How long can a newborn go between feeds

[pablopatito]

Our 7 week old baby is exclusively bottle fed. A few days ago we switched from Aptimel to Cow&Gate. The last 3 nights he's fed well at 5-6pm as always and seems content until 8-9pm when he starts getting ratty. We presume he's hungry, but he's refused to have more than an ounce of milk and screams during feeding. This hasn't happened before. We put him down in his cot and goes to sleep very quickly. What's freaking us out is that he's not waking up during the night. We've been waking him at 4am because by then he's gone 10 hours without a proper feed. How long can a newborn go between feeds? We don't like waking him but don't want him to starve. He seems happy enough and with the Cow&Gate formula he seems to be having bigger feeds less often (every 4 hours) compared with Aptimel (3 hrs). But 10 hours seems an awfully long time for a 7 week old to go without food. Any advice?

[ButtonMoon]

Not sure really as mine was bf and woke every 4 hours during the night. But I know a friend's DD went from 12-8 from about 2 weeks old...jammy or what!!! Have a chat to your HV....they usually say that as long as they are gaining weight, feeding well during the day and thriving then don't worry. I say enjoy it while you can it could all change next week!!!!!

[nailpolish]

hi there

my 2 dd's both slept through the night pretty much straight away, there were both bf at this time, i think it was because they slept beside me in my bed during the night, and they were very very cosy.

when i say through the night i mean about 10pm til 5/6am

dont worry, esp if baby is putting on weight and seems happy and content

[Kelly1978]

My first two slept through at that age. If he is getting lots of milk durign the day he won't need to feed at night. I'm now on my third and fourth babies who are 3 months, one is sleepign thru, the other wakes only if he hasn't had enough milk during the day. (needs about 5 bottles a day)

[bambi06]

is he putting on weight as thats the bench mark they go by but normally they say every 3 hrs toget enough calories in them but if theyre putting on weight and seem happy , id enjoy it while it lasts as im sure thre will be another growth spurt around 12 weeks . is he constipated on the new formula ? if its a thicker feed they could be going longer as they havent poohed so theres no room!!

[chipmonkey]

My babies were all bf but were sleeping for quite long periods at that stage. I wouldn't worry!

[Gem13]

DS (breastfed) went through from 7 til 5 at 7 weeks, then 7 til 7 at 9 weeks.

Some do and some don't. I thought it was down to my fab maternal skills but DD didn't sleep through until about 10 months!

[KiwiKate]

Friends who bottle fed had babies sleeping 12 hours a night after 4 weeks! As long as baby is gaining weight, and reaching other milestones, I'd let him sleep and not worry waking him. (BF babies generally feed more often at night than those who are bottlefed - having said that each baby is different)

[pablopatito]

Thanks folks
Having had my mind put to rest, he's now decided to stay up till 9 and wake up at 3, so no more 8 hour sleeps. Darn it, wish I'd enjoyed it more whilst it lasted.

[Kelly1978]

pablopatito, if he has doen it before he should soon get back into the swing of it. Just keep offering extra milk durign the day. If you can get all he needs into him during the day before you put him to bed, he should sleep through again. I know whether or not mine will wake up depending on how much milk they've had. During the hot weather it was a nightmare as it put them off their milk and they would wake up twice a night sometimes. I've jsut got them back into routine again.

[clary]

Pablo, my dd slept 7pm - 6am at 9 weeks (she was breastfed but I don't suppose it makes much difference).
Agree with kelly, get him back into a routine and then enjoy it!!

[matnanplus]

Why the milk change? Is it C&G Omneo?
If he has 2-3oz of milk per lb in weight, then he is ok, a regular weigh in ?twice a month will track any problems.