Should I drop DSs night bottle at 15 weeks?

[georgyporgysmum]

Hi

Last night DH was on 'duty' and did not feed LO his early am bottle because he didn't wake up until 7.30am (unknown to me blissfully sleeping). Initially I was a bit irritated as I felt the new routine was jeopardised and frantically tried to monitor his day bottles to make up the volume of intake  . DH was confused and wondered why I made a fuss about the missed feed saying 'aren't we aiming for him to sleep through?'Then we thought maybe he doesn't need the early am bottle?

I am wondering if I should be dropping LO's night feed (occurs between 4-6am). This is because he has slept through without it a couple of times. Does the fact that he can do without it mean that he should not have it anymore?  He is 15 weeks.

(He does not have a dream feed because it works to not have it)

We have recently moved to 5 bottles a day (about 2 weeks ago), and also moved to SMA Hungrier babies. LO has been established on a nice new routine ( although exact times vary a bit )for about a week now as below:

E: 4am-6am 100ml approx
S

wake 7/8am

E: 8/9am (up to 210ml)
A
S: 10am - 12pm (ish)

E: 12pm/1pm (up to 210ml)
A
S: 2pm - 4pm (ish)

E: 4pm/5pm (up to 210ml)
A
S: 6-7pm (ish)

Bedtime routine 8pm
E: 8.30pm (100ml)
S: 9pm - 4am (ish)

I quite like the new routine and feel its a bit soon to change him again adn he seems happy and settled (plus nights are quite good now  ), but I have heard as soon as one works, another one is needed. Also, only 4 bottles in 24 hours seems too little for LO.

I'm not sure if he gets a feed in those early hours, is it just sending him back to sleep and he doesn't need it and its habitual waking in that 2 hour slot (4am-6am) or does he need it? He usually takes about 100ml at this feed compared to at least 180ml in his day feed.

TIA
Caroline 

[Lana]

If he doesn't wake don't wake him .  He may still wake some nights and not others but he is doing great

[georgyporgysmum]

Hi Lana

Do you think I should still give him the feed on the nights he does wake or try to stretch him out on those nights?

Thanks for your encouragement I'm happy with his progress at the moment   

Caroline

[Lana]

Really both my boys only woke if they were hungry so I fed them.  If he is giving you hungry signals then feed him

[* Paula *]

Caroline sounds like you are doing great.

I agree with Lana, if he wakes, feed him, if he doesnt, then fantastic.

If you are worried that 4 bottles is not enough, have you considered giving a dreamfeed at 10:00?  Where you just give your lo a bottle while he is asleep.  This may also help him sleep longer, and stop him waking at 4am.  You can then wean off the DF when solids are establised at around 7 months.

HTH

Paula x

[*Natasha*]

I just wanted to say that my DD at this age was only having 4 bottles of 250mls as she slept through the night at 6weeks. She was putting on on average 200gms a week.

[* Paula *]

I agree with Natasha - when my DS was around 4 months he too was only on 4 bottles a day and slept through the night, and was putting on weight at a rapid rate.

Paula x