Stopping BF during the night

[NichyNoo]

DS is 16 weeks old and I have been slowly moving him from EBF to formula. As of this week he now has 4 formula feeds per 24 hours, 210ml per feed following instructions on the (European version of Aptamil) carton for a baby of his weight (over 6kg).

I went to the paediatrician today and told her that I have also been BF him once in the night when he wakes (going through dreaded 4 month sleep regression I think). She said that having 4 feeds of 210ml in 24 hours is sufficient and I shouldn't give him bottle or breast in the night as at 4 months he can make it through the night without feeding.

It somehow doesn't seem enough though and he seems hungry at 2am. She said it was because he was used to feeding in the night rather than him needing it. Does this sound correct? And will he turn out to be obese if I do BF him in the night??? Thanks.

4 feeds doesn't seem very much - the back of my Aptamil cartons says a 4-5 (6.9kg) month old baby should be having 5 feeds of 210ml in 24 hours. A 3-4 month old (6.2kg) is 5 feeds of 180.

When you say "during the night" what hours do you mean? 7-7 or 11-7 or something else?

My ds is 17 weeks and over 6kg, and has 6 breastfeeds and 1 formula feed of 200ml in 24 hours, including one at 11pm and one in the night.

4 feeds in 24 hours doesn't sound enough for a baby not having solids yet - although no doubt some babies will ok with this - ask the paed if he would like to have nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours.

DS2 is 7.5 months - has 3 meals and still has 5 bottle feeds (although 2 are smaller) - 7am (6oz), 10.30am (4oz), 2.30pm (6oz) 6pm (6oz) and 10pm (3oz).

Jesus christ, my 1yr old has more than 4 feeds per 24 hours and she eats 3 meals a day. These doctors fry my brain.

Bugger! Why is the advice so different from country to country even for the same company (Aptamil)!!!!!

Do you think I should make a smaller bottle for the night (180ml with 6 scoops of powder)? I am reluctant to go against the doctor's advice but the medical profession and health visitors in Belgium seem to stick to 1950s style parenting and guidelines.

It is normal and usual that a 16 week old baby has a night feed

lots of them have 2 or 3 at that age

you KNOW your baby - trust YOUR instincts

if he seems hungry at 2 am, then he is - so feed him

i do despair of professionals giving such poor advice

Thanks all. MoonUnitAlpha - he has a bottle at (approx times) 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm. Doctor then thinks he should go 12 hours with no food

I wonder how frequently the doctor eats and drinks during the day? Three meals, snacks, tea and coffee inbetween, glass of water by his bed

How much does your DS weigh? If I were you I'd either do 5 feeds of 210ml or 5 of 180ml, at 7/11/3/7/11 - expecting the baby to sleep 11pm-7am is much more reasonable! You can do the 11pm one as a dreamfeed where you don't wake the baby up (this is what I do). Or even 4 daytime feeds of 180ml and a nighttime one of 210ml since he has to go longest from 11pm-7am.

The Aptimal carton here seems to be suggesting a 6.2kg baby should have 900ml a day, and a 6.9kg baby should have 1050ml. Yours is suggesting only 840ml.

If you aren't keen on the night feeds maybe you could try 7, 11, 2.30 6 and 10.30pm?

He weighs 6.8kg so 1050ml sounds right. Weird that Nutrilon (Aptamil) guidelines say only 4 feeds of 210ml for babies over 6kg!

I would be scared of waking DS if I try a dreamfeed as there would be no guarantee he would go back to sleep. I think I'll prepare a 180ml bottle for the night which I can give him when he wakes between 2-4am....or is this making a rod for my back as he will never sleep through?

If you're happy doing a feed in the night then do it. Try giving the dreamfeed a go though - I just lift ds up before I go to bed and he chugs 200mls without even opening his eyes. If it doesn't work then you can always drop it.

My DD was having 4 bottle feeds at the same times you state NichyNoo at around 4.5 months, so its not unheard of... however she dropped the 11pm and 3am feeds herself (we used to dream feed her at 11pm, then one night we didn't and she slept through... bingo)

have you tried giving a dream feed when you go up to bed at 10/11 so that your DS might get through til morning without waking you?