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My LO is 9 months and sometimes does the same thing. I just assume she's full and happy. Maybe he's just quick or he's thirsty?

We've just recently moved to nursing every 4 hours - so 7a/11a/3p/6p/2a . Just about to start solids, but for now that is keeping him full and from being super distracted. (6 months)

Maybe space them out more so he's hungrier and more likely to nurse longer. Otherwise, I'm not sure. Is he eating a lot more solids now? Maybe cut back some solids if you want him to nurse longer?

I think that's a pretty normal phase. I would try to stretch the times between feeding a bit and see if that helps.

@hilsy85: Breastfed babies can get their calories anytime within the 24 hours period. We've had times where P would reverse cycle a couple days or we'd nurse more to sleep & immediately upon waking (like when she was still have asleep) and we've always made it through without giving a bottle. I always tried to avoid it though b/c I didn't want to risk her becoming lazy at the breast or early weaning.

@hilsy85: yes, and I don't want to sound like a broken record but it definitely made a difference for us. I know you're worried about weight gain, which we haven't been/had to but I would at least try it. I thought for sure I'd have to do it incrementally and slowly and was ready to nurse the instant he fussed and... he didn't! He was just ready to go longer. I'm not sure when (if..??!) he drops the night nursing session if we'll add in another day one or just when he's eating more solids.

I personally wouldn't offer a bottle, I think you'd just end up wasting the milk.

@hilsy85: I would try & nurse more during the day then. Remember he's a much more efficient nurser now so just b/c it's a short session doesn't mean it's a "small" feeding. He should still get around 25oz of breastmilk a day so with 6 nursing sessions that's just around 4oz a session (sometimes less sometimes more).. I'd bet he could get that pretty quick (probably even more during his "real" sessions) & then if you have any quick "I need a drink" sits would even add to this.

I wouldn't add any bottle unless he seemed to wake more, like 2 or 3 times more (which he could naturally do since it's normal to reverse cycle through these phases) and then it'd be more adding it to drink with his solids... otherwise I would just offer the breast often.

@hilsy85: It was just kind of how it worked out - he almost always wakes up at or around 6:30 and he eats better if I wait until he's fully awake (even though he usually wakes up happy) so 7 just evolved as a start time.

His naps are all over the place lately - he is trying to transition to 2 instead of 3 but the last few days have been napping 9-10:30 and 1-3.

@hilsy85: oh I don't know. Hahah I was just throwing ideas out there? Could also just be a phase too?

@hilsy85: Yeah trying to fit in just one meal of solids today was weird (First time!). I don't time his nursing any more but I don't think 8 minutes sounds short, I know they are super efficient at this stage. In the middle of the night my LO drains one side in about that and a little from the other and is back asleep, I'm back in bed usually in 15 minutes or less.