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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Weaning and Waking

14 replies

WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 10:33

Please help - I am going mad with sleep deprivation! I started weaning DS3 at 21 weeks because he has reflux and the paed said to start. Till that point he was having 6 oz Neocate 5 times a day, happily. Sleeping well, all things ok - apart from a tummy bug right before we started weaning but I made sure it was properly over before I started. I have followed she who must not be named's weaning book which I have used hugely successfully with ds1 and ds2. However - since I introduced baby rice at 11am he has started waking at night - and when I say waking at night, I mean at 3.45am ish and cries and screams for two hours! I have done everything, but the only thing that works is feeding him when he inhales a 6oz bottle. Yesterday I increased all feeds to 7oz, gave him carrot at 11am and then 2 tsp baby rice and 1 cube pear and 7oz at 6.30pm. For the first time EVER he woke up at 10pm screaming like someone was killing him. Didn't know what the problem was but we fed him to see if it helped and it did. Straight to sleep till 3.45am when he screamed for two hours! I won't feed him - not because I don't want to but because he is eating far too much in a day . I don't understand - he has never even eaten his quota of neocate in a day and now suddenly he is wanting almost half again! Is this anything to do with weaning? should I stop? Also, the back of the Neocate says as he is 5 months old he should be eating approx 6oz for 5 feeds, which I was doing happily. On increasing to 7oz the vomit has started, which I reckon is just the excess because he doesn't really need it. PLEASE HELP ME??????????

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IAteMakkaPakka · 23/11/2008 10:38

Only a suggestion because DS was BF and didn't have reflux so different situation BUT

Could it be a growth spurt?

TBH if feeding him works I would feed him, and I'd probably give him slightly smaller, more frequent milk feeds and ease up on the solids for a while. If it's just a growth spurt he'll need extra milk for a couple of days and then it'll pass.

WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 10:50

Well I thought that when it started - but 6 days of growth spurt? Do you think I should not give him solids and see what happens tonight?

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WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 10:51

I always worked on the theory that once they were sleeping through the night not to feed them again as they would get used to it again - and he has been sleeping through for two months!!!!

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IAteMakkaPakka · 23/11/2008 10:57

Well I'm definitely not the best person to help you on that front as DS is 16 months and hasn't slept through yet!

Stop the solids and see what happens then. incidentally, have you cut out milk feeds in order to introduce the solids?

WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 11:13

no, doing all milk as per usual. will not give him food today and see what happens. thanks for help. x

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lulumama · 23/11/2008 11:17

i would be inclined to cut right back on food and give him as much milk as he will take. filling his tummy with food is not as satisfying as milk .. he has less room for milk and therefore might well be wanting and needing it at night

at 5 months old, night waking for feeds is NORMAL !

WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 11:24

not when he hasn't been waking for 2 months?!

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WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 11:25

but also - he is still taking the same amount of milk as he was before he started - infact more, so much more that he is now possetting up the excess!

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IAteMakkaPakka · 23/11/2008 11:27

Widget I could be wrong but when they have a growth spurt they need to feed more frequently, not larger amounts. So say if you're feeding him every 4 hours try feeding him every 2 or 3 hours and just let him take what he wants. It's easier for them to digest the food they need if it comes frequently

lulumama · 23/11/2008 11:28

he is growing and developing hugely at the moment..respond to his needs now, not what you think he should need, or what your other children needed at this age.

i am 33 and sometimes wake up in the night depserate for a drink! if he has been poorly he might be catching up on things and wants more.

making a concious decision not to feed him will mean more screaming and crying.

if he is hungry, feed him as soon as he wakes and then you can get him fed and back to sleep and you can get back to sleep!

lulumama · 23/11/2008 11:29

and ignore what the back of the formula tin say s he should eat... your baby is an individual!

WidgetWB · 23/11/2008 12:38

even when its neocate? It seems that the amount of Neocate they should eat is a lot less than normal formula - I am assuming its for a reason? I am going to try to just give him milk today and see what happens. I will let you know tomorrow!

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lulumama · 23/11/2008 12:44

is neocate thicker and heavier than usual formula?

perhaps you could discuss with the paed about amounts and whether you can give more / less depending on the baby's appetite

at the end of the day, you are talking about a 5 month old baby, he is not yet going to be able to regulate his appetite and hunger so that each day is the same

if you think that over hte next few weeks and motnhs he will learn to sit, crawl , stand and walk.. no wonder he needs more milk and more energy !

Minkus · 26/11/2008 21:10

maybe his tum feels a bit unusual because of his digestive system having to deal with new foods? I'd have tried giving the solids a miss too- how did it go?

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