Problem with nightime sleeping? Breastfed baby.?

Question

I'm not sure if there is a solution for this but I thought i'd just ask to see what some ideas are.  My baby is 6.5 months - she slept well through the night in her crib during 3rd, 4th, and 5th month but just lately she no longer sleeps through the night in ther crib at all.  She can manage about 45 minutes sleeping in the crib but will wake up and cry and want to breastfeed at a very rapid rate for what feels like the whole entire night.  She won't open her eyes just breastfeed very quickly almost a bit painful to me.  I end up sleeping beside her and let her breastfeed throughout the night because otherwise I wouldn't get any sleep - I usually just end up doing this because I am so tired.  If I do manage to put her back in the crib she is awake within 30-45 minutes back wanting to do the rapid breastfeeding.  I do not put her to bed hungry - she eats regularly throughout the day and has a big feed before going to bed -  I also give her some cereal and banana before going to sleep.  Because of so much eating overnight her diapers are so wet during the night and then she has a lot of BMs throughout the day.  I am going to mention this to my la leche league leader at our monthly meeting - I am hoping this is just a stage she is going through.

Ivy has Twin Boys! · Accepted Answer

She isn't likely feeding at night due to need but rather out of habit. Obviously she doesn't need to be eating every 45m at night. 

At 6 months they are more fully aware of cause and effect. It is a concious thing now, she knows she can call you over.

It really isn't healthy for her to do taht either, and it woudl be best for both of you to quit that habit. The most she would actually need to nurse at 6 months is 8 times a day, usually 4-6 times is sufficient. 

You really can't assume that is a stage. You can try waiting it out, but likely it is something she has found to be enjoyable. 

You can try waiting a few minutes then offering her a pacifier instead. IF she did sleep through the night before then she knows how, and is simply choosing not to anymore.

I read that a GREAT sleep plan for 6-9 months is 2 hours awake, then 3 hours awake, then 4 hours awake (2 naps and one long sleep at night) and my guys fell right into this. Lately they have been taking longer naps so shorter sleep at night, but it is always about 15 hours of sleep per 24 hours, in 2 naps and one long stretch at night.

Proud Mommy · Answer

I don't have an answer for you because my 7 month old daughter is doing the same thing. She used to sleep so good during the night, and now since about a month ago she will not sleep the night in her crib. She wakes up a couple hours after going to bed and breastfeeds.. I just let her be in my bed and I sleep while she eats otherwise I would get no sleep. It is really hard, and I don't know what to do to fix it. I know at this age they are capable of sleeping 12+ hours without eating. I have heard that giving her a bottle with water during the night instead of letting her breastfeed will help her learn not to be hungry (because now I guess he has just learned to be hungry at night, just like if we eat at the same time every day we learn that's when we  should be hungry)... But I tried this and it didn't work... I think she wants my breast for comfort more than she wants to eat... I don't know though for sure. You could try it and see if it works for you!! Good luck.

Mary C · Answer

I am no expert on this -- tho' I breastfed mine when they were babies.  It sounds like your little one is going through a period of rapid growth and just needs more nourishment for a time.  I can remember such things with my little ones.  It sounds like you are doing the right thing to keep her next to you to feed during the night.  At her age, the danger of sleeping with you has passed.

Maybe your La Leche leader will have better advice but I think you are doing the right thing now.

lashanda · Answer

Hi, i have the perfect 3 mth old she sleeps 12 straight up for a feed at 6am then back for another 3 hours, if she wakes in the night on the very odd occasion, i give her the dummy and the sucking effect puts her back to sleep, sometimes its not that they're hungry, they may just be looking for that comfort. Worth a try.Good luck

pajnpis · Answer

Do you give her naps during the evening? If so, you may want to try to keep her awake. Have her take a nap at around 2-3. My son tend to stay up a night and I found out that if I give him naps at 2-3 then he'll be tired by the time we sleep. If later then 3, he tend to stay up at night now sleeping. It may be that, that affect her.

tamara k ♥ her family · Answer

Try cutting out the solids, my son's sleep REALLY deteriorated when we tried him on rice cereal and improved when we got rid of it. We always knew when somebody had given him 'baby' food as his sleep that night would be SHOCKING!
A deterioration in sleep quality is supposed to be a sign your LO is NOT ready for solids, it happens because they are having trouble digesting them and it hurts.

She might also be teething, try putting teething gel on her gums and giving her a dose of infants paracetamol for a couple of nights and see if that has any effect. If it does see the doctor and get their approval for a course of pain relief treatments to help her sleep. Do NOT continue giving infants paracetamol without your doctors knowledge for more than 48 hours.

What is happening with your LO is NOT normal, it should NOT be happening. At this age her sleep should be IMPROVING, not deteriorating!

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Problem with nightime sleeping? Breastfed baby.?

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