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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Excessive night feeding

9 replies

whalebrae242 · 21/08/2004 20:09

My DS is sixteen weeks old and just seems to be getting worse at bottle feeding! He only ever takes 2-5 oz very sporadically - sometimes going five hours between feeding, sometimes only going two. He was taking between 25-28 oz a day, below average, but was gaining weight steadily but now has dropped to 22-25oz.

Shouldn't he be increasing his milk intake with a view to then going onto solids?

The other problem is he often takes most of his feeds at night. He will down 6oz at 11pm, followed by 5 or 6 oz at 4am with no fuss at all. He also sometimes needs another bottle (5oz) at 1 or 2am if he hasn't been interested that day. But then he frequently isn't interested in another bottle until 11am. If I offer a bottle before then (which I do every day) he usually takes 1 or 2 oz. I am worried that he is turning night into day .

I have tried cutting back on the amounts at night in the hope that he will take more during the day but he never does. This then results in more feeds the following night!

Oherwise he is perfect - three naps a day, bang on time and down to sleep at 7pm usually until 7am except for waking for feeds. He weighed 9lb 11oz at birth and now weighs about 15lbs.

Anyone got any suggestions?

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whalebrae242 · 21/08/2004 20:11

I meant to say that the irony is I stopped breastfeeding him at 6 weeks because he fussed so much! On and off and on and off and funny growling so I thought bottles would be less stressful. Little did I know that I just had a fussy eater on my hands. Hindsight is a great thing....

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whalebrae242 · 21/08/2004 20:57

Anyone? Please?

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JiminyCricket · 21/08/2004 21:45

I don't think it's that unusual to drop the amounts is it? I'd just keep a check on his weight if it was me. Can you settle him at night (some of the times) without feeding, or with water, seems like it might be a bit of a habit waking up and having a cuddle with Mum. Seems like if you could stretch the 4 am to five or even six that might feel a bit better for you. But I'm sure others have better advice..

MrsDoolittle · 21/08/2004 21:50

I am sorry I can't help whalebrae, I can only offer support. It's quiet here this evening but hopefuly you will get some help tomorrow. My dd is 19 weeks today and I am having a similar problem with bf, but I really don't know anything about bottle-feeding.

whalebrae242 · 21/08/2004 21:57

Thanks for replies. I'll check in again tomorrow. I'm new to this and wasn't sure how quickly it all worked!!

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JiminyCricket · 22/08/2004 15:00

bump

mit · 22/08/2004 15:24

Hi there
Could you try to not over-feed at night for a few nights......after 3 or 4 nights of not much to eat he might decide to feed more during the day. One night possibly isn't enough for him to get the message! Also, have you tried not feeding after 3pm so he is nice and hungry for his 6:30/7pm feed??
Also - hate to say it, but have you tried Gina? Saved my life - I love her. Definitely this sounds like something her wonderful book could help with.
Best of luck,
mit

whalebrae242 · 23/08/2004 08:46

I'm a total Gina fan and my DD fitted her schedule perfectly - sleeping from 7am to 7pm from 12 weeks. But this little boy is a different kettle of fish!! He fits in with Gina perfectly during the day.

Since writing this I have tried him on SMA white and so far things haven been better in that yesterday he drank 6oz at every feed and last night I cut his feeds to 5oz and 4oz and this morning he took 6oz at 8am!

You get there in the end!

Thanks for help.

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whalebrae242 · 23/08/2004 09:47

Just realised that sounds contradictory. I mean a perfect Gina baby 'nap-wise'!

Anyway that's that.

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