Ideas needed on recording feeding times in the night

mumof1and1ontheway

Sorry if on wrong subject forum.

I really need to record my baby's feeding times through the night. In the day I can easily write them down, but through the night I am so exhausted that I can just about manage feeding, but fall asleep while feeding.. so then have no idea what time he finished, when he's next due etc.

I know breastfed babies are fed on demand.. but my baby has colic and reflux so I am finding it hard to tell between crying from hunger and crying from pain. And I seem to keep offering him food when he is not hungry which results in lots of gulping and choking, which then gives him more wind and more pain.

Is there anything digital I can buy maybe? like a clicker than records time? or does anyone have any ideas? x

LittleTinker

mumof1and1ontheway wrote: »

Sorry if on wrong subject forum.

I really need to record my baby's feeding times through the night. In the day I can easily write them down, but through the night I am so exhausted that I can just about manage feeding, but fall asleep while feeding.. so then have no idea what time he finished, when he's next due etc.

I know breastfed babies are fed on demand.. but my baby has colic and reflux so I am finding it hard to tell between crying from hunger and crying from pain. And I seem to keep offering him food when he is not hungry which results in lots of gulping and choking, which then gives him more wind and more pain.

Is there anything digital I can buy maybe? like a clicker than records time? or does anyone have any ideas? x

Im not sure how setting a digital recorder would be easier or quicker than writing "3.45am/15 mins" on a piece of paper.

If you are too tired to do that, then how could you set a clock or a recorder?

gratefulforhelp_2

Hugs for the tiredness, have you asked HV about colic? Don't know about recording, unless you make a call to your landline on you mobile then hang up immediately. You will have a record of calls made and what time?

mumof1and1ontheway

I was thinking more something to just click lol. Ive spoken to the hv... we have tried everything. They have said I just need to ride it out. Its hard atm with a toddler, but I am getting better at coping.

There is a baby minder you can buy that I have just found but reviews are poor. Thought if I know how much hes feedng when hes not colicky it might help me know when he is truley hungry when he is iygwim?

iamana1ias

Friend of mine has completely changed her diet (no dairy, no wheat, and lots of other things) and her 4 week old baby's colic disappeared overnight.

Spendless

I'm not sure I'm following correctly. I can understand how you would prefer something to click rather than search about for pen, paper and a clock to write down time you were woken, but if you fall asleep whilst feeding how would something to click record that? Sorry, maybe I'm just not grasping what you mean.

My only suggestion is for you to have cctv and record yourself and play it back the following day.

Counting_Pennies_2

How old is baby, I think from quick memory of reading past posts you must be past the one month stage?

I would say it would be safe to start enforcing a structured feeding schedule and to then ride the storm of pain for the rest of the time, thus eliminating when you know baby is in pain and hungry.

Not sure how much on demand is the feeding, but I would say a standard (if there is such a thing) breast feed schedule would be about every 3 hours, with a little more frequent in the evening when they start stocking up.

So if more frequent then that try stretching it out by half an hour, each day to the point you are on an approximate 3 hourly schedule.

That way your body has the chance to generate the necessary milk.

It is all trial and error, and it is tough with a toddler, if I recognise your name, I think your ex has your toddler for about half of the week, so try to grin and bear it for the rest of the time and look forward to those days it is a little less manic.

If you try to get some structure set up, then it will help you recognise the time on the clock when you rise at night, so for example midnight, 3 o'clock and 6am are the times you know is feeding time.

Have you tried cranial osteopathy for little one, this sometimes helps with colic and is non invasive?

mumof1and1ontheway

He is 7.5 weeks. If I can get all his full feeds on paper for a few days I'm hoping to see a pattern, so I can try routine and then when I know he's not due to eat I can persist with the dummy, swaddle etc. As when he's screaming if I try and feed him he ends up worse as he takes in more air etc.
Its getting to the point where I cant have a bath or bath my toddler. And my toddlers routine is getting harder to stick to.

He feeds every 2-2.5hrs but in a morning can go up to 6 hours with not eating due to him stressing and being unsettled. I have my postnatal check up next week so hoping the dr can help. I'm now worrying I have slight pnd.. so need to nip things in the bud and take back control.

I am unsure what cranial osteopathy is but I will google in.

For the person who suggested a dairy free diet.. I have considered it.. even posted a thread on here for advice.. but my hv then told me not to bother and said its very very rare and I would be wasting my time.

I feel like I have tried everything... infacol, dentinox, gripe water, colief, gaviscon, switching to formula, baths, dummy, massage, swaddling, swing.. so now I am coming to the conclusion that nothing helps and I will indeed just have to ride it out and cope the best I can

iamana1ias

My friend's health visitor said the same, after my friend had done it and found it worked overnight. It wouldn't hurt to try. I have to say health visitors seem to know very little and base much of their (flawed) advice on personal opinion.

I'm sure my friend found all the info online.

iamana1ias

Where does your baby sleep? Isn't propping up their cot/Moses basket/cardboard box at the head end supposed to help?

pukkamum

It sounds very much to me like you are in a vicious circle, ie he is feeding too much at night resulting in not enough feeding in the day which means being hungry during the night etc.This would also account for the unsettledness during the day.
My suggestion would be to ensure that the 7 pm feed is a really good one, even if he is falling asleep waking him up and getting him to empty both breasts.
I would also suggest a feed at 10pm, even if you have to partially wake him for it.
It may be a good idea to express milk to be given at 7 and or 10 in a bottle that way you can ensure a good amount is taken.
I would also give him some 'down time' during the day, even if he is crying putting him down and giving him some 'quiet time' or just getting out in the pram, not many babies can scream for long whilst being pushed around in a pram.