Nine-Month-Old Breastfed Baby Wakes Every 3-4 Hours at Night to Nurse

Feed that boy! :)
As soon as my pediatrician noticed my DD's weight gain slowing at 4 months, he recommended starting rice cereal w/ breastmilk (a thin concoction with spoon). She had been waking at least once a night to eat, but after her first foray with rice cereal she slept straight through and never looked back. It's great that you've been able to breastfeed for this long! Wouldn't you like a full night sleep at this point? ;)
Good luck & good job!
A.

What I get out of what you wrote is that you agree with the philosophy of letting your baby lead you in what he is ready for.

Your doctor is not concerned about your son's weight or food intake, probably because your son has always been in the 3rd percentile or within 5-15 percentile points of the 3rd percentile - is that correct? Doctors aren't concerned with percentiles as long as there isn't a significant drop or gain of 15 or so points. If your son has always been in or around the 3rd percentile, your doctor is right to not be concerned.

Your concern is that your baby was sleeping an eight hour stretch, but that has changed to a 3 hour, 4 hour, then 3 hour stretch. Your mom and sister have you worried that the frequent waking is due to your son's lack of eating solid foods.

You can read Help! My Child Won't Eat! published by La Leche League, which will help reassure you that your instincts about following your son's lead with what and how much he wants to eat are correct. You can call a La Leche leader or attend a meeting to learn about the sleep habits of breastfed babies compared to formula fed babies.

All babies are different. Some will sleep longer and more consistently than others. Some will eat more at an earlier age than others. Your baby was sleeping better. Many things can disrupt a baby's sleep: teeth, developmental milestones like crawling, walking, talking, or anything newly learned, a higher need for comfort, etc.

My son never slept long or consistently, and at 7 months began waking every hour. This phase lasted for about 2 months, then got better again, meaning he's sleep for 2-3 hour stretches again. He'll still have a night here and there with the every hour thing. It always coincides with something developmental. He finally started doing a 6 hour stretch fairly consistently a few months ago: at 20 months. My son didn't latch on to eating solid foods with a vengeance until he was 14 months old: he has food allergies and is very texture sensitive, but this was normal for him. Every baby is different. You can try to force something to come, like eating or sleeping, or you can let your baby lead. Find some support for your mothering choices and educate yourself on babies' eating and sleeping habits.

I would definitely keep trying the cereals. If that goes well, then move on to baby food. If he has a full tummy and not teething, he should be sleeping through the night quite often by now so my guess would be that he IS hungry. Having some cereal before bedtime may help both of you sleep longer : )

Hi J.,
If your baby is breast fed don't introduce bottles now, then you will have to deal with weaning from that! A nine month old should be eating alot of solid food right now, and you could think of weaning now. Maybe if you are working and gone a little he is making up for that( supply and demand)? That said, a 9 month old does not need to eat during the night and this simply could be a comfort thing, try the ferber methods, don't pick him up, let him cry etc. Also. a nine month old can eat almost anything that they can gum, like eggs, cheerio's, cheese, cooked veggie's. Maybe he doesn't like "baby" food! I hope that help's a litle, and if the Dr. say's he is healthy and growing and you think he is ok than it probably is the comfort thing! Good luck!

If I were you I'd be doing the same thing--feeding him if I knew he was hungry, whenever it was. I'd probably try to give him a pacifier at 3:30, or maybe even rock him at first (if you have to), just to make sure it is actually food he's wanting. A question: which came first, the nursing all night or the not eating as much? If he's full, does he have as much inclination to eat food?

You might want to watch out for growth-spurt behavior that turns into a habit, just for sanity's sake.

But he's still pretty little--if your doctor isn't worried, I'd just keep doing what feels right and what makes your baby content.

My daughter did this as well at that age, and she eventually went back to the once a night feeding. I think growth spurts are pretty common at this age, and I would hate to see you let him cry it out if he is growing and hungry. Also, there is really nothing wrong with allowing him to do some nursing for comfort as well. Good Luck. And just remember, that this too shall pass--they do sleep all through the night eventually.

I have a friend whose doc had her give her DD water in a bottle at night (not early on, but probably 9 mos or so) to find out whether she was up 'cause she was thirsty or hungry. Turned out she was thirsty.

I think you should trust your instincts about your baby. You know him better than your relatives, no matter how well-meaning they are.

I trained my DS1 to night-wake more often by getting up the *second* he made a sound rather than waiting to see whether he was really hungry or just making a quick noise. So, if you're not already, give him a minute or two to see if he settles himself back to sleep. You might also try sending your DH in there first for a few nights. That's one way we broke my DS1 of his frequent (and by frequent, I mean WAY more often than every 3-4 hours) wakings. He'll let you know if he's really hungry or not.

Best of luck!

It kind of sounds like you give him formula here and there... so if that is the case make his last feeding a formula bottle. My daughter is breastfed all day and her only bottle is at night and with formula. The moment we started that she slept through the night. She goes down at 7pm and gets up at 7am. Of course we have white noise and a very dark room, but all of those things combined has worked wonders!
But I would also think at 9 month feeding him cereal would not only help his calorie wise, but just help to fill him up. We had to take my daughter off of all grains due to allergies, but if he doesn't seem to react then go for it. Also if you are nervous about starting him on grains then what I have been told is to try avocado as the first food. It is full of such good fats and vitamins!!

By the time babies are 1 year of age, breastfeeding should no longer be their only source of food so he is getting closer....
Good luck...

Yes, I do believe your relatives are right! Give that boy some food during the day and at dinner time. He should be on three meals by now. They don't have to be big meals. Also, sounds like nursing alone is not cutting it--he possibly needs some formula in addition. Good luck!

He could be teething and using you for a teether.
He should only nurse out of hunger. Make sure his gums aren't swollen, or if there is excess slobber. Try natural teething tablets or motrin. Teething occurs around this age really big time.
Also I agree at 9 mos he isn't getting enough as he should just through breast milk. If he doesn't like solids continue to just try. Cereal mixed with pears, or peas or carrots. Is it he doesn't like solids or he is having a bad reaction? There is a difference. Continue exposure will help him adjust, adding flavors and spice will help him not be so picky later on too.
I know a lot think breast milk alone is enough, it is enough nutritionally but he is growing and needs supplemental foods too to get added vitamins and feeling fuller.
Make sure he isn't using you as a human pacifier, maybe try formula at night as it stays with them longer, make sure he isn't teething and just continue to offer solids and he will get the gist of it.
Do not add things to bottles I have never agreed with that method, he is old enough to learn to have different textures in his mouth and gum things.
I am really betting it is teething or a growth spurt.
Try to feed him too with pumpmed breast milk in a bottle so you can see actually how much he is getting.

I had a doctor who had 8 kids of his own tell me that when a baby quits sleeping through the night it means they need food. It worked with my boys. Baby girl isn't there yet to tell. 3rd percentile is pretty low. Our doctors were concerned when our DS got there. He has spent most of his life there and struggles for every ounce. Our 4mo weighs 2/3 of what he weighs at 2. I'd at least get a second opinion as to why he doesn't want to eat and why he isn't gaining weight. Our DS had a lot of hidden health problems that a feeding specialist helped us sort out. I don't want to worry you, but our doctor was not at all concerned, but the specialists were very concerned. He didn't even have serious health issues other than weight.