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Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

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Original poster

7 month old up for night feed

30 replies

Marshmallow26 · 28/02/2020 03:07

My 7 month old girl has never really slept through. She has a strong routine of dinner, bath, bottle and bed between 7 & 8 every night and goes down fine she then wakes for a bottle anywhere between 10.30 & 12 which is fine and then goes back down til around 2. She then wakes for another.. I am a completely single mum, with no breaks and a son i have to get up and take to school and I'm now running on empty.

Any advice on cutting that middle of the night feed..if I could get more than 2 hours sleep a time I may feel more human!
I know people will say nap in the day but i just can't settle and my LO is not a big sleeper in the day either :(
I am currently awake with her and have offered her water which she refused and now she's very sleepily whinging. Should I just stick to doing this every night?

Would be greatful for any advice that worked for other mums

OP posts:

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UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 28/02/2020 04:05

So rough! I would stick with the gentle sleep training for a few nights and be consistent. I think 7 months is typically a good age to do it (assuming normal growth, baby is physiologically big enough to go without the feeds until maybe an early morning top up, and you’re before the separation anxiety phase when sleep training could be very distressing). Give yourself a one-week target and accept a few crummy nights... if all goes well your DD should adjust within that period. Good luck though - this phase is so rough, especially as a single parent! x

SocialMediaUser1511 · 28/02/2020 04:08

Gentle sleep training worked for us x

PatricksRum · 28/02/2020 04:52

This is biologically normal.
The only way to change it would be to force wean them.
My dc is nearly 2 and wakes up many times. It's normal.
Change your expectations.

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 28/02/2020 07:10

I absolutley would never force wean her, that sounds horrific and I totally get, this is what they do. But I know parents have tips and tricks to cut out a feed and make sure baby is happy and content sleeping for longer. If I can just cut a feed without it affecting her and helping me get just a few hours extra then why wouldn't I?

Thanks for the advice, I will definitley try sleep training, the difficulty is that she's not in her own room because she's not sleeping through and needs to share with my 8 yo son.. Seems very unfair on him. I'd find it much easier not to pander to every little cry if she slept separate.

OP posts:

Snowflake9 · 28/02/2020 08:55

Can you switch and have your 8yo in your room and put baby in their room? You sleep in your son's room so you are still there with baby.

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 28/02/2020 15:01

Yes could do, have him in my room for a week and pop her cot in his room and see if we can crack the night feed before they go in together.. I would still wake to her but atleast it wouldn't be immediate and there's more chance of her self soothing

OP posts:

Snowflake9 · 28/02/2020 15:41

Give it a try. Good luck.

PatricksRum · 28/02/2020 16:10

Force weaning and sleep training are very similar.
It's ignoring your baby's cues and forcing them not to feed/ to sleep
Does she sleep with you at the moment?

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 28/02/2020 16:15

No she sleeps mainly in her cot, sometimes if she wakes at 5ish she comes in with me for an hour or two but she's happy on her own. She's quite independant, doesn't rely on cuddles to get to sleep or anything.

I've tried giving her more milk in the day etc but she's just refusing, she's had 1 and a half bottles so far today and two meals, hardly napped 😫 I think I've just have a baby that doesn't want to miss out on anything

OP posts:

Snowflake9 · 28/02/2020 17:55

That's great she doesn't rely on cuddles to sleep! My DS definitely does. How many Oz are in her bottles? Does she finish her middle of the night feed ?

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 28/02/2020 19:19

She hates cuddles, tries to get away :( I wish she would give me them sometimes!

I do her 7oz bottles but I'd say she's only drinking 3-4oz in the middle of the night, lastnight was even less. Its definitley more a comfort thing than a hunger and also, she always so spot on with the times she wakes its more like her body clock!
I've moved my eldest into my room and popped the travel cot up for her in his room so let's see how this goes!

OP posts:

PatricksRum · 28/02/2020 19:40

Is it breast milk you're giving her or formula?

DarkLikeVader · 28/02/2020 19:44

If it’s formula could you try making it with more water/less powder? It worked with my DS at a similar age

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 28/02/2020 20:49

She's on formula, I wouldn't want to mess with her feeds unless HV said so, I'm doing BLW so she's not eating a great deal of food although it's 3 meals a day, it's more learning, chewing, throwing etc haha. So as she's not getting spoons of puree to fill her atleast I know she gets what she's needs from bottles until she picks up eating more.
She's settled lovely in my boys room, self soothed as well so fingers crossed if I'm not jumping up every time she stirs she may stay settled!!

OP posts:

Peanut55 · 28/02/2020 20:57

Marshmallow that's great! Have you tried white noise to keep her asleep? It may work.

I would try to soothe her when she wakes, if she continues to be unsettled offer her a bottle.

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 29/02/2020 00:03

No I haven't tried white noise I will look into it!

OP posts:

PatricksRum · 29/02/2020 00:24

I wouldn't leave her to cry. She's just saying she needs you for a cuddle/ food. She's young

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 29/02/2020 05:43

Well she slept through! Woke for a bottle at 12 drank the full 7 oz so we know it's hunger and then slept until 5.30.
I never heard a peep from her... Sure she woke up but not enough to wake me. (The rooms are very close)

I would never leave her crying for any length of time anyway. I just think if I'm not reacting to every whinge she will get herself back off to sleep which obviously she did and she cut that feed.

OP posts:

Peanut55 · 29/02/2020 13:25

Well done. Glad she slept through.

Peanut55 · 29/02/2020 13:30

The fact she had the full 7oz meant she was fuller for longer. My DS always finishes his 4am 7oz bottle. He is 6 months old.

Lottieskeeper · 29/02/2020 13:35

Is she warm enough?
My 11 month old DS is a terrible sleeper but has improved alot since I decided he might like the heating on at night; actually slept through 1 night. Only the one though.
I on the other hand can't sleep because it's too hot and if I do sleep I have crazy dreams so I can't win.

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 29/02/2020 18:13

She's quite a warm baby and sleeps in a long sleeved vest and sleepsuit and a sleeping bag as my house is chilly, my sons room is warmer as its a south facing garden so whether that made a difference I don't know

OP posts:

Peanut55 · 01/03/2020 06:04

How did she do last night? My son slept 9-6. I feel like a new woman. 😂😂

Original poster

Marshmallow26 · 01/03/2020 09:27

Oh well I am envious of that! She pretty much did the same although went to bed an hour later so everything was an hour later.. In bed with me at 6.30 and just woken up 😁 naughty!

OP posts:

BUNNIESandBISCUITS · 01/03/2020 09:28

Nothing to add, but hang in there - you're doing great.

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