Why do babies always need food?!

Baba is crying. It’s 2.30am in the morning. He still wants some food! Quoi?! He had more than 900ml of milk the day before as well as 4 solids: porridge in the morning, courgettes, carrots and ham purée (with some naughty cheesy bits in it to add some proteins) for lunch, homemade mango purée as a snack and more milk and soup for dinner!

Le monstre is now more than 7 months old. We are not weaning anymore. I mean, seriously, he is now eating properly! Yet, since we are back from the hospital, he wakes up at night for more food! He used to sleep through the night before the surgery but it’s been operation commando since then.

Frenchie Mummy is en alerte! She can’t do it anymore. She doesn’t want to carry on waking up at night. It causes her to be moody and then transform into Mumzilla! It’s so bad that even Grumpy Boyfriend has now left the boat. He runs away to his office 5 days a week when he was more than happy to work from home before.

What am I doing wrong? Am I feeding Baba too much or not enough?

Knackered, I get up and put straightaway a bottle in his mouth. I am not even attempting to distract him or make him fall asleep anymore.

I tried it all: I gave him water, I fed him more in the evenings, I left him to cry… But Baba didn’t give up even after 30 minutes. Grumpy Boyfriend had enough and just got up and did it himself in the end…

And everyone to give me their piece of advice. My friend says I should start giving him more proteins and start feeding him fish and meat. My mum says I should keep his diet light in the evening so that his appetite doesn’t grow bigger. My neighbour says that I should let him cry until exhaustion.

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I will eat and drink and sleep. Baba missed the last bit of the memo! ??

Et moi in all of that? Do they have any tips for Frenchie Mummy? Just to survive… Because I am going to get bonkers!

To add up to the problem, le bébé is full of energy in the day time and I can barely keep up. I just move him from one place to another: bouncer, Jumperoo, bed, mat with toys. And let’s not forget the poops! Still 6 a day minimum. And the feeds? Every 3 hours on average. I have the impression to be a machine. Eat, poop, clean, repeat… No sleep in this routine!

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There is one missing in the Frenchie household…

I am so desperate. Please help me and tell me what I am doing wrong. I checked online but I have seen some crazy stuff like putting some rice or some flour in his milk at night or make disgusting bottles on purpose.

I am not going to poison my son! Ok, he already had some wine, Frenchie cheese, probably a tiny drop of champagne when he went home from the maternity (we were celebrating…). But I am not such a bad mum!

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It should say: I am Mumzilla. Watch out people!

Dear mummy bloggers, please aidez-moi! I need your help. Any suggestion would be more than welcome…

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35 Comments

  1. September 14, 2016 / 7:37 pm

    Frenchie mummy my first was a big eater and my second is the same. He has morning milk of 7oz and evening milk of 7oz plus two snacks of 5oz. He has three meals a day including meat and fish, cheese and dairy but he does sleep. Do what feels right to you, I weaned at 5 months so the books and guidance don’t really fit our scenario: I did the same with my first and he is a big strong boy and a good eater. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to all of this sometimes the ones that are full of energy sleep the worst, sometimes the best. Have you got him napping well as sometimes sleep breeds more sleep (I’m rich saying this as I’m rubbish at sorting naps this time round). Growth spurt, new teeth, change of routine can affect sleep, all children are different so I don’t have any advice other than to say you are the best mummy to that baby boy and you go with your instinct xxx ps my no1 was a big pooer I feel your pain!!

