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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be concerned for DD?

211 replies

Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 13:12

My DD is almost 4 months old and has always been a fantastic sleeper, she's slept through without a feed since she was about a week old. Up until a few weeks ago she was having her last bottle at 8:30-9pm and waking up for her first the next morning at about 8:30-9am. Now she's having her last bottle at about 6-6:30pm and not having her first one the next morning until 10-11am. She's a perfectly happy& healthy baby and I'm soooo grateful for the sleep and that she's so laid back but others have questioned us. My dad is convinced this is not okay and it's not healthy to "let her" go that long without milk. I've never woken her up for a feed, I've always fed on demand (I know, shoot me). What do you think? Should I just be grateful and make the most of the quiet time or should I be concerned that she's going too long?

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 13/12/2016 13:14

How much does she have in 24 hours? it does seem like a long gap.

Whats her weight gain like?

Why no bottle when she first wakes up - shes surely not sleeping 630-10am?

crazyoldc4tlady · 13/12/2016 13:16

is she actually asleep from 6/6:30 till 10 am?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/12/2016 13:17

Have you posted about this before OP?

Aftertheraincomesthesun · 13/12/2016 13:17

Mine were good sleepers, but that length of time would make me uneasy

Footinmouthasusual · 13/12/2016 13:18

If she's healthy and happy growing well and putting on weight I would get down on your knees and thank whoever is in charge of these things that you are a very very lucky mum.

Don't worry loads will pile in to tell you she will be a terrible toddler and teenager Grin

SausageSoda · 13/12/2016 13:18

My 5 month old DD has her last bottle about 8,30pm and roughly sleeps from 9pm-8.30am. I do make sure that she has a bottle when she wakes though - she isn't really interested in it and may sometimes only have half and then I'll give her more an hour or so later in that case. I wouldn't really feel comfortable with her being awake for a couple of hours and not having anything first thing. She doesn't seem a particularly hungry baby and will rarely cry for a feed but I give her one anyway after her being asleep for nearly 12 hours.

Schmoochypoos · 13/12/2016 13:18

I'd be totally grateful for the sleep but if she's going 630pm-10am that seems a very long period of time without some milk, isn't she really thirsty when she wakes up? I think I'd offer her milk first thing in the morning.

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 13:20

She doesn't drink an awful lot during the day. I'd say 5x 6oz at most, sometimes as little as 3(x6oz). She hasn't been weighed by officially since her 6 week check but OH weight himself then weighed himself holding her a few weeks ago and there was about 13-14lbs difference. she seems the average size to others her age.. And no she doesn't sleep straight after her last bottle but she seems to have a cut off point and after her last bottle she doesn't want a bottle until the next morning. I've tried giving her one later and she's thrown it back up so its like she doesn't have room for it..but yeah she does sleep in until 10-11am and I get her a bottle as soon as she stirs, so it's ready as soon as she wakes up

OP posts:
BToperator · 13/12/2016 13:23

16 to 17 hours without a feed does seem like a very long time for such a young baby. What does the HV say? Is she gaining weight OK?

Dulra · 13/12/2016 13:23

If she is growing, gaining weight and has plenty of wet nappies I wouldn't worry but it is change to what she was doing and is quite a long gap so I would get her checked over just to be on the safe side. There are guidelines for how much is recommended to have in 24 hours so also check if you are within that range. My dd2 was a terrible feeder very little interest in milk and was having way below the recommended amount despite all my best efforts. I was quite concerned and was referred to a paediatrician he used to check her weight etc monthly and she was always fine it all resolved itself when she started on solids.

Coffeerun · 13/12/2016 13:24

That does seem a long time.

If it was me I might wake her up in the morning say at 7.30-8.00, give her some milk then put her back for a mid morning sleep.

If in doubt get her weighed and speak to the health visitor.

SausageSoda · 13/12/2016 13:26

My DD only has 4 bottles in a 24hr period - 7oz in each but sometimes she won't finish them all. 6oz in each until a few weeks ago. She just doesn't seem interested and is otherwise a happy baby who is still putting on weight. I was concerned though so did mention it to GP and she just said that some babies aren't hungry babies and if DD otherwise seems OK to stop worrying about it.

StudentMum92 · 13/12/2016 13:26

Hi OP - I could have written your post myself, my DD is 4 months and sleeps through the night with no feed (sometimes 12 hours), she has done since 6 weeks old.

Is your DD happy and gaining weight, if so don't worry about it. I used to but don't any more. A hungry baby would soon let you know! Trust your instincts and enjoy the sleep 😁

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 13:26

She hasn't been seen by the HV since she was 6 weeks. Or is it 8/10 when she has her check? I'm not sure, a while anyway. OH and i have recently split and I no longer have a car so we don't go to groups or anything for her to be weighed but like I said she's not underweight or skinny looking. She's always been slim and long since birth but has chubby cheeks and cute little thigh rolls so her weight doesn't concern me

OP posts:
RayofFuckingSunshine · 13/12/2016 13:27

I would be really concerned about that to be honest. Also, please take her to be weighed properly. We have to keep a very close eye on DDs weight due to faltering growth, and while away we weighed her just as your partner did, it showed a healthy gain. Took her back to clinic two days later and she had actually lost 5oz from the last time she had been weighed properly.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/12/2016 13:30

I think you need to go and get her weighed properly just to make sure tbh. Do you know what centipede line she was on?

ChaChaChaCh4nges · 13/12/2016 13:31

Got to say - that would worry me. Not so much the volume of milk, but the sheer amount of time that she's sleeping. I'd get her checked out.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/12/2016 13:31

FFS autocorrect. Centile not centipede.

Topseyt · 13/12/2016 13:31

Mine were good sleepers too, and mostly slept through from about a month old. Keep getting her weighed at the baby clinic to check that she is gaining weight normally. If she is then you are probably fine.

I would not wake her during the night for feeds, but would want to give her her first bottle probably no later than 8.00 am and might get her up then if she hadn't surfaced.

That was the routine mine were generally on (also bottle-fed). After that I fed every 3 - 4 hours although they did occasionally demand extra. Sometimes they only took about the amounts you describe, and others they took the full 8floz bottle.

ChaChaChaCh4nges · 13/12/2016 13:32

But there's a difference between being a good sleeper/sleeping through - and sleeping for 15 hours straight....

SausageSoda · 13/12/2016 13:32

Agree that you should go to drop in clinic to get her weighed or phone HV and ask her to come to your house if she will do that. Im not overly concerned about my DD as she is still following 75th percentile though I would be worried if she had dramatically dropped percentiles.

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 13:33

I agree with Ray. That's a very long time for such a young baby to go without milk and a very long time for her to be sleeping without waking.

GettingitwrongHauntingatnight · 13/12/2016 13:35

I'd start getting her weighed regularly just to be sure, shes very young op.

Topseyt · 13/12/2016 13:36

I would get her weighed properly soon. For peace of mind if nothing else.

I only took mine to be weighed every few weeks. That is fine if weight gain is good enough.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 13/12/2016 13:36

There's probably a difference between 'sleeping through' at 4-6 weeks and sleeping through at one week. That should probably have raised a concern somewhere.