To think more feeds in the day equals longer sleep in night

[Peppery123]

Just wondering if there is a link baby having enough formula/feeds in the day to sleeping through the night? I keep reading conflicting information.
Reason I ask first two dc slept through the night pretty quick. Dd1- from 8 weeks
Dd2- 12-13 weeks
All good weights and had lots of bottles through the day.
Now with dd3 she is 16 weeks. Hardly finishes her bottles. I would say on average shes taking 4oz per feed! Whihc is nowhere near reccomended amount as shes only having 5-6 feeds. Some feeds only 3oz. She hardly ever finishes her 5oz bottles. And shes waking up in the night but sometimes refuses milk so thats why im so confused?
Her last weight was 12lb 11oz which I think is on the low side.
Just really struggling with the night feeds atm becausw due back to work month 5 so hoping by then she would be in a more settled routine but doesnt look promising:(

I did wean on medical advice though - so have a chat with someone first.

Also, I switched to kendamil milk (off advice from the feeding topic here) which did help. It smells and tastes like milk, which other formula milk doesn't. She takes it quicker - most feeds are now 15 mins rather than trying to get little sips down over an hour.

Oh and what I forgot to say was, she won't take a bottle when she's awake. Flat out refuses. Laughs if you try to feed her and pushes it away.

So we have to get her off for a nap every 3.5 / 4 hour and feed her when she's just dropped off. She'll sleep for 30 mins and take anywhere from 2-4oz.

I can't remember the last time she fed awake. She just won't entertain the idea. It's awful really.

I found the more feeds they had in the day the better the night. I had a few days where it all went wrong and they slept most of the day and woke and fed all night. Buy generally I did lots of feeds in the day, my three slept through at 8 weeks and did 12 hours at 12 weeks.

Your daughter sounds developmentally normal with sleep

DS was waking every 2 hours until 6 months and ate loads

Stop expecting unrealistic things

Honestly, you hit the sleep jackpot with your first two, your second sounds far more typical (and still a very very good sleeper for his age). It's pretty normal for them not to sleep for a couple of years, so existing it by 3-4 months is unrealistic.

And yes, it's tough when you go back to work, but your baby is formula fed and I'm presuming you have a partner, so share the burden and it'll eventually pass. I've been back at work for about 18m, and my toddler still wakes 2-4 times a night.

Just be glad you got two sleepers and only one of your children wakes up. It'll come, but be patient.

@Babyboomtastic

Honestly, you hit the sleep jackpot with your first two, your second sounds far more typical (and still a very very good sleeper for his age). It's pretty normal for them not to sleep for a couple of years, so existing it by 3-4 months is unrealistic.

And yes, it's tough when you go back to work, but your baby is formula fed and I'm presuming you have a partner, so share the burden and it'll eventually pass. I've been back at work for about 18m, and my toddler still wakes 2-4 times a night.

Just be glad you got two sleepers and only one of your children wakes up. It'll come, but be patient.

This this this!

Afraid not op. My 15 month old still wakes at least once in the night for a bottle, if not twice, and he eats 3 meals a day plus snacks and milk still during the day. I feel your pain.

Lots of children and babies continue to wake I. The night and want bottles or breast after they eat well. There are individual reports of it here. So there are no guarantees, but the fact that some children and babies keep waking, doesn’t mean that having a full tum and having eaten what they need for 24 hour period before their core nighttime sleeps, won’t help many.

I’d say give it a try. Lots of people do find it makes a difference and there’s nothing to lose. And there’s nothing wrong with looking forward to a time when you and your baby get more nighttime sleep....we don’t have to be resigned to no sleepless nights and having to always do night feeds until they are 2 or 3. Clearly children vary, but having their nutritional needs met can really help older babies sleep, whilst if they haven’t eaten much (food or milk depending on age) or enough befor going to bed, they are much more likely to wake up with hunger.
All the other reasons why babies wake at night could be different and separate issues. Some you might be able to do things about and some you might not.

@Peppery123 I don't know if you will see this, but three days ago I switched Dd to MAM bottles from tommee tippee.

OMG. How I wished I'd done this months ago. She's much happier with the teat shape. She's drinking 4-5oz bottles at almost every feed

I could kick myself for persevering with the TT bottles.

She's on the MAM size 2 teats. They say size 3 from 4 months but they were coming out too fast so I went to 2.

Using the MAM anti colic self sterilising. So, so far, so good!

Just thought I'd let you know the huge difference it's made to her.

Delighted for you @fuckadoodledoo !

I think you were lucky with the first 2 and have unrealistic expectations of this baby. Waking for a 3am feed is totally normal at 16 weeks - most babies don't sleep through until 5 or 6 months at the earliest. It's a bit early to start weaning - best to wait another month or so. But night waking may well continue for months yet, regardless of weaning

Thank you @DwangelaForever

I know 4oz every 4 hours isn't a lot for most almost 6 month olds, but for my Dd I'd a major breakthrough!

My first dd was 9 weeks prem and was 2lbs. She has always been an excellent sleeper but more of a nightmare for feeding. Not fussy, but at times, eats like a pigeon.

My second Child was nearly 10 lbs and was always feeding. Felt like was constantly attaching to my breast or bottle. She's now nearly 5 , has a very healthy appetite and to this day, continues to wake in the night .

@Fuckadoodledoooo

I think it was you who told me to try the MAM bottles on another thread?! I wentnout and bought two and omg you are right she took 5oz straight off so weve bought another 2 and using them now! I was also on tomee tippee im really shcoked how she takes from them easily and not tommee tipee..i cant believe its taken this long but thank you so much. Just trying to sort her sleep out now

@Fuckadoodledoooo
How old is your dd btw x

@Peppery123 no it wasn't me - but I think I read it and it swung me!

She will be 6 months in ten days time.

I'm so glad they worked for you too!

@Fuckadoodledoooo

Has she always been having less oz when she was younger as well? Has she weaned?
How is her sleep etc?
Im baffled eith mine shes always taken low amounts and sleep is rubbish :(