Does my 6 month old need the midnight feed?

[Suzanne219]

A bit of background...My son is 6 months old and about 20lbs (long baby.) We began weaning at 5 months and this generally helped him sleep better.

He sleeps from 8-12 or 1, then 1 until about 7.30 (with some waking in between but he now self-soothes at about 4am and 6 am.) (By the way, this was a real struggle to get to this stage and we had to do a version of controlled crying.)

Does he need the midnight feed , or is it just habit? I mentioned his weaning patterns and weight because he feeds so well during the day that I'm sure his calories must be sufficient (3 meals plus 5 breast feeds plus the midnight breastfeed.)

Any advice is welcome! Thanks.

Just to clarify, I think this is a sleep issue rather than a food one i.e. habit and comfort rather than hunger.

Well define 'need'. Hunger is definitely a need. Thirst is also a need, especially as it gets warmer. I also believe that wanting a cuddle is a need.

In my honest opinion I think the sleep pattern you have atm is verging on bloody brilliant and would allow ds to continue. My dd was still feeding every 2hrs at 6 months and sleep was all over the shop.

I wouldn't rock the boat.

X-posts, but still wouldn't rock the boat!

I would carry on. Slightly different but my little boy starting waking around 1am at 6 months for a decent feed after stopping night feeds at 4 months. He was having 3 meals a day and 4/5 milk feeds but seemed to genuinely need that night time feed. It stopped around 7 months so I think it was just a growth spurt, needing more energy as they get so much more physical... Your son is sleeping well and if you've had sleep issues in the past I wouldn't want to mess that up!!!

I can only dream of sleep like that! My DS2 is 6 months next week and we have at least 3 feeds between 7 pm and 7 am.

You could try doing a dream feed. Just lift him out of the cot when he's asleep and put him to the breast. He'll probably feed in his sleep without waking - my Ds does, he doesn't open his eyes once. You could do this before you go to bed at about 10.30 pm maybe, then you may be lucky and get an undisturbed night.

He's doing very well for his age though, I wouldn't try anything else except that.

Showofhands- thanks. It's hard having a first baby- I don't really know what to expect and I seem to be surrounded by people/books that tell me he 'should' sleep through.

JoandMax- yes, it could very well be a growth spurt. He is nearly crawling (!!) and using a lot of energy!

JoJay- I might give the dream feed another go-good idea. He didn't really take to it initially. Hope DS2 gives you more sleep soon!

Thanks everyone! I didn't realise he was doing so well.

Suzanne219 - take what others tell you at postnatal groups etc with a LARGE pinch of salt. Many people gloss over the bad bits or make out they're coping brilliantly, and I think you get a lot more honesty on an anonymous forum like this!!

Have a trek through the sleep topic and read about some other people's problems and you will feel an awful lot better about your own, I promise

take what others tell you at postnatal groups etc with a LARGE pinch of salt.

Yes, I'm trying really hard to do this!!!

I do feel grateful when I read other people's problems although I can't imagine what they are going through. Our first four months were hellish but it's settled down now, thankfully.

ds had a middle of the night feed till he was 8 months old despite eating good meals and having 4 milk feeds per day (5 feeds including the night time one - all formula btw)