sleep question

JJL1122

I posted last week about weaning from the Magic Sleep Suit and got a couple great responses so thank you!  We decided to wait until after our family visited for the holidays, so little guy is still sleeping great in his suit!

My question now is that he is still waking up sometime between 3:45 and 4:45 in the morning for a feeding.  He sucks down a 5 oz bottle in no time.  I am not asking about sleeping thru the night because I realize that doesn't always happen for a while.  My little guy will be 7 months old in 2 weeks.  He is a big boy though, at 21 lbs.  He is eating solids 3 times a day now (purees and yogurt).  He shouldn't NEED that feeding do you think?  Our pediatrician at his 6 month appt said to keep doing it because of how long he is going until he eats which I agree with.  We put him to bed between 7 and 7:15.  Then after I feed him in the morning, he goes back to sleep until anywhere between 7 am and 8:15 depending on what time he woke to eat in the middle of the night.

I guess I just wanted to get some opinions on that feeding.  I am NOT complaining about having to feed him then, I am just wanting to make sure I am not overfeeding him when he doesn't need (because of his size), or I'm wondering if he is just dependent or used to getting that feeding, so that's why he is waking up for it.  Any thoughts? 

unaveragejane

DS also wakes up early in the morning for a feed. Last night I tried giving him a dream feed at 10:00pm so I could be sure that he wasn't hungry at 4:30am. (It was acutally good that I did b/c his diaper had leaked.) Anyway, this morning he woke early out of habit, but I let him fuss for a few minutes and he went back to sleep! He actally slept until I got him up 8:00, which is a lot later than he usually lets me sleep!

nomnommama

You could try gradually weaning him off that feeding. Each night give him an ounce less. H will make up the calories during the dayif he really needs them.

ELF4321

DD is just past 7 months and weighs about the same as your DS.  She can make it from her last bottle at about 7pm until about 5-6am without a bottle, but downs 5-6 oz when she wakes up, then goes back to bed for another hour or two.  I would love for her to just be able to make it until she's ready to get up, but I've accepted that she is just not able to. 

I would say if your DS is taking 5oz at the MOTN feeding, he's legitimately hungry.  You could try to wean him by gradually decreasing the amount each night, as PP suggested, and increasing the amount you offer him in his other feedings. 

Or you could try doing a dream feed at 11pm/midnight before you go to bed and see if that helps him get through the night (or combine both -- start doing the dream feed while weaning down the later feed, if he still wakes up expecting to be fed in the MOTN). 

Both of my baby books say that some babies just can't go that long without eating until they are closer to a year old, so if it doesn't work for you, he may just fall into that camp.  Good luck!

Jmollo28

My LO used to do that.  I started waking him up to dream feed around 10:30.  He now wakes up on his own between 10 and 12 and will tank down 5 oz and sleep until 5:45 in the morning.. It has been a really big help

JJL1122

Thanks for the suggestions!  He is eating 34 oz in a 24 hour period already.  I am thinking you are right about him just needing that feeding right now.  He is just a big boy and I think he is hungry a lot.  Sometimes he will cry out briefly earlier in the night but will go back to sleep.  I've tried letting him cry for a few minutes (I'm a wimp and can't go longer than about 5-10 minutes) and he won't settle down from that if it's around 3:45 or after.  Then when I do give him the bottle, he gulps it down like he is starving.  I figure he still needs it then.  I will just wait it out, not a big deal, just wanted to see what you guys think!  I appreciate your comments