Eating constantly when awake...

Olivia is starting to be awake more and more and it seems like when she is awake, she just wants to constantly eat. She really is hungry too, it's not that she just wants her paci or entertained. Last night, she was awake off and on from 6 pm - 12:30 am. In that 6.5 hour time frame...here is what she did. She ate a 3.5 ounce botte (awake for an hour then fell asleep). Woke back up and ate 2 ounces, fell asleep. Woke up again and ate 2 more ounces...back to sleep. Woke again and ate 3.5 ounces...then another 1.5 ounces before FINALLY asleep at 12:30 am. She ate 12 ounces in 6.5 hours...but all off and on. I felt like I was constantly feeding her. I guess it kind of pays off b/c she did sleep until 5:30 am, but still...it was exhausting before that!

She has been diong this a lot (last night was extreme though). She doesn't cry much, but she just gets really restless and rooting to eat.

During the day, she will eat 3.5 ounces (I pour 4 but she won't take it) about every 3 hours and then once a day does this constant grazing. I can't get her to eat more on her regular schedule. She's just downright stubborn and when she's done she's done.

Anyone have any advice? The twins go to bed aournd 7:30-8:00 pm, but I never get any "free" time after they go to bed b/c Olivia just want to eat all night long! I guess she's like me in the sense that all she wants to do is eat while awake...lol!

 

Sounds like she is getting ready for a growth spurt. I would just keep doing what you are doing (offering her more), and as long as she isn't spitting it back up she must need it. I'm sure its exhausting though after taking care of twin toddlers all day. It won't always be like this though. :love0028:

 

I went through this with BOTH of mine AT THE SAME TIME and it was AWFUL! I was constantly feeding someone.. it was annoying. I do not think she is truly constantly hungry because to be honest-- that just isn't possible. I learned this the hard way--. I was a slave to the bottle and they would eat 2 oz at most of the feedings which to be honest; does not constitute a TRUE feeding. You are not harming her in any way shape or form but for your own sanity, I would be starting a more rigid feeding schedule at this pt.

It is not necessary to feed her that often UNLESS as pp mentioned, she is going through a growth spurt which I myself never witnessed with my boys.. I always heard about it but mine didn't eat more during any particular time-- up until 19 weeks they were just doing what your little one is doing.. GRAZING. My ped told me "No SNACKING.." Which is what that is.

Anyway, it's a hassle to break that habit but it will help you in the long run. I wish I would have realized (but they were my first) that they were not truly hungry just restless, bored, and wanting to suck.. They never took pacifiers (ugh).

Best of luck to you on getting her to take more at each feeding, not feeding her more often. It's tough!!

 

mine did this quite a few times and I think it is a growth spurt. It stinks but then she will get on more of a schedule....hang in there!

 

Sounds like cluster feeding, stocking up for the night, it is pretty common, I would try to push the cluster feeding up in time slowly, so start offering a bottle every 2hrs around 4pm and see if that helps

 

QUOTE(excitedk @ Apr 12 2008, 07:23 PM) [snapback]718502[/snapback]
Sounds like cluster feeding, stocking up for the night, it is pretty common, I would try to push the cluster feeding up in time slowly, so start offering a bottle every 2hrs around 4pm and see if that helps


I totally agree! My babies all did this :crazy: , and they also started going longer at night when they were getting that extra nourishment in.....so maybe?

 

QUOTE(excitedk @ Apr 12 2008, 11:23 PM) [snapback]718502[/snapback]
Sounds like cluster feeding, stocking up for the night, it is pretty common, I would try to push the cluster feeding up in time slowly, so start offering a bottle every 2hrs around 4pm and see if that helps


That's a good idea! I will have to try that if she continues in this pattern...lol. I'm just spoiled b/c when the twins came home from the NICU, they wree on a 4-hour schedule...and they STAYED on it!

 

glad you posted this... arden is doing the same thing... 3 oz none stop it seems!!!

 

my twins ate every 2 hours. i couldn't get them to 3 or 4 hours. i tried to give them more food but they also didn't want it. they started to STTN at about 3 months. somedays though they would wake up for a bottle or 2 in the middle of the night then went all night without one. it could be a growth spurt also. if she is used to every 4 hours eating then that's what i would think. i agree with pp on trying it earlier at every 2 hours. it just may help her out. hang in there it does get easier

 

Does she take a pacifier?