Number of feeds at 6 months?

[aussienic]

i too am more then over the night feeds.. Olivia is waking on average once but lately sheis either awake all night or wakes twice for over an hour each time *yawn*

Olivia is really struggling with solids.. We are lucky to get a full tablespoon on food over a whole day..

on milk feeds Olivia has approx 6-10 feeds in a 24 hour period.. A few of those are 5 minute drinks though

[mbear]

at around 6 months my DD#3 was feeding 6-7 times a day - that included a night feed too.
Shes now 9 months, eating 3 meals a day, 3-4 breastfeeds and still waking once during the night. i know its not hunger, more comfort. Im prepared to feed her for 15 mins and get back into bed, rather than 'teach' her to go back to sleep. Its easier for our household, i guess thats what you have to assess......Good luck.

[narelle]

Hi Ezz, maybe your little guy is just hungry? Maybe your milk is not as good as it was? Maybe he's not getting enough each feed? Not too sure just an idea. My little guy is bottlefed so im sorry i can't say more bout b/feed bubs.
My bub is nearly 7 months old and has his 1st feed around 7.30, then 5 more through out the day last being around 9pm and 1-2 tsp of solids. i am only giving my bub 180ml instead of the recommended 240ml (i find he vomits more on the larger bottles due to reflux). And my bub is too nearly 10kg!
have you considered a bottle just before bed? maybe it will keep him fuller for longer.
good luck with your feeding
take care

[Ezz]

So DS's 7 feeds are pretty normal for his age?

How big should solid meals be? DS is having his 2 tablespoons in the morning - but yesterday & today he ate a whole banana in the evening! (and would have kept eating if I'd given him more). When do you move to 3 meals? Is it better to have 2 bigger meals or 3 smaller ones?

[Ezz]

Thanks narelle - I'm pretty sure my supply is good though - he's quite satisfied after a feed - I think he just likes the comfort of boobies overnight!

mbear - if DS was only having 1 feed o/night I wouldn't worry about it. Last night he had 3 - 11:40pm, 2am, 5:30am

[Lewis's Mummy]

Overnight feeds are kind of funny, aren't they - it really depends on when you start counting... My DS is usually in bed around 7pm after a feed, then wakes at 10, 2 and about 5:30... but I guess I only think of the 2am feed as being the overnight one - I go to bed at about 8:30 but figure 'normal people' are still up at 10ish so that one doesn't count... hmm. The waking up for just a grizzle is what tires me out and there's just no pattern to it - some nights he sleeps the 4 hours between feeds, other nights he needs something in between.

As for overfeeding, I'm not too worried about that. DS clamps his mouth shut when he doesn't want anymore solids or refuses to hold the spoon (seeing as that's the only way he'll take solids from me... cheeky monkey) and definitely lets me know if I've misread a cue and he doesn't want a drink too! Can really arch his back and throw a hissy fit when he wants to! I'm sure Calvin would let you know if you were overfeeding him - he'd probably chuck up for a start. I reckon if what you're doing is working for you at the moment you might as well stick with it. He's happy and healthy, so you must be doing a good job

[KatieRabbit]

My 6 month old has breast feeds around:
8am, 12pm, 3pm, 6.30 pm, 11pm, 3am
And a solids meal in the evening- about 2-3 tablespoons (big ones like the measuring spoon size) a night. This equals about a small banana or half an avocado or 4 icecubes of pear and some rice cereal mixed in. I will start a second meal in the next few days but I think a third comes in a few weeks after the second one. It really doesn't sound like you are overfeeding him. If he has been on 2 meals for a couple of weeks why not try a third or increase the amount of the 2 that you give. Or you could mix some cereal in with the veg or fruit to bulk it up. My DD takes a full breast feed whenever I offer or eveb at 3am. She is no "I'll just have a 5 minute comfort suck"!.

[june78]

Its such a relief to see this thread. DS is almost eight months old and feeds 5-6 over a 24hr period (twice overnight). I was starting to wonder if it was just me getting up overnight at this age to feed. He is on three decent meals a day too, but no sign of wanting to drop his overnight feeds. Like most of you I do wonder if the night feeds are more for comfort (or routine), but worried about what he will be like if I don't feed him then