Sleeping through the night

[Hebe]

My ds seemed to be starting to sleep through the night fairly frequently until a week or so ago (from around 11pm to 6 or 7am) but recently has started waking up two, sometimes three times a night again. Most of the time he wants to be fed. He is 16 weeks old and I wonder if he is ready to start solids? He is breastfed but I give him a bottle of formula before bed sometimes in the hope that he will sleep better but this doesn't seem to make any difference. Any ideas? I am REALLY tired as I have a dd too who seems to want to join me on those nights when ds does sleep through!

More likely he is needing to increase your supply of breastmilk. Are you expressing when you give the formula? If not your body is not getting the right amount of signals for milk production. Babies should really not start solids until nearer 6 months if you can manage.
I would ditch the formula personally - totally B/F babies sleep all night too

Hi Hebe
I breast fed through the day and gave formula at night, but when ds started waking up again for more food, I did introduce solids also around the 16 wk mark and it did the trick, but as mears says, babies really shouldn't start solids till nearer 6 months so do think carefully before you introduce them. It hasn't seemed to of caused any problems - but then again how would I know?! Neither Ds or Dd have never suffered with anything to cause me concern......??
I chose to do this course of action as I was pregnant again and desperate for sleep with all the chucking up and tiredness pregnancy brings on. Selfish reasons really!! Helpful ain't I!

HI Hebe, I did the same as Essie when my ds2 started waking more at night around 18wks -- started solids (baby rice and breast milk, then added some pureed pear and later some pureed carrot). Mears, its a bit late to ask now, but what are the main concerns about starting solids too early? Is it increased allergies?

Thanks for the information. I have tried repeatedly to express milk but just cannot manage it. I also seem to remember being encouraged to start solids with my dd from around the 4 month mark so am interested to know why it is best to hold off until nearer six months if possible.

I have not given ds formula for two days now (on your advice, Mears) and he only woke for one feed last night which is much better than recently.