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Question: How often is your baby nursing/breastfeeding at 8.5 months old?

(Posted by: my_king_died4me on 2008-06-17 15:23:37)

It seems like our very- much- awaited miracle baby is still nursing every 2 hours, but only for about 10 minutes at a time. She is 8 months old and 18 pounds, so I know she's getting 'enough'. Don't get the wrong idea... I don't mind it at all. I LOVE having that time with her, and it gives me a chance to sit down during the day! Our older children are very much older than her (7y & almost 13y), so I don't remember from when they were babies. I'm not asking for ways to stretch the time between feedings... But just wondering what is normal for this age? And she wakes 2- 4 times between 10pm and 8am, nurses and goes right back to sleep, so I don't mind this, either. Does your baby still do this?

Posted by: Char Char Gabor on 2008-06-17, 15:38:31

Well my daughter is 10 months old now and still nurses every 1 1/ 2 to 2 hours. At 8 months I think it was about twice an hour! She had just started crawling and was feeling a bit insecure I think. We had a really bad patch of night sleep at around 7-9 months where she was up every hour, but has improved slightly now and is up about 4-5 times. I figure it's only for a short time and I know she needs it.

Posted by: McMom on 2008-06-17, 15:48:14

My daughter is maybe a week younger than yours, we still get alot of every 2 hour nursings. Not so much at night, I think she wakes to feed once at night, but she sleeps in our bed so she feeds herself back to sleep. We generally average during the day at wanting to nurse every 3 hours, and little 3 minute feeds inbetween.

Posted by: adubrul on 2008-06-17, 16:36:56

My son is 8 months old and typically nurses every 3-4 hours plus has 3 solid food meals during the day and nurses once sometimes twice at night (one night last week he made it all night w/ o nursing...his first ever!!!). I weaned him off of his 4 nightly wakings by using Feber's night weaning method (only feed at certain timed intervals and gradually spread them out) which worked out really well. I was really hesitant to read Feber's book because of all the negative associations with being the COI guy. However, the 2006 edition is excellent...it got my son down to basically once a night feedings (I am reluctant to go cold turkey with the last one). Your daughter is probably just getting distracted during the day and doesn't have time to finish her meal before she wants to get up and go. I sometimes have a hard time getting my son to nurse because he constantly wants to be on the move. But, I try to remember that babies get what they need...as long as they are gaining weight, they are ok.

Posted by: wag35 on 2008-06-17, 16:44:30

My baby is 6.5 months old and is still waking up at least 2x's a night to nurse. We nurse whenever for however long she wants to during the days that I have off from work. I also feed her at least one solid food meal a day usually in the mornings. She weighs 15lbs 5oz., but has been crawling and trying to walk already. She seems to be much hungrier lately, I think it is all the extra energy she puts into moving about.