Have you recently noticed suddenly you're up frequently at night feeding the baby? Have you begun to question yourself why can’t they feed this well during the day? So let's jump into it, what is reverse cycling? If your baby is waking frequently throughout the night to feed, they are now meeting their calorie needs overnight, rather than during the day. Meaning they will not feed well during the day or sleep more. Usually starts to be noticed around 4-6 months of age, but can happen in older babies too. Reverse cycling can persist for weeks or months if no actions are taken to correct the issues. Reverse cycling can be very frustrating and exhausting and hard to navigate but please don't stress we at Feed Well Co are here to provide guidance. If you have concerns about your baby’s weight or intake, you should contact your pediatrician.
Causes:
- Growth spurts
- A change in routine- like mother returning to work, or starting daycare ● Comfort/self settling or soothing- sickness, teething
- A change in awake times & nap routines
- Your baby is too distracted to take full feeds during the day.
What you can do when reverse cycling occurs:
- Ensure full feeds during the day hours, increase frequency if needed
- Gradually reduce night feedings, or gradually increase the time between feeds. 3. Sleep in a room with baby close by in a bassinet or snoo
- Keep overnight feeding quiet, gentle and in a dark environment (minimal light) 5. Try to keep daytime routines/schedules the same (between feedings and naps try to keep the baby engaged, entertained, and active.
- Establish a night time routine
- White noise machine
- Move to a less stimulating environment for daytime feedings
- If the baby is less interested in bottles, consider introducing a sippy or straw cup. 10. Contact a Lactation Consultant to help get to the root of the cause