3Mth Old Eating Every 1-2 Hours

Updated on November 28, 2010
S.S. asks from Houston, TX
7 answers

I have a strickly breastfed 3 month old and she is wanting to eat every hour to 2 hours, however, at night, she sleeps 4-6 hours without eating. I know at 2 months old it's normal at a growth spert, but does it hit at this age also?

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So What Happened?

OK, well, I appreciate all the feedback. I am going to continue to feed on demand, so now that I know it's cluster feeding/growth spert. I love breastfeeding, I tell all new moms to do it...it's so REWARDING!!!!

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Here's the thing with a breastfed baby-they've got to get their nutrition in. If baby is getting some good sleep at night then they have got to make up for it somewhere right? So they will eat more frequently during the day. Perfectly normal.

Also, is this happening more toward late afternoon/evening time? Perfectly normal. Around that age both of my EBF babies would nurse non-stop it seemed but what I learned is that they are actually tanking up on all the fatty hindmilk and then they can crash out and rest for several hours.

3 months is also growth spurt time. This is baby's way of getting your body to make what she needs for this next round. Beautiful and perfect the way it works!

The absolute *best* advice I can give you is to be confident in your ability to feed your baby and follow baby's cues/lead. If you do this you won't go wrong!

4 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

NORMAL.

She is doing what is called "cluster feeding" in which they feed even every single hour.

3 months is also a growth-spurt period... as is every 3 months.

ALWAYS feed on-demand...

BOTH my kids did that... often... and they grew like weeds and were very healthy and had GINORMOUS appetites.
Normal.

all the best,
Susan

3 moms found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Dover on

My son was not breast fed and was taking a full 8oz bottle every two hours by 2 weeks old. Couldn't get enough! The doctor had to have me start rice cereal early so we could start spacing out his feedings some. He was gaining a pound a week.

Normal? Not necessary normal for all kids but definately within normal limits. After reaching 19 lbs by 3 months (triple his birthweight) he started tapering off and didn't gain anything from 8-12 months (grew in height and stayed active but didn't put on more than an oz or two).

He was a bit chubby as a toddler but is not at all overweight now.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from College Station on

Yes! It does. At this age, my oldest was grabbing food off my plate when he would sit in my lap at the table. That is when I started him on solids. I know there are lots that are against this, but not me.
Ask your Dr. if you can try some cereal.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

mine started eating like that at 2 months I found out I wasnt producing enough milk and started supplementing. he still ate like that so I started him on cereal he was eating 4 oz of cereal in a 8 oz bottle every 2 hours and sometimes more often. at times he was eating 4 oz cereal in an 8 oz bottle every 30-45 min. he ws on a growth sprut and it lasted till a year and he was in 18 month clothes at 12 months 2t by 18 months and 5t by 21 months this was my experience

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

This is within normal range. Is she nursing long enough each time to get the hind milk? I've read that the baby should nurse on one breast until they get the hind milk before switching to the other breast. I've had not experience so the latter statement may be wrong. It is normal to feed this often.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Houston on

3m is supposed to be the biggest growth spurt

Feed more often during the day so they are 'full' and can sleep longer at night. Some call it cluster feeding if you research about it.

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