling/ standing
in their sleep and this can wake them - and a boobie is the best comfort
especially if your baby is next to you - you could try cuddling him with his
back to you after he has nursed so 'boobie' isnt so 'in his face'. He may
also be teething - despite opinions that this shouldnt cause discomfort it
seems to depend on individual babies and at night there are fewer
distractions from uncomfortable sensations. Your baby may also be unsettled
by some new foods in his diet - or simply the changing tummy sensations as
his diet changes (I address diet in my book Sleeping Like a Baby).

You would be very aware of your milk supply - please don't doubt yourself -
you have totally sustained your bub for 6 months! Whether your supply is
being affected by solids depends on how quickly you have introduced these
and how much your baby is having - if you have only given him small amounts
it would be unlikely that it is affecting your milk supply dramatically and
in any case a few extra feeds during the day will increase your supply again
very quickly.

Pinky