Hello...here's hoping for some wisdom from out there! I've been reading on this site and others that a healthy 7 month old should no longer need to feed at night. Last night I withheld a feed from my 7 month old who wakes up around 4am every night, which upset him (and therefore me!). He settled back to sleep eventually (it took an hour in total), but it's easy to doubt that it was the right thing to do. Is it too soon for this?
Here are some details should you have time to read a bit more:
He has been in a pattern recently of waking up around 4am and settling easily again after a feed. My hunch was, however, that he didn't really need the feed - when he wakes again for the day at 7am he doesn't always feed enthusiastically. He is well established on three solid meals a day and 5-6 breast feeds (a couple decreasing in quantity following his solids). He is in a particularly settled phase at the moment, his 6 month growth spurt is over, and he is not yet teething.
SO..last night at 4am I picked him up when he cried, changed his nappy, then held him as he cried for 20 minutes or so. He began to drift off in my arms but started crying again when I put him down. I left him for 5 mins then went back in to reassure him. He then cried/settled/cried/settled for 20 minutes then fell asleep.
Writing this, it doesn't look that bad, but this is the first time I've refused a night feed and it actually would have felt more natural just to go in and feed him as usual. I then had to go downstairs and express anyway as I was so full! I also didn't want my supply to begin to diminish in case he needs the night feed in the future. Looking at that, I do wonder whether, in fact, I am struggling more with the weaning process than he is!
Anyway...am I doing the right thing in refusing night time feeding? Shall I persist with this? Or is it just selfishness on my part - wanting a good night's sleep again?! It's just so hard to see him so upset. And even if the hunch was right last night...who's to say it will be tonight?