If you are FF and working on dropping a middle of the night feeding come in...

raskind17 · January 2011

How are you going about it?

I have my pedi's recommendation, I have book authors recommendations... I am torn! Interested in hearing your opinion!

Thanks!

FishNchips1 · January 2011

What I am doing is giving her less oz. each night. then putting her back in her crib. Until im down to one oz then I will stop

jkelly41 · January 2011

I do both (BF and FF) and we aren't weaning DD yet, but with DS, I remember my DH had to go to him in the middle of the night. I swear he could smell my milk! DH would rock him back to sleep with a pacifier.

We didn't wean him off slowly either. I would nurse him AND give him formula to top him off at his last feeding before I went to bed, knowing he had a full tummy. Then, like I said, DH would get him back to sleep and I would get up in the early AM to nurse him.

Good luck!

LCB34 · January 2011

I know you have your pedi's blessing but I just don't understand why you are trying to do this at 3 months.

You may get a few weeks of more sleep but as soon as the 4 month wakeful and growth spurt hit, your son will most likely NEED a middle of the night bottle.

I guess I just don't get possibly withholding food with it might be needed. I still feed Kate 1-2 times a night. Does it suck? You bet. But, this whole mom thing isn't roses and sunshine. Not sleeping due to a hungry baby is just part of the gig.

raskind17 · January 2011

LCB34:
I know you have your pedi's blessing but I just don't understand why you are trying to do this at 3 months.

You may get a few weeks of more sleep but as soon as the 4 month wakeful and growth spurt hit, your son will most likely NEED a middle of the night bottle.

I guess I just don't get possibly withholding food with it might be needed. I still feed Kate 1-2 times a night. Does it suck? You bet. But, this whole mom thing isn't roses and sunshine. Not sleeping due to a hungry baby is just part of the gig.

I get what you are saying... and this is why I am so torn! I really trust my pedi. In the end I am the mom and the one that calls the shots! Still trying to work through it! At this point, I dont feel he really NEEDS it as he seems as if he isn't really hungry (he takes a little and is over it) I feel like he is just used to waking up for habits sake.

beccs98 · January 2011

LCB34:
I know you have your pedi's blessing but I just don't understand why you are trying to do this at 3 months.

You may get a few weeks of more sleep but as soon as the 4 month wakeful and growth spurt hit, your son will most likely NEED a middle of the night bottle.

I guess I just don't get possibly withholding food with it might be needed. I still feed Kate 1-2 times a night. Does it suck? You bet. But, this whole mom thing isn't roses and sunshine. Not sleeping due to a hungry baby is just part of the gig.

This exactly. I've seen so many posts about trying to wean the night feeding and I just don't get it. Charlie wakes up in the night still for food, and he goes right back to sleep after - he's clearly waking up for a reason.

I'd love to be able to STTN again but I don't want to deprive him of what he's needing at the moment.

raskind17 · January 2011

beccs98:
LCB34:
I know you have your pedi's blessing but I just don't understand why you are trying to do this at 3 months.

You may get a few weeks of more sleep but as soon as the 4 month wakeful and growth spurt hit, your son will most likely NEED a middle of the night bottle.

I guess I just don't get possibly withholding food with it might be needed. I still feed Kate 1-2 times a night. Does it suck? You bet. But, this whole mom thing isn't roses and sunshine. Not sleeping due to a hungry baby is just part of the gig.
This exactly. I've seen so many posts about trying to wean the night feeding and I just don't get it. Charlie wakes up in the night still for food, and he goes right back to sleep after - he's clearly waking up for a reason.
I'd love to be able to STTN again but I don't want to deprive him of what he's needing at the moment.

I agree... Its just what you do when you have a baby. Like I said above, I feel it is more habit than actually needing to eat! He takes a little and is kinda over it.

I do agree that babies know what they need and we are here to give it to them... I don't mind waking up in the night.

totallyshocked · January 2011

My pedi also rec dropping night feedings around 3.5 months. He suggested to make her last bottle more diluted with water so her tummy would shrink and then to start giving her some solids during the day to provide more calories. I tried diluting the formula and that didnt work but once we started feeding her more during the day we went a few nights of her waking for a bit but then she learned to self soothe and go back to sleep. Been STTN ever since

JayandJack · January 2011

My DS did it naturally and so will every baby when they are ready. Don't force it. Yes he doesn't NEED it but chances are if he's still waking up then he still wants and needs it. I would honestly not try to do anything right now becuase you're DS will go through growth spurts in the next few months and will need the feeding at times.

LCB34 · January 2011

totallyshocked:
My pedi also rec dropping night feedings around 3.5 months. He suggested to make her last bottle more diluted with water so her tummy would shrink and then to start giving her some solids during the day to provide more calories. I tried diluting the formula and that didnt work but once we started feeding her more during the day we went a few nights of her waking for a bit but then she learned to self soothe and go back to sleep. Been STTN ever since

I am seriously shocked by your doctor's advice. It blows my mind. And not in a good way.

wife1014 · January 2011

totallyshocked:
My pedi also rec dropping night feedings around 3.5 months. He suggested to make her last bottle more diluted with water so her tummy would shrink and then to start giving her some solids during the day to provide more calories. I tried diluting the formula and that didnt work but once we started feeding her more during the day we went a few nights of her waking for a bit but then she learned to self soothe and go back to sleep. Been STTN ever since

There are so many things wrong with this...

jmb527 · January 2011

wife1014:
totallyshocked:
My pedi also rec dropping night feedings around 3.5 months. He suggested to make her last bottle more diluted with water so her tummy would shrink and then to start giving her some solids during the day to provide more calories. I tried diluting the formula and that didnt work but once we started feeding her more during the day we went a few nights of her waking for a bit but then she learned to self soothe and go back to sleep. Been STTN ever since
There are so many things wrong with this...

