https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:34:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922781 Wed, 03 Mar 2021 00:13:47 +0000 periwinklebee 2922781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: I know everyone is different, but I had no problem continuing to nurse my kids after stopping pumping. </p> <p>With my older child, I think it really was more about the connection, as he nursed all the way through pregnancy (which had a much more dramatic effect on supply). For my daughter, it's always seemed to be more about the food - she was a way more efficient eater and wouldn't linger - but she still nurses at wake up and bed time several months after I dropped pumping. And it definitely helped my quality of life a lot. I am not someone who has a stellar supply, had to supplement with my older child because I couldn't make enough, yet it still worked out post pumping... :goodluck: :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922780 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:55:03 +0000 Jessiemuller88 2922780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: Sane, happy momma is totally better! Do what you need to do to feel happy and less stressed. I quit pumping when my twins were 10 weeks old, and it was the best decision I made. I was so stressed and exhausted, and it was such a relief to be done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922774 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:34:08 +0000 SweetCaroline 2922774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: :heart: thank you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922771 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:09:36 +0000 MrsSRS 2922771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: Fwiw, when my second was a bit older than your dude we stopped nursing/pumping during work hours. She continued to nurse when we were together until she was almost three. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922770 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:53:24 +0000 SweetCaroline 2922770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jessiemuller88: @Lahela017: @BadgerMom: @LadyDi: @JennyPenny: @jennlin821: @periwinklebee: @Lahela017: @MrsSRS: </p> <p>Thank you all! I appreciate your thoughts. </p> <p>Honestly, after reading and thinking about it, I think I just need to be done pumping. I am losing my mind pumping at work and really need to save my sanity. Obviously my supply will drop or completely dry up, so we'll move to formula and this conversation is a moot point.</p> <p>I feel so sad, tearing up as I write this, but a sane, happy mama is better right?? Ugh! I need to be outside walking in the sunshine rather than pumping while at work. Would love to still nurse him to the extent I can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922765 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:15:36 +0000 MrsSRS 2922765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you soothe your worries by offering some high fat foods with the dinner solids? Think full fat greek yogurt, avocado... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922763 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 12:57:12 +0000 Lahela017 2922763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: totally agree with this. We did some classes when DD was a baby and this is exactly what they said. As long as your baby is growing as expected and has no other concerns, they don't need to eat at night when they are that old. I think it's natural to assume they want to feed, but it's just a cycle that they come to expect when you offer it every time they wake up. My husband handled a lot of the sleep training because babies just want milk if they see mom and expect it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922761 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:51:56 +0000 periwinklebee 2922761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it doesn't hurt to try and see if more calories in the evening helps with night sleep - if not, then you know that's not the issue and nothing is lost. </p> <p>Honestly, to me at that age adding pumped milk, formula, or more solid food is all basically the same to the baby, and you should just do whatever is easiest for you. I've been breastfeeding for 3+ years without a break and still going strong, and have used formula (and once toddlers, WCM) at various points with no noticeable impact on BF. My first, who breastfed until a bit after two when I decided to wean him, took a bottle of milk (usually formula) before bed, and it didn't make a difference at all to our BF relationship. My second, who took to solids much better, was never interested in a bottle at home. I did offer thinking it might help her sleep better but she had no interest and it was pretty clear that was not the issue. She probably had just as much calories outside of BM though as my son, just from food and not formula. </p> <p>Good luck :heart: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922760 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:38:34 +0000 jennlin821 2922760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless there is a medical reason, my pediatrician explained that around 5-6 months a baby no longer needs night feeding. What is happening is a cycle, baby wakes you assume he's hungry and feed him, he gets sleepy and goes back to sleep.<br /> At this age, babies need help getting from one part of the sleep cycle to the next. During the night sleep cycles through deep, light, and REM sleep and we don't usually wake up in between the cycles, or if we do we roll over get comfortable and fall back asleep. This is something babies need to learn. So instead of picking baby up and immediately feeding him, try placing your hand on him and singing a lullaby (try to repeat something very similar to your bedtime routine).