7 month old waking early morning for feed

[ljdavis80]

Just after a bit of advice...LO was doing 7pm -6/6.30am until a tummy bug/teething hit her about a month ago. Ever since she has been waking about 4am and taking 8oz milk before going back to sleep (usually until about 7/7.30am, when she has her breakfast)
Now obviously I know I am far from being sleep deprived but am worried that I'm getting her into bad habits for the future. I have tried offering her water, leaving her to self settle etc but the fact she's taking 8oz must mean she's hungry and so I'm inclined to feed her.
Food wise she's on 3 meals and 3x 8oz bottles per day.
Any suggestions/thoughts gratefully received!!!
Oh and when I mentioned this to my health visitor she was very much of the opinion that she should be sleeping through by now i.e. 7am-7pm !!!

Hi,

It sounds like it has become habit now rather than a need for milk.

I am sure you are already doing this but giving her a feed before she goes down may help or increasing the amount she eats at mealtimes may help.

I read a fantastic book called the baby whisperer which really helped with issues like this.

I hope this helps a little.

I read somewhere that about 50% of babies still wake for a feed/feeds in the night at 1 year, so your HV being so dogmatic about sleeping through is unhelpful, I think - since the 'norm' is either.

My DS (6 months) wakes three times on a really really GOOD night!

Perhaps you could try very slowly reducing the feed? Ie three nights at 7oz, three nights at 6oz etc?

You could try diluting the feeds with water to wean her off them. Eventually she'll get bored of waking for water and hopefully sleep through!

Thanks for your ideas, I have got a copy of the baby whisperer which a friend gave me so I'll have a look through that. I'll def give reducing the quantity of milk/ watering it down a go and see how we get on...:)

I am having exactly the same problem at the moment....I can set my watch by him to wake at 4.15. I give him water, change his nappy and put some teething gel on a dummy for him to play with for a little while, as he is teething and likes chewing on a dummy but won't take one properly. He goes back to sleep then until we have to wake him at 6.15 ish. Might try leaving him for as long as possible tomorrow morning and see what happens (he doesn't really cry - just whingey/moany!)
Just ordered the baby whisperer. Let me know if anything works for you. Good luck. :)