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May 2011 Moms
Slight Ferber Confusion . .
Hi- Question for all of you Ferber moms out there.
I am currently without my book (it?s on our Ipad and the hubbs stole it for out of town travel) and I?m not sure what to do about this situation.
I used Ferber to get baby down to one night waking/feeding around 4 months old, but he had some problems with his reflux meds/growth spurt/who the heck knows and had a major sleep regression. Baby is 6mo now and has been waking steadily like a clock at 12'ish and 3:30'ish for about a month now. He has been drinking 3-4oz of formula at each feeding. Now that his reflux meds are straightened out, I would like to get him down to one night waking/feeding again like before.
I have been weaning him down off the 12pm feeding with the intention of eliminating it and was at 2oz. BUT last night he threw me for a loop and slept straight through till 2am. I was ecstatic! I fed him 4oz and thought, "maybe this will carry him through the rest of the night" (wishful thinking) But he woke up at 5:30am for some more food. He drank 2-3oz and passed out.
Here is my question. Should I have fed him the full 4 oz at 2am or should I have maintained the 2oz weaning process? OR if he keeps waking at 2, should I keep feeding the four oz and gradually bump it back by a half hour each night until he is waking/eating at more like 4am with the hopes that carries him through the rest of the night?
I guess I am confused as to which technique I should use in this instance and I don't have my book!
Thanks for your help!
Oh and in a super annoying twist of fate, I was so excited that he slept through till 2am, that I couldn't get back to sleep for hours. lol.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Slight Ferber Confusion . .
Waking at the same time, is usually a habit.
Waking at random times, is usually hunger.
Now, with that said, many babies naturally wake between the hours of 4-6am, play/cry/fuss and then put themselves back to sleep. My DD does it almost everyday! She'll wake, giggle and laugh for 10 minutes and then she's back out. I don't go to her unless she's all out screaming.
I think you did the right thing by feeding him at 2am. What's happening is that your weaning of the midnight feeding is working! And because it wasn't those "clockwork times" that he usually wakes up, you did the right thing.
Hopefully this makes sense. What's really going to matter is what happens tonight. Let me know!
Thanks for your help!
I know he was waking out of habit, but since his reflux was acting up, it was the only way to get enough oz's into him. Man I hate reflux!
He used to wake up and kinda fuss, but for a while now he has been waking up and straight crying. Last night at 2am was the first time in a long while he woke up and chatted to himself before he worked his way up to a hunger cry. It was a welcomed change. I can't help but think it was because I put him down awake and didn't rock him fully to sleep (I know, BAD habit, but I was just trying to get through sleep deprivation) and he knew where he was.
I guess if he wakes up at 2am I will feed him the 4 oz and if it becomes habit, I'll gradually push back that feeding. If he wakes up at 12 again, I'll continue the weaning.
thanks again
At least you know it's a habit for sure now!
Also, I don't think I mentioned it but make sure he is eating plenty during the day. So if you are weaning the midnight feeding, make sure those calories get consumed elsewhere. GL!