Exactly this! Wow.

beccs98 · January 2011

raskind17:
beccs98:
LCB34:
I know you have your pedi's blessing but I just don't understand why you are trying to do this at 3 months.

You may get a few weeks of more sleep but as soon as the 4 month wakeful and growth spurt hit, your son will most likely NEED a middle of the night bottle.

I guess I just don't get possibly withholding food with it might be needed. I still feed Kate 1-2 times a night. Does it suck? You bet. But, this whole mom thing isn't roses and sunshine. Not sleeping due to a hungry baby is just part of the gig.
This exactly. I've seen so many posts about trying to wean the night feeding and I just don't get it. Charlie wakes up in the night still for food, and he goes right back to sleep after - he's clearly waking up for a reason.
I'd love to be able to STTN again but I don't want to deprive him of what he's needing at the moment.
I agree... Its just what you do when you have a baby. Like I said above, I feel it is more habit than actually needing to eat! He takes a little and is kinda over it.
I do agree that babies know what they need and we are here to give it to them... I don't mind waking up in the night.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was criticizing you! I hope you didn't take it as that.

I do think that sometimes babies wake up NOT out of hunger and then yes, you probably have to do other things to "break that habit" (and that's what your LO is doing, from the sounds of it.) I just meant I don't understand weaning when the baby is still needing that feeding for nourishment. And I feel like it's hard to tell the difference unless you actually try feeding them, you know what I mean? Or if it's only been a really short time since their last bottle.

raskind17 · January 2011

beccs98:
raskind17:
beccs98:
LCB34:
I know you have your pedi's blessing but I just don't understand why you are trying to do this at 3 months.

You may get a few weeks of more sleep but as soon as the 4 month wakeful and growth spurt hit, your son will most likely NEED a middle of the night bottle.

I guess I just don't get possibly withholding food with it might be needed. I still feed Kate 1-2 times a night. Does it suck? You bet. But, this whole mom thing isn't roses and sunshine. Not sleeping due to a hungry baby is just part of the gig.
This exactly. I've seen so many posts about trying to wean the night feeding and I just don't get it. Charlie wakes up in the night still for food, and he goes right back to sleep after - he's clearly waking up for a reason.
I'd love to be able to STTN again but I don't want to deprive him of what he's needing at the moment.
I agree... Its just what you do when you have a baby. Like I said above, I feel it is more habit than actually needing to eat! He takes a little and is kinda over it.
I do agree that babies know what they need and we are here to give it to them... I don't mind waking up in the night.
Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was criticizing you! I hope you didn't take it as that.
I do think that sometimes babies wake up NOT out of hunger and then yes, you probably have to do other things to "break that habit" (and that's what your LO is doing, from the sounds of it.) I just meant I don't understand weaning when the baby is still needing that feeding for nourishment. And I feel like it's hard to tell the difference unless you actually try feeding them, you know what I mean? Or if it's only been a really short time since their last bottle.

Ya totally agree I know LO moved his 3am feeding to 5am last night so he will just do what he needs. If he drinks his bottle, he obviously needs it!

I didn't take it as criticizing, it's a learning process for me and I appreciate the opinions and advice

totallyshocked · January 2011

kirky05:
totallyshocked:
My pedi also rec dropping night feedings around 3.5 months. He suggested to make her last bottle more diluted with water so her tummy would shrink and then to start giving her some solids during the day to provide more calories. I tried diluting the formula and that didnt work but once we started feeding her more during the day we went a few nights of her waking for a bit but then she learned to self soothe and go back to sleep. Been STTN ever since
Wtfrick? I hope you're joking. And I hope by "pedi" you mean a random hobo you met on the street wearing a white coat with a Playskool stethoscope.

Like I said It DID NOT work so we stopped after a few nights and maybe I should have been more clear but when we let her self soothe I did get up with her at night to try to offer a bottle and she would drink maybe an ounce. I am a SAHM so if she wakes I let her stay in her crib......if she starts fussing, doesnt go to sleep or even starts to cry I get her. I am a first time mom and we all listen to our pediatricians advise first. But we all come on here to offer advise, and give POSITIVE opinions and or options not to give negatives comments like you have. It was very upsetting to read what you wrote. I think offering advise and opinions is what this website is for........not for belittling comments like some of you have written. I have devoted my entire life 24/7 to my wonderful daughter and ALWAYS do whats best for her. If u dont agree with what people write this is not a battle field or a place where negative emotions need to brew. Glad you could ruin my mood and enjoy spreading negative vibes. I hope thats not how you ill talk to your LO

snansley · January 2011

OP, by 3 months, DS was going to bed by 8 after a bottle, waking up around 2-3 to eat and then getting up at 6-7. We added a dreamfeed around 10:30 and that stopped the 2-3 am feeding. We knew DS could go 8 hours without eating because there had been nights where he slept 8pm - 4am. Maybe see if a dreamfeed helps. Tip: we do change his diaper at the dreamfeed. Otherwise he wakes up soaked. We had tried the dreamfeed technique when DS was younger and it didn't work. He still needed to eat. So if it doesn't work now, maybe try again in a few weeks.

I also agree that babies sometimes wake up out of habit, not hunger, and I would argue that a short feed in the middle of the night indicates habit. For some babies, water might break that habit. If the baby is eating plenty during the day, you aren't starving them. I also wouldn't side eye a pediatrician who has extensive formal education and has seen thousands of babies if they suggested some water just to see if it was a habit or hunger. If it is really hungry, the baby will let you know. Babies are trial and error.

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