7wk old feeding

[Jayfer]

DS feeds well and is a good weight. We have a pretty good but flexible routine coming along (he's a very chilled out baby which makes it easier). As first time parents we have a couple of questions.

DS will sleep (usually) from 7-7.30pm until 2am then takes a formula feed (this is a new introduction, the rest of the time he is bf) but then will be awake again at 4am and at 6am for food (he will go 3-4hrs between feeds during the day).

He doesn't take a huge amount at the 6.30-7pm feed as he's usually windy and tired but will sleep for a long time. But will take about 4oz of formula.

We would like to establish a 10pm feed to see him through but if he's really deeply asleep he refuses to wake up even if we change his nappy and put water on his bits! Any suggestions to rouse him?

We appreciate that these are really early days and we're not stressing about it as we're sure it will sort itself out. But did expect him to sleep longer than a couple of hours after a big formula feed?

Thanks for any suggestions!

So is he now having formula about 7pm and 2am?

The waking pattern sounds very normal to me at this age, and I found that trying a 'dreamfeed' made no difference to how long they slept.

They don't always sleep any longer after formula, it varies from one baby to another but it's somewhat of a myth that bottlefed babies always sleep longer/better.

If you are intending to carrying on with breastfeeding I would seek some advice from a BF drop in or breastfeeding helpline, as regular formula feeds, especially in the early hours, are likely to have a detrimental effect on milk production/supply, which can result in stopping BF relatively quickly.

Will your DS have a 'dream feed' i.e. be asleep but be able to feed? I give my DS2 a feed like this every night when I go to bed to make sure I get a little sleep before he wakes for a feed again. This is still possible when you're breastfeeding (doesn't have to be from a bottle), as they rouse slightly and if you brush up to his cheek you may see that he will root for the nipple and have a decent feed without needing to wake him up totally by changing his nappy, etc.

My dd is 7 weeks too and if ff. She sleeps from 6.30 - anytime from 2.30-5 and then back to sleep til 7. When she does wake at around 2.30ish she sometimes does stir again at 5 ish but quickly goes back to sleep without a feed. Are you sure your ds is hungry at 4am? Can you settle him without another feed? I did try to do dreamfeed at 10.30ish but dd still woke in the night and then wasn't interested in milk at 7am.