Expert: ruth kraft - 6/30/2009

Question
I breastfed my daughter until she was 10 months old, then only at night and in the morning until she was a year old and didn't have too many problems. She slept 6 hours a night by 6 weeks, and 9-10 hours by 3-4 months.

I now have an almost 4 month old son (will be on July 6th) and he nurses pretty well throughout the day every 3 hours (has since birth), but from about 3:00 on, he'll eat every 2-2 1/2 hours. It seems like I can't keep him satisfied. I can pump alot of milk in the morning, but in the afternoon and evening (even if I miss a feeding with him due to my job) I have trouble pumping more than an ounce or two. Is this normal for a growing boy to eat that often when he's always eaten every 3 hours?

He is also still waking up around 3 am to eat. He passed this around 3 months old, but now he's going back to waking up again. Is he not getting enough during the day, or is he possibly just going through a growth spurt?

Thanks for any help or advice you can give me!

Answer
As much as we would like to, comparing the two children is going to frustrate you :) My kids were the same way, daughter ate and slept well, son fed all the time and didnt sleep well. Its actually personality more than your milk supply or milk. Have you ever had dinner with someone who when you are done your 4 course meal and they are still eating their appetizer like a slow snail? Some people just eat differently. You son sounds completely normal. He is cluster feeding in the evening, which is normal, and you lucked out with your daughter sleeping that long first as that is not the most common thing to happen. it is instinctual that your son wakes up more and not abnormal.  It is more about making sure you are there if he needs you and building that trust than the food. But that is an added benefit.

It is also normal to get much less in the evening then you would during the day. Our bodies are suppose to have the largest meal in the morning and smallest at night before we sleep. ( our society has shifted that ) but the way babies do it is the healthiest way.

It is possible hes going through a growth spurt but I think its more developmental. he just needs extra assurance you are there and my guess is he will go back to sleeping through again. But if hes only waking one time, your doing good ;)

It all sounds very normal to me :) go with his flow... it will be best for him developmentally :)

Hope that helped!
ruth kraft
www.honoringwomen.com