Please can I have some advise?

[Emandwilliam]

Hi ladies, my ds who is 17 weeks has just started waking more often in the night for a feed and is finding it hard to settle himself after his feed.....need some advise on what to do.

Basically he gets 6oz of formula at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 7.30pm then dreamfeed at 10/10.30pm, he normally then sleeps until 3am when he gets another 6oz then will sleep until 7am.

But now he is tossing and turning come his dream feed (often awake) then he is waking 1am for another feed and then unable to settle back into a good sleep unless I'm cuddling him,previously I could put him now and he would go back asleep.

Should I increase his day time feeds by an oz?
Is this linked to teething? He is showing clear signs.
Do I wean early, a friend of mine weaned both her girls at 17 weeks and said it helped them sleep? He is showing an interest in my food.

Thanks x

Hi, my guess it is a growth spurt and would try increasing his bottles by an ounce. I would be reluctant to introduce food so early without discussing it with your HV or GP first.

17 weeks could be teething, but also very likely to be a growth spurt.

Breastmilk, and I assume formula, are far more calorifically dense than solid food. Weaning advice is very common around now, but it's not good advice; the food is harder to digest, which can cause more problems than it solves, and it will make their tummies less full, not more because it's not as calorific.

I think, just hang in there, this is a short phase and you're not doing anything wrong.

There is often a sleep regression at 4 months - it's because they are developing so quickly, learning new skills etc, it disturbs their sleep at night.

I wouldn't wean early in the hope it might make him sleep - it might not work and you don't want to risk his health.

It sounds like a growth spurt or sleep regression. It's a typical age.

How's his weight gain? I'd only consider weaning that early - and after talking it through with a good healthcare professional as weaning before 6 months isn't recommended - if he is climbing centiles fast so you don't want to up his formula intake. Mush is filling but very low calorie compared to human milk or formula.

Thanks ladies, one hv told me to start weaning at 18 weeks but another said he's doing so well on milk not to bother. Ds was 7.37kg last week and on the 75th line previously 55th. So I think I will hold off weaning for now- glad you all suggest that as we'll.

I'm going to up his milk by an oz each feed- see if that helps.

Japhrimel- sorry think we had crossed posts.

Because he's increased from the 55th line to the 75th do you think I should introduce food? And not increase the formula?