    • thefrenchiemummy
      Author
      September 14, 2016 / 8:28 pm

      Yes he had two naps a day. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and try to help me. It might be a growth spur. I noticed that he sleeps through the night better if he has about 1 litre of mailk a day x

  2. September 14, 2016 / 7:41 pm

    You aren’t doing anything wrong! If you are, then we both are! I too am feeding a little bruiser plenty of soilds through the day but I’m still breastfeeding at night. Part of me feels like I may lose the plot, the other part of me thinks just feed him for five minutes cause then he’ll go back to sleep and I can too! It’s so hard and you get so much judgement and opinions. I’d say just use your gut instinct, follow his lead, that’s what I do. Don’t let other peoples advice (!) get you down xx

    • thefrenchiemummy
      Author
      September 14, 2016 / 8:30 pm

      I am so happy you are telling me that because so many people told me that he should not physically need milk at night. I was letting him cry thinking he wanted attention. And it broke my heart ? xxx

      • September 14, 2016 / 8:34 pm

        Don’t do it if it upsets you. I do do a lot of self soothing but josh just grumbles – when he actually cries I’d struggle to leave him! Do what’s right for you lovely don’t let others interfere xxx

  3. September 15, 2016 / 5:52 am

    I can’t really suggest anything as sounds like he’s getting plenty during the day. Maybe swap the soup for something a bit thicker in the evening. Poppy has veg puree of some sort and then a little yoghurt or a little pudding about 4 and then a bottle at about half 5 before bed around 6.
    Hopefully it’s just a growth spurt and he’ll slow down xxx

  4. September 17, 2016 / 9:58 am

    I’m going through exactly the same and my baby is a similar age. I’m trying to stop stressing but I’m exhausted top! #fortheloveofblog

  5. September 17, 2016 / 11:59 am

    You are doing great and to be honest there is not really much I can tell you other than just keep doing what you’re doing. I think it can be hard to try and figure out what they need and what they want at this age. #JustAnotherLinky

  6. September 17, 2016 / 8:18 pm

    Ah, I know how you feel. Sleep deprivation is the worst torture in the world but as with everything, this too shall pass! I have had two tinkers, both massive eaters in the the first year (Man cub #2 continues to eat me out of house and home!) In Canada the mantra is ‘food before one is just for fun’ so the majority of their nutrients should come from milk. They will never overeat at such a young age so please don’t worry about that! I now have an incredibly fussy eater and would give anything for him to like food more. Hugs maman, #justanotherlinky

    • thefrenchiemummy
      Author
      September 17, 2016 / 8:52 pm

      merci, hopefully I will get there…

  7. Ordinary Hopes
    September 17, 2016 / 10:04 pm

    Follow your instincts and don’t listen to the opinions of others. Opinions are just that – one person’s perspective. My eldest is almost 17 and people still have opinions. Thankfully I am better at ignoring them now! #KCACOLS

  8. September 18, 2016 / 9:09 am

    Something like an operation can be traumatic and he might be recovering his energy. He might be getting ready for a growth spurt or he’s just a hungry baby.
    My stepmom used to put some risk in the night milk and that seemed to ease my siblings.
    Apart from that there is nothing I can think of.
    He looks healthy and happy, which, no consolation to you, is the most important thing.
    It sounds tonne like you are doing the right thing.
    Sorry if it’s no help #KCACOLS

  9. September 18, 2016 / 3:44 pm

    My 22mo eats like a starving horse and he still wakes up LOADS during the night. I have up a long time ago…although I do think that after surgery they have a bit of catching up to do! #KCACOLS

    • thefrenchiemummy
      Author
      September 18, 2016 / 3:48 pm

      He has now slept through two nights in a go! hurrah! maybe I am getting there? Not saying it too loud in case Baba can hear me! ? Thank you so much for your nice comment x

  10. September 18, 2016 / 3:55 pm

    I wish I had an answer for you. My kids have all veried in every facet of development- what works for one never worked for the others and what works does work always only works temporarily. Just know you are a good mom and chances are the next kid will be tons easier and you will be an OG mom and simply wont worry about the same shit you do with the first. I don’t even know if my kids have eaten yet today!

