DD is just about to turn 1. I b/f her a couple of times during the day and she also has water and milk. She doesn't sleep at night and the only way to settle her (i'm too tired at the moment to try anything else!) is to b/f her in bed with me. Most nights she can have about 5 b/f. My question is... can I feed her too much? Her nappies are always very full in a short amount of time. I know she doesn't 'need' the night feeds but am I actually doing her body damage by feeding so much at the moment.

Wow, I admire you for being willing to feed that often. It must be so tiring. I suppose whether she is getting too much milk depends on whether she has an appetite for solids during the day? I think I would aim for shorter feeds at night. Does she need a big feed before she will go back to sleep?

I was feeding my son at night up til 9 months. It was tiring but it was so much easier to just feed him and have him go back to sleep quickly rather than try anything else.

I am in the same boat as you atm Tilly79. my DS is 11 months and he BF three times during the day (this has only recently come down from 4-5 as he refused most solids until just two weeks ago) and he has 3-4 feeds during the night.

I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but you are not alone. DS comes into bed with us during the night, as I just don't have the energy to stay up and feed him and try and resettle him off the breast. I am just hoping that it will start to settle down as he start to take more solids.

I hope someone can suggests something that might help!

It certainly happened to me as well. I have no suggestions other than I tried everything before I decided that he wouldn't want it if he didn't need it. I guess some babies wean really early and others wean a lot later. If we accept that a young baby could 'go off the breat' then I think we should also accept that some babies 'stay on the breast.'

DS ended up b'fing until almost 3 and it was only in the 6 months prior that I was trying to actively discourage him as it became a game for him and not a 'need.'

No you cant be doing them any harm by giving them milk. It is the main source of nutrition up to 12mths, so no you are giving them great stuff regardless.

I have recently stopped night feeding as it was becoming too much (13mth old) and he hasnt been bothered by it. I was feeding back to sleep sometimes 5+ a night.

If bubs is well, you are ok. You do what you need to do and makes you and bubs happy.

No way! I like to think of Breastmilk as a multi vitamin that tastes yummy. So remember that you are doing her so much good with each feed.
As for night feeding, there a lots of mums who are happy to feed at night and sleep next to bub. If this is working for you and you don't want to change it then don't! All those night time cuddles she is getting are helping her to feel safe and secure and will help her grow into a confident toddler.
Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job with her.
Check out this website for some lovely info on extended BF and sleeping next to your bub www.askdrsears.com
Your daughter thanks you!
Rach

I am in a similar situation with 3 solid meals and 3-6 bf a day. Our DD loves the boob snack bar throughout the night, I am now at a point where I need to do something about it as I am really getting tired. The mums in my mothers group have encoraged me to only offer water and apparently they will soon get the idea that is isn't worth it waking up for water...!!?? Last night was my first real try and I managed to hold her off the (.)(.) until 5am, it was a real effort getting up and down and trying to get her to go back to sleep without a (.)(.)feed. It is so much easier to just feed her as she goes straight back to sleep. I must stay strong and not give in. I will see how the land lies in the morning

thanks girls.

i just thought i might be damaging her kidneys or something (stupid i know) by feeding so much. i didn't want to overload her. i don't hate the night feeds but after a year of very little sleep i'm getting to the end of my tether. i'm hoping that as she gets older and is getting more warn out from a busy day she might sleep through. i'm probably kidding myself though and we'll have to try to be a bit tougher on her. she won't take water or anything from a bottle so i can't try that.

just my luck that by the time she starts sleeping through i'll have a new bubba to get up to at night!!!