When is it ok to stop feeding baby during the night?

[cupofteaplease]

My ds is nearly 5 months and still feeds every 3 hours night and day.

He has small amounts (it seems to me, compared to other babies his age) of 3-5oz at each feed. I can't encourage him to eat more during the day; if he doesn't want it, he just won't have it!

Friends have suggested switching the night feeds to water, which might encourage him to eat more in the day and then sleep at night.

Isn't this too young to drop night feeds? I know if he chooses to sleep through, that's a different matter, but if he is still drinking at night perhaps he needs it...? He is on the 25th centile if this has any bearing on anything.

As he's my 4th dc you'd think I'd know better...

Thanks guys.

Yes I've started doing that now- no he doesn't sleep, but he's the happiest little boy I know, so I forgive him

I'm so pleased to hear it's all normal. I'll try and stop the envy of other sleeping babies. I know in the grand scheme of things, I am very lucky.

I think it's fairly normal. Ours were 2-3 hourly until a year. I've read a lot of advice that prefers you wait until a year until night weaning but there's a variety of opinions out there.

Feeding at night isn't just good but comfort too. They have tiny stomachs and don't really understand why you're not next to them when they wake up.

Good luck xx

Have you tried feeding more often during the day?

At 5 months I roughly fed mine every 2 -2 1/2 hrs between 8am-9pm. Settled to sleep at 9pm in living room still, then around 11pm gave dreamfeed and transferred into cot in our room.

They slept 11pm-8am 90% of the time, the odd night would get a feed 5am ish

Would increasing number of feeds reduce number during the night?

I'd say wait until he stops waking up at night himself.

I don't think he would take food any note regularly during the day, some feeds he only has a couple of oz then pushed the bottle away. He only feeds when and what he wants.

I'm really sorry cup, that must have been such a difficult time for you.

If it helps in your situation now, as you know just because babies your ds's age are sleeping well now, doesn't mean they always will! I was incredibly lucky and ds dropped night feeds himself around 5 months. However at 9 months we had the double trouble of illness and separation anxiety and his sleep went completely tits up. Then the clocks changed and now at almost a year, he is a confirmed early waker. 4.30 this morning ffs! I can promise you I was never smug when he was sleeping through but my goodness I wish I'd realised just because you've cracked it once, doesn't mean that's it sorted for good. By contrast some of the shocking early sleepers amongst ds's friends are now doing really well. I'm discovering it's a very fluid thing....