Night time water over milk

[Laurappo]

I cant actually find solid/decent advice on this. Any advice is hugely appreciated

Little one is 7 months. Weaning is going really well. He's actually taking something at breakfast a little at lunch and dinner. He loves food. I'm not talking full meals but he's having quite a bit each time.

My question is - when is it OK to offer water for nighttime wake ups over milk? He is FF.

I ask because last night he woke up at 3am, I went to make a bottle (last feed was before bed at 7) and while doing so hubby had given him some water as he seemed hot and was sucking for what we thought was milk. Was apparently about two sips and he went straight back to sleep until 7am.

... should he have done that? I assume he wasn't starving as would have screamed to high heaven (he for sure let's us know when he's hungry) but I'm now wondering if that was even OK to do at this age.

Sorry If that's a fucking dumb question... FTM and just trying to do the right things.

Oh and he was fine and happy when waking - although did demend a bottle pretty quickly

Not until 12 mos. Until then it's bm or formula only as main source of nutrition. Solids are only a compliment as well until then.

Just re-read your post: want to emphasize this, do not wean from bm or formula until 12 mos.

I had a similar thing with mine at around 7/8 months....waking in the middle of the night, but had had 3 meals and plenty of milk in day (bf). I think she started waking out of habit, rather than hunger. I gave water for a a few nights (went back to sleep so can't have been hungry), then dummy one night, then the waking stopped. Not sure on guidelines but she was a very good weight, and still being bf at bed time and I know she didn't need that middle of the night feed.

It maybe way off the guidelines these days, but I used to do this at night. When they realised it was only water they were being offered (and a hand of reassurance) they went back to sleep. Maybe a fluke, but worked on both mine.

No, 7 months is way too young for night time weaning.

I'd look it up as I BF so I'm not sure but I think FF or cows milk damages teeth after a certain age or something, so I think water is best

The baby is only 7 months. He shouldn't be having cow's milk and you can't stop FF at that age either.

Milk - breast or formula - should be a baby's primary source of nutrition until babies are one.

OP isnt talking about nutrition.

A bit of water at night is fine, baby will be having water in the day with meals

Have you tried a dummy? My 6 month old settles quickly with the dummy and no longer seems to night night time milk. Discovered this by accident when she kept falling asleep with the dummy while we made the bottle rather than any deliberate attempt at night weaning. The timing also correlated with an increase in her day time milk consumption by so she is still getting plenty of milk.

Just to reiterate I am not talking about nutrition. His main source of food is still formula. He does have a dummy - some days he loves it others he doesn't really care for it.

He still has the same number of bottles in a day as ever but it was more that he had two sips of water and a cuddle and went back to sleep so I'm thinking he wasn't really hungry and was more of a comfort thing

And yeah he is having a few sips with food - was told this should be done at 6 months

Sounds like he was just waking for comfort. He will let you know if he is hungry and either won’t settle or wake again quickly.

My DC were both sleeping through by 7 months. So if they did wake up I'd have only ever offered them water or their dummy back.

No it isn't.