Weaning off night feeds

[hazel88]

Hi all,

Does anyone have any advice please? My DD is nearly 6.5mo. During the day she has:

7am: Porridge, banana, bottle

9.30am: Bottle

12.30: Cooked lunch and pudding

2.30: Bottle

5.00: Cooked dinner and pudding

6.00: Banana

6.45 Bottle (usually 9oz) in bed for 7

I'm sure this kid isn't hungry, DD still wakes throughout the night just wanting a cuddle (we are using CC and just say 'bedtime', give her a kiss then leave). But I often end up feeding her after 4 or 5 hours after her last feed as I'm worried she's hungry. She takes about 6 or 7oz each feed. Once she's finished she'll quickly try to snuggle in to me and fall asleep.

She can wake just a couple of hours after going to bed which is purely for comfort, but as I said, when it gets to about 4 or 5 hours after the last feed I feed her again as I'm worried she's hungry but she could well just be waking again for comfort couldn't she?! Is it mean to try night weaning now? When we do drop the night feeds, I'm thinking of a gradual approach: using one less scoop of milk each night until we're offering just water. Any ideas if this would be a good idea or go cold turkey?

Gaaaaa confused!

Any advice much appreciated

I'd still continue to give her milk due to growth spurts etc

Milk is still the most important source of nutrition for development over food x

If she's taking as much as 6 or 7 ounces then I would say she is hungry. You could definitely try very slowly watering the formula down though. I would do it more slowly than one less scoop each night. I think that may be a little fast. Does she eat a lot at her mealtimes? If not, she is going a long time between the 9.30 and 2.30 bottles.

Could try upping an ounce in each bottle throughout the day?? X

Thanks the advice :)

Yes she eats a lot during each meal, and for each bottle during the day she takes about 4 or 5 Oz. The bedtime bottle is usually about 9oz though.

Last night she woke at 11.30 and took 6oz, then didn't wake again until 6am. She stirred a bit during the night but got herself back to sleep so wasn't hungry.

I think I'd just continue to give it her because she seems hungry xx

She's still quite young and early in weaning process. I night weaned around 8 or 9 months and did it by switching to bottles overnight (previously bf), and only having say 3oz first night, then reduced by an oz each night then just offered water after 3 nights. I didn't water down the feeds, just gave less milk followed by water. This was more for me than for her as it convinced me that she waant actually hungry as she wasn't bothered by the reduction. It didn't stop night waking though, just ruled out hunger as the cause! If you're doing CC it may work though, we didn't try that too much later.

I would night wean or do cc. What's the big deal? (No offence meant), she's 6 months and a feed in the night and wanting comfort is normal!
My DD is 8 months so I do sympathise with the uncertainty but honestly she will grow out of it eventually

Big deal is she's 6 months and still has big development leaps growth spurts?!?

I'd wean of night feeds after 8-9 months far to early to be doing CC or weaning off bottles.

Also too early to be making it an habit x

Sorry my post should have said I would not night wean or do cc!

I hate cc it's cruel

lol sorry ??

me neither thought of a baby crying breaks my heart x