4mo still feeding 11-12 times/day?

[MrsH]

My 17lb 4 month old used to just nurse 7-8 times per day, but has recently really upped that and I'm wondering what it all means. During the daytime she now nurses every 2 hours on on the dot. Sometimes she gets hungry even sooner than that. At night, she goes down (with a final nursing) somewhere around 7:30, and nurses every 2.5 hours following that. She's in a cosleeper next to me and while I try to settle her in other ways first (patting, shushing, singing, walking, we've even started using a pacifier) none of it works. The pacifier does help her go to sleep if she's eaten and tired - it's like the final little tip that sends her off to dreamland. All the other stuff has worked at times but most often she winds up nursing. She takes in big gulps too, so she's not just seeking the comfort. Any suggestions? Does she need solids to help fill her tummy? Am I just allowing her to set up a bad habit? Is my milk not sufficient? I'd love your thoughts, and would especially love to find ways to get some more sleep!

[GAmomto5]

This is totally normal at her age. She is probably going through a growth spurt and really needs to eat. She most definitely does NOT need solids. Her little tummy and digestive system is not ready for that. Your milk is all she needs. I can't help with the sleep situation. When your baby needs you, she needs you There will actually be several times (8-10 months and 14-15 months comes to mind for me) where she will experience growth spurts and will need to nurse more. Just keep reminding yourself that you are doing the best for her by feeding her on demand.

[MrsH]

Thanks - I meant to include that this has been going on for almost two weeks now. I thought growth spurts were more like a couple of days. My body has definitely upped the supply! I'm back to leaking and spraying all over the place again, ugh. But a good sign, I guess?

[Bokonon]

My 4mo probably nurses around 12 times a day. I don't keep track, but it's a lot, and at least 3 times during the night too.

My son was the same way. He was a "grazer" as a baby, and he still is as a lean 4yo!

At 4 months they start being much more aware of their surroundings, so eating is sometimes too boring to spend too long at, so they will eat, then play, then eat some more, and on and on. It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong at all! And at 17 pounds at 4 months, your milk is definitely sufficient!

[alegna]

Totally and completely normal.

Dd nursed ~12 times a day until she was 2 yrs old...

-Angela

[LadyCatherine185]

My 12 mo still nurses between 8-15 times a day. Totally normal. :

[dziejen]

Sounds totally normal and as others have said, your breastmilk is all the nourishment she needs right now. You said that you try a lot of other methods first but could you offer your breast first and then try the other things like walking and singing if that doesn't do the trick? You both might get back to sleep easier and faster. You are not creating a bad habit, you are meeting her needs for nourishment and comfort. Babies change so quickly that she may be in a new pattern before you know it anyways. Have you looked up La Leche League in your area? It really helped when my daughter was younger to go and talk with other breastfeeding mothers and hear that what we were going through was the same thing others were experiencing.