6 Months, How Much Does He Really Need to Eat at Night?

I'm experiencing the same thing with my almost 6 mo old and my thoughts are that he's growing! He eats more than he used to and continues to nurse in the night to continue the milk production. My son also has started cereal. Your son may not be ready, but my son looked so sad when we would eat dinner etc. I'm having mixed feelings about dad and his frustrations. We had a difficult time getting pregnant and there is nothing my husband wouldn't do, day or night, to take care of him or keep him close to experience the co-sleeping. This is a limited time to experience this and yes a sacrifice of others, but when was raising children easy? Maybe hubby is frustrated in other ways and resolving one would help the other? Bottom line, keep feeding when he wants it, try adding cereal for dinner and speak to hubby and find a common ground.

Go with it & feed him when he wants it. I'm sorry you have to work outside of the house with two young children. It often changes our views on things like being less patient with lack of sleep which goes hand in hand with having a baby. I personally gave up working to raise my children. Yes my husband and I have sacrificed a lot in material things, but our children have their mommmy at home with them. As an example, we both drive 10 year old cars, don't travel, and live on an exremely tight budget. A definite lifestyle change for both of us! I understand that not everyone can do this, but if at all possible I highly reccommend it! You can not imagine how incredible it is to be with your children on a daily basis & how much they need us.

Sorry I got off on that! Keep giving your baby your boob as he wants it. This is his time of closeness with his mommy!

Hey there S.. I just want to encourage you and tell you that your doing great! At six months he's going through a growth spurt. That's why he's feeding so often. The frequent nursings are to help bulk up your milk supply. It's normal and will calm back down. Unfortunatly when hubby gives him a bottle it's not helping your milk supply so it might prolong this a little. If you just can't stand it and have to get sleep and really need hubby to give him the bottle, just be sure to pump a couple more times during the day or maybe 5 minutes or so longer in each session to compensate and help get that stimulation for more milk. Give it a few weeks and he'll be back to feeding 3-4 hours apart and maybe even longer. This is how it was designed, it's a little wearing, but once your milk supply is boosted to accomodate your baby's increased needs it'll get better. Keep up the great work, your baby it benefitting so much from the best food you can possibly give him.

At 12 lbs, a baby can 'sleep through the night' metabolically. I believe that means six hours or so. By six months, his frequent visits are a habit, not a need. There are numerous books on "sleeping through the night". I'd check out amazon recommendations to see what works for you--everyone is different.
Also, I'd recommend formula at this age because the iron levels drop significantly at six months post partum, or a high-iron cereal combined with some pureed high Vitamin C fruit.

good luck
I know it's not easy
(sahm of three: 5, 3, and 3 months)

hi! I too am a full time working mom with 2 little ones...

My baby (now 4 months) does the same as yours. Some nights I am okay with it, other nights I can't bare to have my nipples sucked on and off all night (they get sore). What I TRY to do is get him down around 7 or 8 (my husband does this since I don't get home until 11ish or later). He usually wakes up around 1am, I have to drag myself to get up if I am already asleep but I nurse him in the rocker, burp him and cuddle and put him back in the crib which is still in my room. he is usually out again until 5am. I am so out of it come 5am I just let him co sleep until we get up at 8am.

I have found that when I don't put him back into his bed he will fuss and grunt and groan looking for my boob. Not sure if he smells the milk but it does make for some restless nights. Yes it is easy to just roll over and let him nurse but you need your rest. The time with your kids is quality not quantity and if mama isn't rested you can't fully enjoy the time with your kids since you will just obsess about sleep.

Now go get some sleep!

Hi S. J,

I too have a 6 month old, tomorrow :-) During her 2 month visit to her doctor, the doctor mentioned that when she reaches 13lbs that she will be able to manage through the night with no feeds. FYI I am breastfeeding her exclusively and I am a SAHM. My daughter has been sleeping through from 9pm to 6am since 11weeks, and more recently from 8pm to 7:30am. She does move around the crib at night & babble a bit as we have the monitor on all night in our room, and we can hear her, but we do not go into her. My husband has been going to work refreshed & in the evening comes in ready to play until she goes to bed.... My daughter co-slept for the first 6 weeks, then went to a bassinet until she was 3 months & now she in her crib in her own room (since 3 months old). She has 2 naps during the day, one long (3hrs) and one short (30mins). I just started solids on Monday last, and I would have breastfed her just before I put her down each night, it was our bonding session before bedtime. I am now transitioning to formula.
I am not sure if this is any help to you, but maybe you can see how another mom/dad deals with it. If I can help you with anything, just ask....your sleepless nights will not ne forever.... take care.