My Mummy keeps feeding me at night. Can't she do anything else?

[StewedApple]

So it's 4 am and baby is awake. Not screaming in misery but very loudly talking to herself. After a nappy change (the reason she woke), offering cooled boiled water as I've been recommended to replace a night feed and it being refused, up goes the top for a quick feed to sleep. 10 minutes later and we're all happy asleep.

I'm sure this wasn't really necessary, but I just don't know what else to try to get lovely DD back to sleep (in such a quick time anyway). She can do 11 to 6 after her bottle and doesn't need the food.

Worried I'm making one of those rods for my back I've heard sooooo much about.

Any ideas? Do I just need to get over it and keep rocking till the sleep rolls in? (doesn't have a dummy).

Surprised you say she doesnt need the feed! She might've woken because of a dirty nappy (is it soiled or just wet?) and isn't screaming but if she is accepting milk I do think she needs it, otherwise she would refuse

Many more growth spurts to come i'm afraid and she will need feeding through the night when they come around
Your friends' babies may still have been very hungry but knew they'd be denied milk so would sleep instead, which I think is a bit sad

Try reading this: Dr Jay Gordon

Thanks for all the replies. At least I know I can carry on as I am without worrying too much about future sleep problems.

MN saves the day yet again!

Happy to help!

When someone on Mumsnet posted the link to Dr Jay Gorden for me, it was a "light bulb" moment - I had thought I was mad for being a bit about trying to get tiny babies to sleep through, now I am very laid back about nights with DD and we both get great night's sleep while still bf at night as and when she wants!

I see what you mean. But tbh even if she just 'needs' a feed to go back to sleep, then that's needing a feed, unless that's really not working for you.

Sorry huge x post :)

I know I said DD was 2 when she slept through and I do think that was quite late, so you might not be as unlucky. But as with everything else, once she decided it was time, she slept through without a fuss. I came home after they were in bed last night, having been away on the Monday night, and my crashing up the stairs at 10ish must have woken her. She sat up and gave me a huge smile when she saw I was back. She wanted a drink so I gave her water. I expected her to then demand the feed she hadn't had that evening. Instead she gave me back her water, another huge smile and said "fanks mummy, that made me feel better....good night mummy", pulled the covers up and went straight back to sleep :o

Aww stealthPolarBear that is so cute!!

I'm with those saying 4 months is too soon to worry. DS is nearly 13 months and still feeds frequently throughout the night.

I'm going to go out on a limb here - don't want to upset you but I think you are interpreting desperate (loud cry, frantic feeding) for hunger.. Babies have many signals to show they are hungry, crying is the last resort. Does she sleep near you? DS has always grunted in his sleep when hungry and put his hands up to his face like his nose is itchy - i know he's hungry because when I offer the breast he was accepts it and I can hear him swallowing. ALL my BF friends stopped night feeds early on, mine is the only baby who still breastfeeds at night, but also the only one who consistently sleeps 7.30pm-7am - he eats in his sleeps as we co-sleep but he sleeps!

Check out kellymom.com for info about night feeds and GL

What nicecupoftea said! I too am in the minority in stil bf DD at night (16 months), but I would say I sleep better and am less worried about sleeping than most people I know! Its better becasue I know that if DD stirs and I offer bf she and I will be back to sleep in 5 mins or so. So I never worry about sleeping and don't wake more than I would if she slept through without stirring as I would, I'm sure, wake once to go to the bathroom

Also what nicecupoftea said about crying. DD still sleeps in a cot in our room and I don't think she has ever ever got to the stage of actually crying at night - I've not waited that long to respond.....

And if I offer the DD bf and she is not hungry, she makes that quite clear! Mouth shut and turning away! Or in a less contrary mood, nipple in for 5 seconds and out again with no swalowing.

At that age it's about comfort as much as anything, even if they only feed for a few minutes it helps them. I don't subscribe to the 'rod for your own back' school of thought. I fed to sleep whenever DS woke until he started sleeping 12 hours straight at 7.5 mo. I also still occasionally co-sleep with my 15 mo DS when he's poorly. He always goes happily back to sleeping on his own again.

Another lady here saying 4 months too early to worry. Esp as it is a time for growth spurts as lots have said. My 4 monther fed almost every hour for a few weeks! Is now 6 months and feeding every 3 hours at night. It's the easiest way to maximise sleep I find. I'll deal with rods later!

Smile serenely at your friends who rattle on about night weaning and be happy in the knowledge that your LO and you are content and doing well. A big 'meh' to any parent who's aghast that other parents do things a different way. Do what works for you and stuff the books!

Clabsy - you are sooo right. I am testament to this! I worried and fretted so much when DD was a few months old about rods and feeding to sleep etc etc. Now, at 16 months, I have never refused DD a bf at night and yes, she still wakes for one or two at night.... but hand on heart, I get more sleep than any mother I know becasue I know that she and I will be asleep again within 5 mins or less, whatever elseis going on in terms of teething etc. She doesn't "sleep through", but I never feel like I haven't had a good night's sleep. Just keep bf on demand, that's my mantra (not in the day - I work f/t and she's at home with DH, so she eats normal meals and snacks in the day). I envisage weaning from bf/night weaning all in one go when she's 2 - my Mum did this and it worked really well as we were, apparently, all old enough to realise we weren't babies and a cuddle from daddy was a safe and comforting alternative....

What could Jannerjo's post have been....?!

I wondered that as well

I think it was advertising something.