Tips to stop a baby waking up every 1/2 hours through the night?

floss2

smartpicture wrote: »

She is breastfed, but I thought your body was supposed to produce as much milk as necessary so surely she must be getting enough?

ginvzt wrote: »

My cousins had to be moved onto formula, as my aunt didn't have enough milk, so it can happen.

If mum is stressed or exhausted from a baby who wakes every half hour, it is quite possible she is not producing enough milk to satisfy her baby. It's a vicious circle, in that the more worried mum gets because she's not making enough milk and the more tired she is because of the broken nights, the less milk she will be able to produce, which starts the cycle again.

I would suggest they contact their midwife or health visitor for advice, but personally would consider changing to formula, having been there with both my children (who are now healthy 6-footers).

ginvzt

What about trying to give formula just for the night, so dad can feed and mum can have a sleep? Not saying every night, but mum definitely needs some rest!!!! Maybe try for one night and see if it helps?

onlyroz

Sounds like they're best off speaking to their health-visitor, who is more qualified to advise on breast-feeding vs. formula, and co-sleeping, than any of us are...

daska

Two very good options for getting help are the NCT breastfeeding helpline (you may also have a local breastfeeding adviser) and the La Leche League. Depending on where you are they might even be able to provide practical support.

galvanizersbaby

floss2 wrote: »

Please do not consider this

I would advise that no parent considers this as an option - the risk of layover is very high, especially with newborn or small babies who don't move very much.

Seems strange - I was encouraged by my midwife 7 years ago when I had my first to co sleep and was given a safety leaflet detailing the risks and how to co sleep safely etc...

Has the advice changed considerably in that time then? - are you a midwife or HV Floss?

3onitsway

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

Seems strange - I was encouraged by my midwife 7 years ago when I had my first to co sleep and was given a safety leaflet detailing the risks and how to co sleep safely etc...

Has the advice changed considerably in that time then? - are you a midwife or HV Floss?

I don't think so - HV & midwife advised it only 8 months ago to me!

Unless you're a smoker/drinker/taking any drugs - then obviously its not safe!

Example of co-sleeping pillow.....

http://www.jusonne.co.uk/baby-sleeper-bed-for-co-sleeping-2499-366-p.asp

galvanizersbaby

ginvzt wrote: »

What about trying to give formula just for the night, so dad can feed and mum can have a sleep? Not saying every night, but mum definitely needs some rest!!!! Maybe try for one night and see if it helps?

I thought this wasn't advisable if you wanted to breast feed as it confuses some babies and it can be a set back for the breastfeeding.

I thought breast milk was supposed to contain all the baby needs without having to top up with formula but then again I didn't breast feed my children for long.

From memory at 2 weeks old stage I don't recall getting much sleep at all with mine - I would say that whatever method the baby is fed things will settle down soon hopefully

daska

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I thought this wasn't advisable if you wanted to breast feed as it confuses some babies and it can be a set back for the breastfeeding.

I thought breast milk was supposed to contain all the baby needs without having to top up with formula but then again I didn't breast feed my children for long.

From memory at 2 weeks old stage I don't recall getting much sleep at all with mine - I would say that whatever method the baby is fed things will settle down soon hopefully

Yes and no. Breastmilk is a complete nutrition system but you do need to feed to build up supply. Some babies can't feed, some mother's can't produce milk, and both have to learn to work together. You have to find the best position for you whether that's sitting, reclining or lying on your side or back, even on all fours. A good breastfeeding adviser will find a solution if there is one. But if mum and baby are struggling to feed then formula might be a good temporary or permanent strategy - the doula I used for my last pregnancy had to resort to formula for her fourth child despite being an adviser for the NCT and LaLeche and knowing pretty much every trick in the book.

emlou2009

my HV and midwives recommended co sleeping too, the guidelines are that if you smoke/drink/take drowsy medication/are very overweight then it isnt advised, but it is otherwise safe.
i found we slept very lightly with LO between us, but sleeping very lightly was still much better than waking every hour and a half as we were we started co-sleeping. we only started because LO grew out of the moses basket and there was no room for his cot bed in our studio flat, until we moved into our house.

we co slept til 20 weeks and still occasionally do when LO is ill for instance, as he sleeps better between us, he still clearly needs that comfort. i cant lie, it wasnt easy getting him out of our bed when we stopped!

take middle sized towels, the size that is perfect for wrapping your hair up, and roll them into sausages, place them under the bedsheet at baby width apart et voila, money saved on a co-sleeping positioner :money:

freda

Mothers will produce enough milk, but when there is a growth spurt (pretty much all the time for the first few months!) then the body takes a day or so to catch up, and the baby suckles a lot more to stimulate more milk production. This can seem as if they baby isn't getting enough, but it is.

My youngest is 15 months and its all fading into a blur now, but have they tried:

- swaddling - made an amazing difference for my two. Use a light sheet to begin with, then if it works you can buy special swaddling blankets which make it quicker to do up and more secure
- keeping blankets etc away from baby's mouth - things touching their mouth makes their suckling instinct kick in
- is the baby too hot/cold - is there a thermometer in the room?
- have they tried alternative ways of winding the baby to get more air up - we sat ours upright, supporting their chin, and sort of 'stirred' them to get burps out. Also try over shoulder, sitting up on lap, lying them across your arm
- is the baby feeding for long enough, or just snacking? Try putting baby back on after a few mins of burping - it used to take me up to an hour to feed when the babies were teeny tiny.
- is the baby latching on well?
- I found https://www.kellymom.com a very useful site - rather badly laid out and a bit american, but the information in it was good.
- I also found the book called 'The baby whisperer' by Tracel Hogg an absolute godssend, it taught me to understand a baby's body language and what the sound of their cries meant. It wasn't a regimented routine like the Gina Ford books, more of a pattern of feeding, sleeping and being awake that made real sense. It helped me chill and just go along with what the baby wanted, and meant that I didn't feel I HAD to feed it everytime it cried.