BF - How do you stop the snacker?

I am trying to keep DS's schedule this week to see what we can improve to maybe get him to sleep a little better at night. It seems like he does a lot of snacking instead of really eating which may be why he's not held over for too long.
This is today so far (I won't even get into the night )

7:20 out of bed
7:30-7:45 EAT
8:45-9:30 NAP
9:40-10 EAT (but not consistently - kept pulling off)
10:45-10:55 EAT
11-11:45 NAP

now I'm trying to feed him and 2-minutes of eating he's out again

Any suggestions?

Re: BF - How do you stop the snacker?

DD did the SAME thing when she was small. She is 7 months now and goes longer but never went as long as some other babies. The way I figure is let your DC do it as much as they want during the day because then at night, they will sleep!!

Re: BF - How do you stop the snacker?

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

DD did the SAME thing when she was small. She is 7 months now and goes longer but never went as long as some other babies. The way I figure is let your DC do it as much as they want during the day because then at night, they will sleep!!

Re: BF - How do you stop the snacker?

I didn't have this issue but maybe try holding off feeding him a little so he is more hungry when you do feed him and then maybe he will nurse for longer. slowly you can stretch the time in between and hopefully the length he nurses for will increase (or at least he will suck more vigorously and get more). I also wonder if he is using you as a pacifier and if he is even actually hungry. Very often tired cues are mistaken for hunger and babies don't usually refuse the breast at that point. So pay close attention and maybe try other things to soothe him first before feeding him.

I would also guess that he isn't sleeping so much at night because of the fact that he snacks. if he is only on for a few minutes he is not getting the rich, fatty, filling hindmilk so he is hungrier quicker.

HTH!!! Good luck!

Re: BF - How do you stop the snacker?

My son is a snacker also. He is 4.5 months and I dont see it changing any time soon. I have tried a few things. offering only one breast for a couple of feedings in a row was suggested but didnt work. now i just go with the flow, and i pump a bottle in the morning in between feeding that i give to him in the afternoon, that way i can get out and not have him attached to my breasts all day long. I have thought about switching to formula because it's enough to drive you insane. But, he does the same thing with the bottle and my fear is I'd be tossing tons of formula all the time. You do get kind of used to it and I can stretch out the time between feedings with a pacifier. also, he usually gives me a couple of long stretches in the day where he goes without nursing. he is on and off me all morning though. I asked the ped and he told me that it's just my son's personality. oh well.