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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:
ManonLescaut · 13/12/2016 13:59

This happened to someone I know. She naively thought that if the baby was sleeping through she didn't need feeding. By the time doctors found out she was underweight and malnourished. Mother thought she looked 'fine'.

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 13:59

dubious she doesn't sleep straight after her last bottle, she'll still be up for a good few hours after, she usually goes down for the night at about 9-10pm

OP posts:
Miserylovescompany2 · 13/12/2016 14:01

I'd agree with others, that's a long time Inbetween feeds. Maybe ask you HV to come out with the scales? Does little one sleep during the day?

My daughter took herself off bottles at 4 month, I had to mix her formula with baby rice and spoon feed her (very loose mixture much more milk than rice) she only slept longer because I was able to get more unto her.

The sleep would concern me. Please speak with your HV? If for nothing else than reassurance.

passthewineplz · 13/12/2016 14:01

What type of formula milk are you giving her? Is it first milk?

JosephineMaynard · 13/12/2016 14:02

Agree with pp about getting her weighed to check that she's maintaining her weight along her centile line.

That's the best way to check whether she's getting enough milk.

splendide · 13/12/2016 14:03

Hang on, so she can wake at 11, have a bottle, then go back down till 1?

That would worry me, sorry.

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 14:04

misery she does have a few, few hour naps during the day..
pass yeah just sma, first milk

OP posts:
PeteSwotatoes · 13/12/2016 14:05

She sounds like she could be exhausted, maybe due to malnourishment from not enough milk. If she's refusing milk, there might be something wrong with her tummy or bowels that's stopping her from taking more. Either way, it seems wrong to me, and you should see a doctor.

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 14:05

She woke at I think it was 5 to 11 today, had a bottle and slept and has just woke up for her second bottle

OP posts:
1horatio · 13/12/2016 14:06

Sorry, but this doesn't sound good. And she shouldn't stand up unless she is standing up herself (not pulled up or anything!)

Please see a doctor.

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 14:06

I'd have actually taken my dd to the gp after a few days of that amount of sleep. Babies usually sleep like that when their ill.

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 14:08

She's going to the HV tomorrow, I feel like the standing up comment has been taken alot more seriously than necessary. She stands holding onto me every now and again. When she's laid in my arms she almost manages a sit up because she likes to be sitting or standing. She's just a strong baby

OP posts:
Cheby · 13/12/2016 14:08

I'd be concerned I think. She's sleeping 14 hours at night? Is that right? Plus maybe another 3-4 in the day? At 4 months I would expect a baby to be awake for more than 6 hours per day.

Just pop along to the HV drop in tomorrow, explain what you have put here and see what they say.

Cheby · 13/12/2016 14:10

I'm with you on the standing up stuff OP. My DD would pull herself up on my hands all the time at that age (was also holding head from a week old, but she was 2 weeksnover due). I had relatives repeatedly tell me I would 'bend her legs' whatever that meant.
Anyway she's 3.5 now and perfectly fine. In fact she's a pretty able gymnast so her legs appear to have survived the ordeal of standing at 4 months old.

FeckinCrutches · 13/12/2016 14:11

I would be going to the doctor. She didn't wake up till 11am this morning, then has only just woken up again now?? Please take her to the doctors!

PotteringAlong · 13/12/2016 14:11

So in the last 24 hours, 2pm yesterday to 2pm today, how many hours has she been awake for?

HermioneJeanGranger · 13/12/2016 14:11

You shouldn't be encouraging or helping her to stand at such a young age, though.

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 14:14

Why haven't you taken her to the hv or gp sooner?

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 14:14

pottering if I'm correct she's had 16 hours sleep and been awake 8

OP posts:
Miserylovescompany2 · 13/12/2016 14:15

Sorry if this has already been mentioned? Have you tried changing the teat? To a medium flow one? Baby might be tiring whilst feeding?

Me, I stuck with a routine, especially through the day, LO didn't go longer than 4 hours...for 6am - 10pm, she only started not requiring a night feed from five months onwards.

Again, contact HV, just to make sure all is well.

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 14:15

How many bottles has she had and how much milk?

Original poster
Christinedonna · 13/12/2016 14:17

dear because she's always slept a lot, sleeping a bit more at night since not napping as much during the day doesn't seem like a red flag to me. She went to the GP a few weeks ago and other than her cold they said she was fine

OP posts:
PeteSwotatoes · 13/12/2016 14:17

What colour are baby's nappies? Is her urine dark?

DearMrDilkington · 13/12/2016 14:18

Did she get weighed at the gp?

ReadySteadyNo · 13/12/2016 14:18

Agree that she needs to be checked out. It just sounds like way too much sleep and far too little milk.