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Original poster

Hungry baby milk just at night to ensure a full nights sleep

141 replies

mumsrthebest · 24/01/2016 18:00

Hi all, my son is 11 weeks old and is still waking in the night. I know he is still young but would like to try and get him to sleep through the night. He usually has his last bottle at around 10pm - 10:30pm and wakes at 2am and then 5am. On his 2am feed he generally only has an ounce and falls asleep. This tells me he doesn't really need it so I have been trying to put him off by putting his dummy back in and this works for about an hour and then to be honest I give in and give him a bottle (too tired).

My friend suggested I give him hungry baby milk for his last feed before bed. Has anyone else tried this? She tried it with her son and he slept through as he felt fuller I presume.

My son has had awful colic too that seems to have gone this past week or so but we are still putting colief in the milk (going to reduce dose next week as he will be 12 was) Do I need to do it ŵith the hungry baby milk too?

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unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 20:34

Where's she blaming herself for her baby not sleeping through?

FFS surely most mums would like that extra 1hour.

LittleBearPad · 26/01/2016 20:51

Unimaginative13 what has worked for you and your sample of one won't necessarily work for everyone.

OP your baby is still tiny and given he's only having an ounce at 2am he'll likely drop this soon. Don't muck about with changing milk on him. It's likely to upset him.

Don't worry about people asking if he's sleeping through, it's just a generic question mothers with newborns get asked, see also 'is he good?' Hmm.

And most people lie or can't remember when their babies first slept through.

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 20:53

Where did I state it was the magic formula to a full nights sleep!!'?!!

I said I think we all agree you can't force it big you can take steps in improve what your doing in hope!!!

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TheCatsMeow · 26/01/2016 20:54

Why are people moaning about someone giving sleep advice?!

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 20:54

The OP asked for advice, which is what I gave. Surely the principal of advice is that is from your experience, and may or may not be suitable for all.

53rdAndBird · 26/01/2016 21:01

"It wouldn't be a good idea to give him hungry baby milk to get him to drop a feed" is also sleep advice...

LittleBearPad · 26/01/2016 21:03

I think it was the criticism of other people's supposed bad habits that was somewhat smug.

And that's not going to happen camping on the sofa watching Netflix!!
^^
In your opinion but not in other people's experience. ^^

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 21:05

God forbid any sensible sleep advice is offered instead of the hungry baby suggestion.

We must all be sleep deprived to earn our medals.

LittleBearPad · 26/01/2016 21:05

Italics fail

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 21:08

The people watching TV at night are the ones up every few hours so no, clearly not the route to a good nights sleep!

It's a different thing anyway, the suggestion of TV was just to say deal with it and make yourself comfortable.

AndNowItsSeven · 26/01/2016 21:12

So you don't feed your baby for 13 hours? 5pm until 8am.

53rdAndBird · 26/01/2016 21:14

The people watching TV at night are the ones up every few hours so no, clearly not the route to a good nights sleep!

Sometimes there isn't a route to a good night's sleep. Sometimes, no matter what you do and what kind of bedtime routine you have, your baby is just going to wake up again and again and a-bloody-gain. Watching TV in the night is a way for some people in that situation to keep hold of their sanity.

I think this is where the conflict is coming from. There's a difference saying "I did XYZ, my baby sleeps well, maybe it's worth a try?" and "My baby sleeps well because I did XYZ, and yours would too if you did this properly." When you make comments about "habits" and watching Netflix on the sofa, it sounds like you're saying the second one, not the first. And people get a bit bristly and defensive about that.

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 21:14

No sorry meant today daytime bottle is 5pm then one 8ish/ just before

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 21:17

Stop being pedantic.

I gave advice. Stop controlling what advice is given and how it is given. We are not the same person.

NerrSnerr · 26/01/2016 21:17

Whether you agree with watching telly while feeding that doesn't take away from the fact that giving hungry baby milk is just trying to trick a baby into feeling full, when the chances are if they are waking up they are hungry and need food.

My personal opinion is if you have a baby you have to accept what comes with it, and night feeds are a part of that.

53rdAndBird · 26/01/2016 21:19

I'm not "controlling what advice is given", FFS. I'm gently warning you that you're coming across as a bit smug here, and it's that - not the fact you're trying to give sleep advice - which is getting people's backs up.

NerrSnerr · 26/01/2016 21:19

*night feeds if your baby needs them.

unimaginativename13 · 26/01/2016 21:21

Who's back ? Yours?

slebmum1 · 26/01/2016 21:25

It'll all go tots up again anyway op in the 4 month sleep regression.

Hungry baby milk won't help him sleep through the night.

53rdAndBird · 26/01/2016 21:25

Christ in heaven, woman, stand down the armies. Nobody's attacking you here.

Writerwannabe83 · 27/01/2016 07:56

Slightly jealous of all the babies who sleep through but unless that process occurs on its own then I don't agree that it's right to purposefully deny a baby it's milk at such a young age. Milk is their nourishment and 'making them drop a feed' for the purpose of the parent getting more sleep just doesn't sit easy with me.

When my DS was that young I was up with him every 2.5-3 hours and yes I was exhausted but I would never have left him until I "eventually gave in" and gave him what he needed.

Having a young baby is hard work and tiring but that's just the way it is. I remember how awful it is was to feel so tired but believe me OP, compared to the majority of new mothers you've got it pretty good.

I may disagree with what you're doing/considering but you definitely still deserve some Flowers because new borns are exhausting and we all just do what we think is best.

TheCatsMeow · 27/01/2016 08:00

Writer why? As long as they're gaining weight what's wrong with moving the feeds to a time that suits you?

I'm mostly led by my son but at night, he fits in with me (mostly). I'm a better mum when I'm not tired and he's not underweight. So what's the problem?

Pollyputhtekettleon · 27/01/2016 09:49

Lol, good luck with that! Brilliant that your friend has discovered a cure for not sleeping through the night at 11 wks!

I don't think little babies wake at night due to hunger alone.

I guess it's always worth tweaking things to see if they help the situation but I wouldn't be giving hungry milk. I'm just against hungry milk anyway when you see how fat babies are able to get on normal formula I can't see how it wouldn't be sufficient for any child. There is something in people that they want to stuff babies and I think that hungry milk is a product created to prey on those people.

TheCatsMeow · 27/01/2016 10:03

I'm just against hungry milk anyway when you see how fat babies are able to get on normal formula I can't see how it wouldn't be sufficient for any child.

What the actual fuck? Very few babies are fat

Writerwannabe83 · 27/01/2016 10:04

thecatsmeow - I don't know, I just can't imagine how I could have done it. I assume it's easier to do with a FF baby though? I don't know?