How many feeds before bed time?

[Lipsmacker01]

Im just wondering how many breast feeds other mums are offering their bubs before bed time? Sarah is a huge comfort feeder and this is an example of what she did tonight and she does this on a regular basis. I really dont think its normal as I think its excessive:
5.30pm Solids/Dinner
6.00pm Bath
6.40pm B Feed (only took five mins???)
7.10pm B Feed for ten mins slept till 7.45pm
7.45pm B Feed for five mins slept till 8.30pm
8.30pm BF for 5 mins. Asleep now

No wonder Im feeling so empty.
What am I doing wrong here. Shes very difficult to settle and wont take water. I end up waking an additional 4-5 times after this and am hoping to solve this problem at sleep school this week.

Part of the reason why I ended up feeding her 4 times was because when she woke on that second feed I felt like she really wasnt sucking at all or wasnt getting anything.

Really how many feeds should it take to get my girl to sleep?

So sleep deprived

[MummaBear03]

I would definately be persisting with water at her age, breastmilk is still wonderful, but she would be needing to get used to water as well, even if it's in the form of ice cubes or home made ice blocks using plain water.

As for how many feeds though, when my dd was that age it would depend on the day. Sometimes a 10 minute feed did it, sometimes she'd feed for an hour, sometimes she'd feed many times within the hour before bed time. I never stressed over it though as she was still so tiny and I don't honestly think kids need a strict routine until they get to school age and have to be there at a certain age, which is where preschool was good for adapting to a school routine before formal schooling began. JMO

[Mrs AJC]

That's pretty much what I do ... just keep cluster feeding till he passes out completely, and whilst he used to cluster feed in the evening till around 10:30pm then sleep the rest of the night till 6am-ish now I still do this but he now wakes for feeds all through the night, because well I guess the daytime is just too interesting to eat
You just have to do what you are happy with doing to get by. If you don't feel that your routine is working for you then maybe you should think about altering it slightly to see if a change helps, hopefully you will get some ideas that will help you and bubs to get sleep.
It is so draining bfing when they want it so often. Sorry I don't think I have helped any, just don't let anyone tell you to do anything you are not comfortable with.

[Lilyloo]

LS, I think what you should be doing is, rather than feeding her to sleep, where she only sleeps for such short periods, keep her awake, and try to give her a really long feed, so she's full!

She should only be having 1 big feed before bed, then sleping for most of the night.

It sounds as though she's falling asleep, whilst feeding, but not being satisfied, so waking hungrey again, a short time later.

Can you keep her awake, and make sure she's had enough?

It doesn't have to be draining and exhausting for you!

[Areca]

Sounds like she's comfort feeding...if you look at the times she's waking up after the 45 minute sleep cycle and needing help going back down.

GTG...my baby is awake now but I think that's what she is struggling with.

[UmmInayah]

Sounds like she's comfort feeding...if you look at the times she's waking up after the 45 minute sleep cycle and needing help going back down.

GTG...my baby is awake now but I think that's what she is struggling with.

My DD used to do exactly the same thing. She would have 3 feeds 45 mins apart before she slept for 3 hours and woke again for a feed.

Honestly, I think she is used to being fed like that - like DoubleAce said, comfort feeding. I think you should try patting her to sleep rather than feeding her when she wakes after 45 mins. See what happens. If my DD is hungry, she will fall asleep but wake up 5 mins later, so I know she is hungry and I feed her. If she is truly hungry, she will wake again for a feed, otherwise she should be able to go back to sleep.