Your Baby at 3 Months

If you’re reading this blog, it’s probably because you and your baby have hit this point, or you have heard about it and want to prepare. It can seem so unfair – you’ve got through the early days and weeks, built your confidence and found your rhythm. Perhaps you’re starting to find your new normal and have settled into a pattern of groups, classes or activities. You may be thinking about a return to paid employment. And suddenly, boom, the goalposts move again!

Your baby feeds only for short periods and/or much less frequently than you’d become used to. They pop off and on the breast, looking around and even giggling as they do it, as if this is a game. ‘Niplash’ is a term unwillingly added to your vocabulary. And sleep, which may have started to seem a little easier and more predictable, can change again dramatically. Why on earth is this happening? Why has your cuddly snuggly little baby, who seemed to have cracked sleeping for longer periods, morphed into a wriggling thrashing infant tornado with a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out)? And why now? What has gone wrong?

Photo by Hayley Fraser Photography

In short, nothing! This is completely normal, though it doesn’t mean this patch isn’t tricky. Normal can still be hard! Your baby is showing you that they’ve become a really effective feeder, able to get all the milk they need in fewer and shorter feeds. How can you trust this is happening, especially if you had initial feeding challenges? Remember, if your baby is gaining weight along their expected trajectory, you can be confident in your feeding. Some families find feeding in a quiet environment can help promote more settled feeds. Conversely, if you’re comfortable feeding in a sling, on-the-go feeding might work for you, taking care to follow  important safety advice. Other families report that bouncing on a ball, such as an exercise ball which you may already have in the house from pregnancy and labour, can help your baby focus. 

Photo by Hayley Fraser Photography

And what is going on with sleep? In short, the fantastic new skills your little one is adding are being rehearsed in their brain even when they’re snoozing, meaning they may be a lot more wakeful at night. Frequent waking may be associated with frequent feeding, especially if the daytimes have been too interesting for your busy little bee to take much milk. You might find there’s not a lot you can do to change this pattern right now, but it will change itself with time. In the meantime, you might want to look at what you can take off your own plate – can you nap or rest with your baby during the day, get support for household tasks and caring for other children, or commit to less? What will help and sustain you right now? Your baby will keep changing and they will feed and sleep more predictably again – right now the best thing might be to fill your own cup.

 The volunteers at LLL Collective are here to support you navigate this tricky period.  Come to a meeting or drop us a WhatsApp with any questions, even if it feels like a small one.

 We see your hard work and offer you some cheer in this article. However, we’re also here to support your weaning journey, so please get in touch for support.