Help - wits end - baby eating during day + drinking at night

[janlostinbabyland]

Hi first time at putting in a message but my ds (6months) is driving me crazy. Weaning going well until last two weeks. He eats well during the day but then wakes up screaming for full bottle of milk at 1.30am. He drinks full bottles at 7am, 2pm and 6.30 as gina ford. However not managed to reduce 10pm feed - in fact he has recently increased this to a full bottle. Do I need to give him more food during the day? I tried this and doubled his portions one day only to have them all vomited back at me! After vomiting he just beamed at me so I take it that he just was full up.

He doesn't wake every night - sometimes makes it through to 7am. Totally confused. Is this normal until he settles in to feeding? Have weaned gradually for last 2 months.

Could be a growth spurt?

Hi Jan (great MN user name !)

Perhaps he is hungry, but would benefit from an increased number of meals rather than larger portions ? His tummy can only hold so much food at one sitting so perhaps he'd prefer, say, 5 smaller-medium meals in one day rather than 3 ? Just a thought.

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thanks v much for answering. Will try giving more small meals. This morning he took 1 tablespoon of porridge which was ok, but then at 11.15 he took less than 1 tablespoon of beef stew.

Maybe the feed in the middle of the night is ruining his appetite. I will try giving him water tonight.

He sticks to Gina Ford really well during the day. Should I try giving him something to eat with his 2pm milk? Am worried this will put him off his 5pm dinner.

Wish he could talk and tell me what he needs!

it could just be a growth spurt - my ds did this to me a few weeks ago - he's 6 1/2 months now. or perhaps he needs a bit more milk? it just seems like he's hungry if he's taking a full bottle at 10pm. I b/f so it's a bit different I guess but I tend to offer more than 3 milk feeds during the day and usually finish off a meal with a b/f to make sure he's full up. Perhaps if you mix his feeds with milk as much as poss it might fill him up a bit more? What kind of food are you giving him? porridge sounds pretty filling which is good. I usually find ds is hugrier after eating stuff like 'apple puree' than after mixed veg/chicken +rice for example - less calories I suppose

I'm so happy - last night ds slept from 10pm feed til 6.30 this morning. I don't know why he didn't need fed in the middle of the night but it was sooooo good to get a nights sleep! Think he might have got more milk overall yesterday.

Ps Mumsnet is great. It is so nice to know there are other mums out there who can sympathise with my probs and are kind enough to offer help.

Will also think about type of food - I thought chicken would be filling but its maybe not. Has anyone got a good recipe book. I have Gina Ford's weaning book but don't find the recipes practical - there are so many ingredients. Is Annabel Karmel's book any good? Would love to be able to make same food for ds as for dh and me but am nervous about what he should eat. End up making two dinners one after each other every night!