Struggling to cut down feeds - more night waking instead

[SuperAmoo]

My DD2 is almost 8 months and is well into BLW weaning now. She seems to be eating quite a bit now so slowly slowly I've been trying to reduce feeds. I'm taking the lead in doing this because DD2 is over 12kg already and I am concerned about her weight and overfeeding. So I thought I was doing really well having got her down to 4 feeds during the day when I suddenly realised that she now wakes for three feeds during the night so in effect, she hasn't cut out any feeds!! she's been doing this for three weeks now so it's not a growth spurt. Any suggestions?

Why are you cutting down feeds? Until a year milk is so very important, if she is waking then she is not getting enough calories from BLW. Up until a year solid food is for experiment and experience. 8 months is very young to start dropping feeds IMHO.

I wouldn't cut down milk feeds either - she'll drop them when she doesn't want them anymore. Even though DS ate loads, I don't think he dropped any milk feeds until 10 months

oh, I had no idea. I guess I'm just SO scared that we're going to get referred somewhere or other soon because she's so GIGANTIC. I'm starting to wonder if she has a thyroid problem or something. I'm scared that if she eats solid food and has 8 feeds per day that she'll become so big her health will be damaged.

8 feeds a day does seem a little excessive, is that during waking hours? How about you cut down to 6 instead of 4 and offer juice or water at the other times?

Are you or your husband very tall? You might find she evens out once moving and walking. If you are in any doubt why not ask your GP for advice or a nutritionalist appointment?

Well before she started on BLW 5 weeks ago, I had to feed her every two hours to get her to sleep from 7pm to 4am and then she had another feed at 4am. So that worked out as 8 feeds per day. I really don't want to go back to that. I know that BLW is supposed to be 'baby-lead' but I'm abit worried she isn't very good at self-regulating for whatever reason. She comfort-feeds so much. But I am exhausted and would really like more than three hours of sleep in a row!

Oh I see, 8 in 24 hours. But from what you said in your OP you had gone to 4 feeds so she has upped the night feeds. I think perhaps it has been too rushed. If you are going to cut down perhaps one at a time to get down to 6 feeds as opposed to halving fast?

Yes I see what you mean. I've reinstated a feed today so she's had five. So fingers crossed perhaps she'll only wake up twice for feeds tonight. I can handle that. Being woken up three times just kills me though. Thank you for advice.

You must be shattered. Cani ask are you BF or bottle, if bottle which formula?

breastfeeding. I feed from one side because a) I'm worried she'll get too fat otherwise. b)she falls fast asleep after nursing on the first side and I don't want to wake her up, I just put her straight into her cot. BTW she DID only wake up twice lastnight - it could be a fluke but I'm hoping it's because she had 5 feeds during the day yesterday.

That is progress. I heard a great quote by a MNer once about multiple night feeds. She said if someone presented her with a bacon sandwich every few hours she would wake up too! Perhaps once you are done BF you can better regulate night feeds but slowly cutting down the amount offered as I think eventually if the amount offered is not worth waking up for they simply give up bothering.

Thanks BlueBumedFly. Mmmmm bacon sandwich. I'd be waking up for that!