Gina Ford approach - surely we shouldn't dilute milk?

[Joseve]

Hi all, just wondering for those who have tried the Gina Ford method of diluting night time feeds, did this work and surely it's not the best advice when the formula packs say not to do this? Ie adding less scoops per water can mess with the water/electrolyte balance in a baby's system.

I’m not sure I’d do it with formula, though I think the danger with messing with formula ratios is more that if you make it too concentrated, they can dehydrate. How old is your baby?

I've not read any Gina Ford as it's not my thing, but this technique is recommended pretty widely as a quick (and importantly) short term way to help a baby lose interest in night feeds. The rest of their feeds shouldn't be diluted. It was even recommended to us by our HV.

We did it with second DC as they fed so much in the night even at 19 months nappies were leaking even if we changed them after a feed in the night. It was also having a detrimental effect on appetite for solids. So we reduced to 75% strength for 2 nights, 50% for 2 nights and on the next night down to 25% but DC slept through. Most nights DC now sleeps through but we keep a very dilute bottle of milk on standby for the night, because they still like the reassurance of the teat if they wake from a bad dream or whatever. They have a couple of sips and go back to sleep. So it worked for us and had absolutely no adverse effects. All other feeds were made to the proper strength.

Agree with pp that the risks are becoming constipated if made too strong or if bottles were consistently watered down - especially for a unweaned baby - that would be harmful. One watered down bottle over a few days won't cause harm.

What age is she recommending doing this from?

ok thanks, yes I guess one bottle wouldn't hurt but I'd just read that too much water per formula can also upset the balance. She recommends it for even below 6 months which doesn't seem right. I think I'd rather try giving her water at a night feed (which is rare these days anyway), and see if that works. Perhaps some water first before the milk, which was suggested by my HV to try to wean my 10 month old off 5am feeds in the lead up to coming off formula altogether (and onto cow's milk).

I personally wouldn’t try to reduce night feeds at all before 12 months.

DS stopped waking up for nightfeeds aged 6 months so it’s not like it’d do your 10 month old any harm to go without... I’d definitely feel more confident trying it with a baby the age of yours than with a baby of say under 6 months. She’ll be on cows milk soon anyway.

Cows milk I would dilute but I would never dilute formula

I never FFed, but I can't see the harm in doing it with a baby who's well established on solids. It worked well for a friend.

Why do you think giving solely water is any better/worse for electrolyte balance than giving watered down formula?