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Weaning

Weaning at 20 weeks - advice please

26 replies

larlemucker · 09/05/2013 19:49

My DS is a nightmare sleeper and feeds all night. Last time he was weighed he was 14lb 9oz (he was 16.5 weeks), he is due to get weighed tomorrow.

The HV has suggested introducing a tea at 20 weeks to see if he will sleep better.

I don't know what to do as I'm getting conflicting advice. HV, DSis and friends say 20 weeks. Books, breast feeding councillor, NHS say 6 months.

What do I do? (First time mum btw!)

OP posts:
melliebobs · 09/05/2013 19:53

Go with ur gut but food isn't always the magic answer. Dd was still waking 3 times a night for a feed even when she was weaned

StrangeGlue · 09/05/2013 19:55

I would give him all the milk he wants not start weaning until 6 months.

It's a bit of a myth that food makes them sleep better too so you could well end up feeding him and not seeing his sleep improve.

Dd was ff and ate well from 6 months but her sleep was terrible until 11 months.

TattyBoomBoom · 09/05/2013 20:21

So many resources say solids do not help babies sleep better! HVs seem to peddle a lot of old wives tales. It's up to you but look up the NHS "signs of readiness" and make your own judgement. 6 months is recommended now based on solid evidence. Milk (breast or formula) still provides the most nutrition until age 1.

larlemucker · 09/05/2013 20:34

If he is waking up hungry won't the solids help him sleep better?

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 09/05/2013 20:38

The suggestion that solids help a baby sleep better is a total myth. They don't need solid food, nor will it achieve anything; there are more calories in milk at this age.

ExBrightonBell · 09/05/2013 21:08

My ds's sleep was a bit worse when we started weaning as his digestion was disturbed for a few days. He had a lot more wind and uncomfortable tummy at night than before weaning. I really don't think that weaning will help with sleep sorry.

MoreSnowPlease · 09/05/2013 21:23

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

larlemucker · 09/05/2013 21:29

He does feed every hour most nights. He can't sit unaided but does sit well in his highchair, he grabs everything and puts it in his mouth! He tried to put an apple I was eating in his mouth a couple of days ago!!
He watches everything we eat, he sits in his high chair at the table when we have tea and he loves watching us eat!

I spose I won't know until I try will I!!

OP posts:
MumOfTheMoos · 09/05/2013 21:40

I wouldn't start him on food if he can't sit up unaided and it won't help with reducing the night waking, honest.

When we wanted to cut down on night waking we started very slowly to not go in and offer milk (the boob in our case as he was ebf) each time, instead my husband would go in and rock him back to sleep. So, if he woke up at 12 for a feed, I wouldn't go back in until 2am, and if he woke up at one then DH would go in and give him a cuddle. Then it would be 12 until 2.30 without a feed.

Honestly, I don't think a 20 week old needs feeds every hour during the night. You must all be exhausted.

But even if you don't do that, solids won't help.

I would recommend Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution which has a lot of good advice on night weaning.

SirBoobAlot · 09/05/2013 21:44

At this age, they just love watching, and they are developing hand eye co-ordination. Those things are often mistaken for early signs for being ready to wean.

Is he breast or bottle fed, OP? How is he in the day?

MoreSnowPlease · 09/05/2013 21:49

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

TattyBoomBoom · 09/05/2013 22:59

If he is waking up hungry won't the solids help him sleep better?

No. We had sleep regression when we started solids as our baby's digestive system was kicking into gear! Solids before age 1 don't satisfy hunger, milk is still their main calories/nutrition.

larlemucker · 10/05/2013 02:59

He is ebf, we had problems feeding to start and the first 2 weeks he fed every 40 mins 24/7 and cried constantly. We ending up topping him up with formula. It took a lot of work but after about 2 months we stopped the top up.

During the day he feeds at least every 3 hours, he is a terrible napper and I'm lucky if I can get him to sleep for more than 30 mins.

I have also posted in the sleep section!!

OP posts:
larlemucker · 10/05/2013 03:11

Also we have tried not feeding him everytime he wakes but he just gets hysterical till he gets a boob.
We are currently co-sleeping, we can't feed very well lying down but I think just bring next to me is comforting as he is sleeping better.

When he was last weighed he had fallen off the 50th centile line so HV said to feed him when he wakes. I try and give him both boobs (if I'm awake enough) and also do breast compression to try and fill him up!

OP posts:
conorsrockers · 10/05/2013 03:33

I'd try SMA hungry baby formula personally (does it still exist!). I remember very clearly someone suggesting this with my PFB (although he was much younger) and it was like a miracle. Slept for about 5 hours solid before needing another feed. I never looked back! - infact I ended up switching to bottle feeding with all mine after that experience as my life transformed over night. I also weaned all my boys at 4 months - but that was the advice back then, they were more than ready (I didn't offer them broccoli, but put a spoon of food in their mouth and they screamed for more!) - take the current trend/advice for what it is - advice, and follow your gut.

TattyBoomBoom · 10/05/2013 04:26

Have you been on the breast/bottle feeding board here? Lots of knowledgeable posters.

Has he been checked for tongue tie?

larlemucker · 10/05/2013 07:52

I think he was checked for tongue tie by the midwife before we came home from hospital. It's not his fault he can't latch when lying down, it's my floppy boobs!! He feeds fine in rugby ball position!

We co-slept last night, had a mammoth feed at 3 (spent an hour draining both boobs) and had just woken.

Maybe he isn't hungry! This parenting lark is really hard!

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 10/05/2013 09:55

I think it might be worth popping down to speak to your local peer support group. They will be able to check him for tongue tie, and discuss some of the other things you've mentioned too. Does he only feed in under arm hold? What happens if you try cross cradle?

If he had a big feed at three, and then slept till 8, that's great :) It's possible that right now you've got a sleep regression / growth spurt going on along with everything else.

larlemucker · 10/05/2013 13:05

Went to booby group this morn but the lady who runs it isn't insured to check for tongue tie but she is sending me a web link to check for it myself.

OP posts:
larlemucker · 10/05/2013 13:06

We can feed in cross cradle but it isn't easy, as I said though its not him it's my boobs!!

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 10/05/2013 22:49

Not insured to check? Never heard that one before.

Can he stick his tongue out? Is it heart shaped at all?

SirBoobAlot · 10/05/2013 22:55

Sorry. I'm a PS as well. I regularly check for tongue tie. I'm not allowed to diagnosis it, that has to be done by the specialist, but it is something I see frequently, and, if spotted, I suggest seeking further information on to the mother, along with specific contact names. Am surprised she wouldn't check.

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larlemucker · 11/05/2013 01:35

She said she isn't insured to stick her finger in a babies mouth to check for posterior tongue tie.

He doesn't really stuck his tongue out, not very far anyway and there is a slight dip in the tip

OP posts:
Nicknamefail · 13/05/2013 12:07

It worries me that HV don't follow nhs recommendations.....
I would wait, milk us fine until 6mo, and probably won't help the sleep. (Although I hope it does!)

Nicknamefail · 13/05/2013 12:15

Just finished reading the test of the thread.
I have a boob monster Bd I used to offer both boobs and manually squeeze more on. Now I just do this at the bedtime feed, as recommended by a couple of friends. The thought is that dd wants the boob to get to sleep, and if she gets a big feed as well, she gets used to this. I now only give dd one boob at night and she feeds and then sucks to sleep. This has improved her night wakings (although still wakes a lot). Weaning made things worse for us for 2 weeks then back to usual btw.

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