Snacker-- HELP!

I think that time frame isn't that abnormal. If you keep it up, you might find he starts sleeping through the night really soon. Both my boys did that and slept throught the night very early. One at 8 weeks and one at about your son's age. After that, we were then able to spread the feedings out. Hang in there! As he gets older, it all gets easier. :)

I am a mommy of a 5mo old snacker. Infact we call her the snack queen :) She rarely eats for more than 10 min, anymore. Anyways I have her on a 2-3 feeding rotation. I feed her on the same side at least 2 times so she gets the hind milk and stays full longer. At first it didn't seem to work, but after a few days when she was consistantly getting more calories her feeding times extended. Now she eats every 3 hours or so. Take 2-3 hour naps, and sleeps at least 7 hour stretches at night! He may also be going through a growth spurt and needing more right now.

My son did this for a while, and sometimes still does. I just try to make sure that he fills up at each feeding. Sometimes he will be hungry again shortly after and actually want a full meal again and sometimes he just wants a little snack. I try to give him a binky if he just wants that comfort, sometimes that helps. If you're not using them try guiding his fist to his mouth. But remember breastmilk is digested faster so he might actually be hungry. Like you I'm exhausted sometimes too, so maybe other advice would be good for both of us!

Just don't feed him until the two hour mark, try walking with him in your arms, playing music and distract him. He is using you for a pacifier too possibly as teething can start this young. You need to figure out if he just feeding because of comfort need or truly needing to eat.

Hi A.,

It seems like that is about the same time frame most of my kids had. Since breast milk is digested faster, they do eat more often then formula babies. I believe that 10-12 feedings in 24 hrs is about average. I am sure it is exhausting right now, and getting things done with a baby is always an adjustment. As one mom suggested, the baby sling is very helpful. Also, if you rest when he take a nap or nurse lying down in bed with him it is great.

I am going through this same thing with my son, who is 2m 3w. Some days he will hardly eat at all and other days he acts famished. What I have noticed, is that if he takes a nap for an hour or longer, he eats much better and will actually take more naps throughout the day! I also think he is going through a growth spurt. If you figure out anything that seems to work, please let me know! GOOD LUCK

i htink some babies are just like that . as he gets older and can do other things to distract himself he will probably go for longer periods with out eating. he is still pretty little though. you will probably just have to make due ofr a few more weeks/months until he can be more interested in toys. also keep in mind that babies have growth spirts. one around 3 mos i think and then again at 6 and 9 mos. so around those times he will probably want to eat a ton all the time. just an FYI if he really starts to seem hungry all of a sudden. so relax and just be a human bottle for a while. he will grow out of it eventually and until then there really is no use fighting it. hang in there momma, N.

My son was the same way. He was nursing about every 2 to 2 1/2 hours until he was 5 months and I started him on solids. Breast milk does digest much faster than formula and I don't know anyone who uses the 3 hour schedules they talk about. It seems like you will never have your shirt down until solids are introduced! My daughter now is also a 2 hour nurser so I really feel like I don't have a break. She also uses me as her pacifier, which is tougher than knowing she is getting a meal. If that's what you think is going on try giving him the pacifier, a clean finger or his fist and see if he will be content with it. If he does seem hungry, don't let him not eat. As long as he is growing well, you know you are feeding him what he needs and that means you're doing an amazing job. Breastfreeding is tough. It takes a lot of work, so you are doing a great thing. As he gets older and more active he will want to spend more tme practicing his physical needs and not nurse as much. Also a growth spurt is very likely since he is about the right age, but those aren't always accurate lol. Mothering is so fun!

Have you tried a baby sling like a Maya Wrap? http://www.mayawrap.com/

You can put baby in the sling, and still have mobility to do what you need to do while baby is "snacking".

Maybe baby is going through a growth spurt or maybe it's just comfort feeding. Whatever it is, enjoy the close time you have together now because it won't last forever!

Wait a couple weeks. at 3-4 months he should sleep through the night (~5 hours) w/out needing a feeding.

Know that even after he outgrows this stage, he'll go through it again when he has growth spurts.

Let your house be messy...take care of your boy. There'll be time for cleaning later.