<br /> We started this when DD was 5 months old, and still slept in our room. I would hear her start to move or moan a little, I would quickly get up, put her pacifier back in, put my hand on her chest, and whisper sing Somewhere over the rainbow. These cues helped her not come fully awake and drift off back to sleep. We moved her to her own room at 6 mo, and she started sleeping through the night successfully, and if she woke, then I would do the same thing. Its about teaching them to transition though the sleep cycles. If you continue to pick him up, it wakes him up and cues its time to eat, which he likes but does not need. </p> <p>I think I read most of the on the baby sleep site and in what to expect the first year. </p> <p>I would not worry about your supply at night. He is getting what he needs. However I will say that my husband did bed times so my DD would get a bottle before bed. So perhaps switch to a bottle of expressed milk, you'll be able to see how much baby is drinking and give yourself piece of mind. </p> <p>Bottom line is, babies do need some sleep training, but that does not equate all night screaming. Its something they need to be taught, just like everything else. You will need patience, and you will lose sleep for another month or two - but hopping up to sing a lullaby is much shorter than actually feeding, so you can get back to sleep faster. </p> <p>I also suggest that you and your spouse take turns doing this. My husband would be 'on duty' from 6pm-12pm, so that I could solidly sleep. If the baby needed anything he took care of it. 12pm-morning was my responsibility. That way you can both get undivided rest, and the baby won't always smell you and your milk and assume its feeding time. </p> <p>Hope that helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922759 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:56:26 +0000 JennyPenny 2922759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @BadgerMom said, I'd try supplementing from your stash first. If that does the trick, great! If not, you know to try something else. Also, depending on what your stash is like you may find that by the time you deplete it your LO is dropping feeds or is old enough to start supplementing with cow's milk instead of formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922757 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:31:13 +0000 LadyDi 2922757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my last two I used to "top them off" with a bottle of expressed milk or formula before bed. It also gave DH a chance to feed the baby and I would pump. I am honestly not sure if it helped them sleep or not but I don't think it hurts if you're comfortable with it! Like @BadgerMom introducing formula was a relief for me as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922755 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 09:03:20 +0000 BadgerMom 2922755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think my answer would depend on how committed (that is not the best word, but I can’t think of another one) you are to breastfeeding. By that age, my enthusiasm for breastfeeding had dropped considerably and introducing formula was a welcome relief, but also a bit of a slippery slope. Which again, I was ok with. But for a lot of people that isn’t the case. It may help with sleeping, and it may not. But for me it did help with having a better idea if she was hungry or not. Maybe before trying a formula bottle try a breast milk bottle from your stash to run a little test? And I’d that works, then you can decide if you want to continue with formula? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922754 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:29:39 +0000 Lahela017 2922754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always heard that most babies are capable of sleeping through the night without food by 4-6 months. My guess is he's just looking for comfort, certainly if he's getting up more than once. Personally, I would not give formula. That will just lower your supply more. I would try to do more sleep training. Sorry you're dealing with this. It's so hard to deal with sleep issues! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922753 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 08:08:00 +0000 Jessiemuller88 2922753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: oh this is tough! I went through this when DS (now 4) was a baby. Like your DS, he would wake up 2-3 times a night wanting to nurse. I tried CIO, but it didn’t work with him. Honestly, nothing worked until I weaned him at 14 months. I didn’t try a formula bottle though, and I wish I would have! That might have done the trick. Maybe mix half and half (formula and breast milk) until he gets use to the taste. If he had a formula bottle before bed and still woke up, at least you would know he was not hungry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-cio-sttn#post-2922752 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 07:55:15 +0000 SweetCaroline 2922752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 9 months old and gets up 2-3 times a night. I can do once but I'm losing my mind with more. We're doing CIO (again), but I'm so uncertain and worried that hr is hungry...we EBF (daycare + pump during day). I know prolactin levels decrease and my supply is lowest at the end of the day, but does his appetite follow suit? Should I be giving him a bottle of formula (he's never had it, open to it tho!) to ensure his belly is full? Currently it's hit or miss whether I meet his daycare milk needs, depending on how many pumps I fit in, so we use freezer stash for the next day yo fill the gaps.</p> <p>Appreciate you helping my brain </p>