Gina Ford followers for 7 month old

[mads1]

Hi, i need some advice from fellow GF mums. My dd is 7 months old and has been on solids now for 6 weeks. I try and follow the gf plan as close as possible (obviously with a pinch of salt) however it all seems to be going wrong!!

Basically, over the last 2-3 weeks DD won't take a breast feed at 2.30pm and at least once or twice a week wakes up at different times of the night between 7pm - 7am.( i think because she has missed a feed and therfore needs it during the night?)

Also I still give her a 5pm breast feed and then do solids and then bath etc. she then has 1-3 ounces at bedtime and in bed by about 7.15pm

There are no signs of teething yet....anyone else experienced this?

[Laurasmum]

Is she definately hungry in the night?
Are you sure it is not teething?
My dd started to wake in the night at 5 months and lost her appetite at the same time, she was leaving about 9oz a day, usually at the 2:30 feed like you said. I was still doing the 10pm feed at the time and so gave her a big bottle at that feed, which in her drowse she would take but then still wake at 4am, 5am, looking for me, not necessarily to feed, just to be with me, she'd end up in my bed and we'd finish up the night there. After a few weeks of this her first two teeth came in, once they were through she slept thru again. She is 6mths now and happy as larry again.
Teething seems to make them clingy and they do refuse to feed for a while before any teeth begin to show.
Look out for blisters on her gums.

[starlover]

just goes to show that gina bloody ford knows nothing about your baby!

[Laurasmum]

True, but she saved my sanity and helped me get some sleep when dd was tiny!

[FairyMum]

Perhaps your baby is not a GF follower? Have you tried reading her the book?

[FairyMum]

(Sorry, just meant as joke. I know GF can be saviour of sanity!)

[mads1]

I didn't want to turn this into another debate or slacking off match about GF so that is why my subject title was directed at only GF followers. Please ignore it if it bothers you!!!
My DD has been on the routine since 6 weeks old and i can definately say that until now has thrived on it ( I have had many people including strangers say she is a very 'contented baby' which she is). I actually bought the baby whisperer first and tried that but it didn't work. So now I take advice from both sides!

Laurasmum thanks for the advice, I am still looking out for teeth. She is getting worse in the nights now. She has a very runny nose (a sign of teething) which is disturbing her even more now and stays up for upto 2-3 hours before going back to sleep. I stay with her so she's reassured that I'm there.

[JennyWren]

What time does she have her lunchtime solids? Does making that a little earlier, so that she is hungry for her milk, help?

[Ironmaiden]

Must be teeth, first few that come thru affect them more than the following ones apparently!

[riab]

try moving the 2.30pm feed. Mine (7 1/2 months) refused this a while back - we found moving it to 3/3.30 meant he took a good 9 oz feed and it didn't affect his tea at all.



Starlover, GF took the trouble to ring me up every day for 2 weeks and help me and my baby recover form a long illness when no health Visitor or Dr could be bothered. Wihtin 2 days of folloiwng her advice rather than my very anitGF HV my baby started getting better. If you don't lie her methods fine - each to their own but as mads spefically asked for advice from other GF mums why did you bother to read the thread and then post a useless piece of invective?

[hercules]

Perhaps she is simply being a little individual after all she hasnt read the book herself. I can see how it was great for you both up to now but maybe she needs to find her own way now.

[evansmummy]

I found my ds did the same thing for a while - had been following GF for months then suddenly started waking and not feeding v well etc. I just kept persevering and after a week or so he fell back into the routine. Sorry, I can't really remember if it was teeth or not, but it could very well have been.

And I, too, can honestly say that GF saved my life and sanity!! Needed that direction when ds was tiny, he was awful before and so much happier once the GF routine was sorted out! He really benefitted from it, and he wasn't the only one! And now, at a year, we're still devoted GF fans!! It just bugs me when people reject her out of hand because they don't like the way her book's written.

[ameli]

listen up, babies are not robots, gina ford is all well and good. You are bubs mother, do what you feel is best for your baby, unfortunately, they are not text book. You will learn through trial and error, establish a routine yes, base your whole life around it, no.

[evansmummy]

And if bub's mother feels that GF IS best for her baby?

Don't even know why I'm rising to this...

[ameli]

well, thats your choice. I am only giving my opinion, to which im entitled. You cant expect everyone to agree with you. Gf, does not bother me.Good luck to you.

[Chandra]

I think they have some periods of adjustment Mads, but they will soon sort themselves. I believe she may be missing the feed because she is a bit full after lunch, but as soon as the evening meals begin to be a bit heavier she will be fine.

[Chandra]

Please respect then Mads' own opinions.

[ameli]

of course, chandra.

[Twiglett]

maybe you need a larger pinch of salt??

[mads1]

Dear GF Mums

Thank you for your advice and words of support!!! I guess only we can appreciate the results of GF. Every one else can live their merry lives.

Just to let you know...DD has settled back to 2.30 feeds (just a short feed). She also is sleeping approx 7-7 again...HOORAY!!!

I believe it must have been a phrase and no doubt will not be the last.

Still no teeth???????!!!!!!!
Thank you again and keep up the good work