Talk

Flip

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

Breast to Bottle - waking up at 4am

6 replies

deaconblue · 17/10/2006 20:43

I always believed that one of the benefits with bottle feeding was they slept through earlier. Is my 6 month old ds a weirdo then? We finished breast feeding last week and he's gone from sleeping 7 til 7 since about 12 weeks to waking up at 4am starving hungry. I reckon maybe he just doesn't understand yet how much formula milk he needs to take. Anyone had similar problems?

OP posts:

Report

taylormama · 17/10/2006 21:27

Hi - not necessarily true about FF babies sleeping though. I BF DS for 7 weeks and then switched to formula and he has just started sleeping through at 20 weeks. If he is hungry at 4.00 am then you need to feed. 6 Months is a classic growth spurt phase so it may last a couple of days. You could also look at upping his intake in the day and if you haven't already, introducing some solids if you feel he is ready. Starting to wake again in the night can be a sign LO is ready to be weaned.

Report

deaconblue · 17/10/2006 21:43

I've been feeding him at 4am and he downs six or seven ounces so he's definitely in need of food at that time, poor old boy. Perhaps it's the growth spurt thing, I really hope so. He's on 3 small meals a day already ( started weaning at 5 months as he was starving all the time).

OP posts:

Report

BIGlilBUBU · 17/10/2006 21:52

I think the thing with formula fed babys sleeping through is more a case of...when there new born the formula keeps them going for longer so they dont wake up for feeds as much as a bf baby. So they then get into the habit of sleeping for longer, where as the bf baby gets into the habit of waking alot. And because its been a pattern since birth they know no different. My ds was bf for 9months he only started sleeping through just before his first birthday. Your ds is doing really well sleeping 7till7. The 4am feed is proberbly a growth spirt. Try giving him an extra bottle during the day. How manys he having at the moment?

Report

deaconblue · 18/10/2006 07:30

I was trying to give him five 7oz bottles during the day but he kept refusing the 10am one so now I give him four during hte day (he ends up having five total along with the night time one). He's awake early this morning though so might try five during the day again today. We tried the hungry baby milk for his bed time feed but that doesn't seem to make any difference either. Have to say after two weeks I'm already starting to get used to waking in the night again. Isn't it amazing how you can cope with sleeplessness if necessary? Used to think going to work with a hangover was difficult...

OP posts:

Report

BIGlilBUBU · 18/10/2006 10:28

I know, it almost becomes second nature.
Could he have an extra ounce with every feed?
So instead of 4 7oz bottles perhaps you could try 4 8oz bottles. That way he's having 4 extra oz or even 4 9oz bottles. It might work. But to be honest it probably is just a phase that will pass. But id give the 9oz bottles a go just to get a full nights kip.

Report

deaconblue · 18/10/2006 17:38

Good idea, might try that tonight. He's been downing his final feed so might increase that one. The other feeds he only takes 5 or 6 of the 7oz I make.