    #KCACOLS

  11. Rainbowsaretoobeautiful
    September 18, 2016 / 5:36 pm

    We tried things to make milk heavier, there was a greedy paper or night formula when ours were kids. It may be a growth spurt, try not to get too stressed about it if you are both healthy it’s ok! #KCACOLS

  12. September 18, 2016 / 8:07 pm

    Aw I am so sorry you are stressed. He is a beautiful baby boy. If he is hungry.. I would feed him. Mine ate every 2 hours for the first 12-24 months. He grew and grew, he was happy and energetic and drove me crazy. lol I don’t think I slept for the first few years. You know what? He slowed down, he is a teen now and still doesn’t eat a lot. You are fine, go with your heart 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday

  13. September 19, 2016 / 3:22 pm

    It will all pass in time. 🙂
    I know it seems hard now but it WILL pass. If he cries you pick him up. If he’s hungry you feed him. And so it goes until it passes and then one day – might be a long day away but it will happen I promise. He will tell you to stop cuddle him, he will tell you to stop talking to you, he will tell you he doesn’t want your help that he can do it him self – he’ll be independent and you will wonder where did my small baby go? My dear it goes by so very very fast. Please try to enjoy them when they are small while it lasts because before you know it – he’s not small any more and you will miss it.
    I know it’s hard when they are changing their own routines – but this comes with the package. Just be there for him. Sleeping through the night? He’s only 7 months old – sleeping through the night isn’t something I would even be expecting. 🙂 50% of 2 year olds don’t even do that. 🙂 But it will happen. Please remember that he is small, he needs to be near you, feel you – yes it’s hard some times when they cling to us – but to him you are his world. He is 7 months old … he has spent less time in this world than he did in your tummy. That’s something to ponder over. 🙂

    I guess my best advice in all this would be to go with your instinct. Because we all have them – just as he has his own instincts us mothers have them too.

    This journey you are now partaking – the difficulties you feel you have right now? Are only a tiny tiny part of his life.

    When things are hard in our house I keep asking my self – what would I want? If I was the baby or the child – what would I want? How would it make me feel if I put my self in his/her shoes right now. What would make it better?

    Normally I come to the conclusion that if my husband left me to cry I would probably not be married to him very long. If he suddenly told me I wasn’t allowed to eat I don’t think I would be married to him very long either…
    I find it helps to put myself in my child’s shoes – to get some perspective. 🙂

    I wish you well and I can guarantee you that this will pass. 🙂 xx

    #KCACOLS

    • thefrenchiemummy
      Author
      September 19, 2016 / 7:26 pm

      Thanks for taking the time to write such a great comment! And you are so right! xxx

  14. September 19, 2016 / 6:06 pm

    You aren’t doing anything wrong! My boy was exactly the same – he just didn’t sleep at night and he was a big chunky boy who wanted lots of food. I wish I could be more helpful but you just have to ride it out in my opinion. Lots of coffee my dear! Good luck and thanks for linking up on #fortheloveofBLOG x

  15. September 20, 2016 / 10:50 am

    I have no advice because i have two children who didnt sleep through the night for ages (my nearly three year old still doesnt) does he have a dummy ? would he take one at night, maybe its just the sucking he needs and not the milk? but of course you are not doing anything wrong – and neither is he! #fortheloveofblog

    • thefrenchiemummy
      Author
      September 20, 2016 / 11:21 am

      Thank you so much for your ideas. We are now better with 3 nights in a row without having to get up hurrah! I think I need to stop stressing out… xx

      • September 20, 2016 / 11:22 am

        Oh brilliant ! It’s hard not to stress about it because you’re just so tired and want to sleep! I hope this spell continues

  16. September 20, 2016 / 10:41 pm

    Yes, but just look at how damn cute and happy he is! Lol

    I am dreading the weaning stage for baby no. 2 in about 6 weeks’ time. My only hope is that it’ll make him sleep through the night and now you’ve gone and destroyed all hope :-). Between him and my toddler, who wakes me up most nights when she screams out for no apparent reason other than to wake me up, I’m starting to lose the plot. So I should get off my phone and get to bed. I know i’ll be up again the moment I nod off!

  17. September 22, 2016 / 12:05 pm

    No advice from me at all I’m afraid. I’m just over here trying to figure out my own 7 month old! Le Petit Monstre has a very regal look about him I just love seeing his pictures! Keep going & chin up mamma you got this 😉 #KCACOLS

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