7mth old waking in night. Help!!!

[CustardL]

Hello

My exclusively bf baby is waking every night (up to 3 times). He calms down when I pick him up but as soon as I put him down he cried and throws himself about. If he wakes up before 3 I can settle him but after this time he will cry and cry for hours. The health visitors have told me not to feed him in the night but anytime after 4am I am worrying that he is hungry. What should I do???? He's been awake since 3.30am and is still awake now at 5am. My husband is having to sleep downstairs every night and I'm worried about him waking every night for when I go back to work. He won't take a dummy and I've tried giving him just water.

Trying to stay positive but don't know what to do. Aaaaaargh!

[RicStar]

Why have hv told you not to feed at night? I would go with your instincts + feed him

[OrangeFootedScrubfowl]

If it got him to sleep I would feed him too.

[CustardL]

I think they felt it would get him into a pattern of not being able to self settle. I've just fed him and changed him. He's currently still awake but is not crying. I get so confused by advice. This is by second child and at this age my dd was not waking in the night for food but she had a dummy and I had already gone back to work and she was bring formula fed.

[LillyofWinchester]

It sounds like he's hungry to me. Look, you've tried the HV advice & it doesn't seem to work, feed him & see if that settles him. Over the next couple of months he might sleep better as he'll be eating more in the day. He's only 7 months, some babies do take longer to sleep through. Go with it for a couple more months & then review after that.

[Fairylea]

Please don't listen to a health visitor.. I didn't even see mine after 6 weeks. Follow your instincts. At this age it's still likely to be hunger waking a baby up so I'd always feed first. When they don't need it anymore they won't wake. That's my experience anyway. I've always fed to sleep.

[DrMcDreamysWife]

My bf 7 mo still takes a couple of feeds in the night, usually about 2 and then early morning 5/6. She wakes a lot more but she's a terrible sleeper. I go by if she will be settled easily without feeding great. But if she cries and won't sleep she needs a feed. My HV says some still need a feed at night and that's fine. Some bf babies can get distracted in the day and need to make up for it with a feed at night .

[CustardL]

Thank you all. That's made me feel loads better. I fed him at 5 and he then slept till 7.30!

[Dey83]

Thanks for your post- I am having the same issue. I try and hold out till 4am but if she wakes at this time then I feed, and she will sleep till 7. I have tried feeding during earlier wakes but I have found that she hasn't had a proper feed so I think on those occasions she has wanted a cuddle.

I agree - follow your instincts. Two weeks ago my baby only slept 40 mins at a time, and now she is doing 2-3 stretches. I'm sure it will get better over time x

[clairebabycalmvarey]

It is completely normal for a baby of his age to feed through the night. Babies still get the majority of their nutrition via their milk, so if he is waking at night and taking a feed and settles that is whet he needs. Babies dont develop some of the enzymes they need to break down food until 8-9 months, so even if they are taking solids well, milk is still going to be the thing they need. Have a look at what is happening through the day, does he get distracted with feeds, take fewer feeds, then he will need to catch up through the night. Are you very busy through the day, perhaps have some quiet time, make sure he has a good feed after a nap in a quiet, darkened room. Don't forget every baby is different, so try not to compare to your eldest or any other child. It is also worth knowing that babies can experience seperation anxieties around this age as they become aware there is more than just you in the world, so having that nighttime parenting can be very important to some babies. There is nothing wrong with that, it is normal and it does pass. Really good book or app is 'the wonder weeks' helps you to understand how your baby developes and their 'fussy periods'. HTH

[clabsyqueen]

I second every poster who said FEED! At his age with breast milk as his main food, feeding will be frequent even through the night. Forget what the HV said. Relax and enjoy the cuddles.