Refusing bedtime bottle from Daddy

[*Kara*]

Doesn't it feel like it will never end when you are living it though ?

^^ oh yes!

I would just keep on moving towards your goal... babies are good with change if it's done gradually and consistently

[*Kara*]

How is it going ?

[Clairehv]

Hi Kara,
Sorry I haven't responded I hadn't seen that you had posted.
Well it's been slow progress. He is managing to get more of the bottle into her but she still doesn't settle as well and tends to cry. If he goes back in to settle and reassure she gets herself very worked up. With me she usually does full bottle, has a cuddle, goes into cot awake wake and is usually fine or just has an additional cuddle maybe 5 mins later.

It is improving though. I am out on the 29th of this month so they will both have to just manage

My bigger issue at the moment is her still waking in the night for a bottle! Ha looking to crack this issue soon as I want a nights sleep please

How are you ?

[*Kara*]

Slow and steady - she will get there!

A night feed is still "normal" at her age... how much is she taking during the day?  Does she take a good feed overnight and go right back to sleep?  Is the time random?  Have you started solids yet?

[Clairehv]

Hi Kara,
She's 7.5 months now. She is on solids, three meals a day with 3 bottles a day.
We have never done a DF so didnt want to start introducing that. and yes her night waking has been random but usually some point between 1am and 4am. If I try to not offer a bottle she just continues moaning, 50 mins is all I have managed without resorting to bottle. She takes between 5-7 oz on the night feed. I definitely feel it is affecting her day intake and a few mornings she has completely refused morning bottle and breakfast.
I have started to reduce the amount I offer in the night so have been doing a max of 5 oz's although last night she only took 2oz. She had eaten really well yesterday though.

With the reduced amount she often drains the bottle but still just settles straight back to sleep.

Thanks Claire

[*Kara*]

Are the 3 daytime bottles all 8ozs? 

Given that the wake up is random, I do suspect it is hunger driven.. I would just try limiting it to 4 ozs for a few nights, then reduce down to 3ozs for a few more... see if that helps her shift the milk to day time.

The other thing you could do is move her back to 4 bottles... she is a bit young to be down to 3 without a night feed.  Not just for the volume but also for the fluid intake...  she may actually be waking for fluids and not so much the milk, if you know what I mean...  three meals a day is a fair bit for her age as well. 

I would be tempted to move her back to 4 bottles a day... you could offer 6 ozs in each of the first 3 then up to 8 ozs for the last one... if you don't think she will take them, I would cut her last solids meal of the day.

[Clairehv]

Hi Kara, we were without Internet for a while there so apologies I haven't responded.
We'll have to change the name of the thread although still haven't conquered daddy bedtime yet!
We have been having some good days with good eating and naps. On Monday she actually went from 7-7 so I am just accepting the one wake up when it happens but limiting the amount of formula offered. I am hoping that she'll just naturally stop.
I have realised that despite books etc I can't control everything and whilst she pretty much fits with the bw plan, if she needs that nighttime drink so be it.
She has been so much happier since 6 months anyway that just trying to enjoy things rather than stressing all the time.

She is 8 months on Monday I can't believe it. Have to make the most of the next 4 months before work reality strikes.
How old are your little ones ?

X

[*Kara*]

SO many really settle a bit once they hit the 6 month mark - mine did!

I just have one so far - she's will be 31 months on the 10th

[Clairehv]

Oh I bet your little one is lots of fun and you are past the daytime nap stress lucky you!

Our issues just keep mounting. We have now had 3 back to back 5.30am starts
As well as not going to bed for daddy and the NW. Oh well we are trying to laugh through it!

[*Kara*]

We have now had 3 back to back 5.30am starts

I am proud to say that I survived 3 months of 5am starts

[Clairehv]

Arrrrggh! Don't wish that on me. Ha ha. Did it just get later in time? Did that through your whole day out?.
We got to 6.15am this morning which is great.

And can I just say a big yippee Daddy has done two successful bedtimes in a row. Yes she has cried more but he has got the bottle into her and she has settled for him without too much fuss. Phew just in time for my evening out tomorrow.

Thanks for your support Kara x

[*Kara*]

Did it just get later in time? Did that through your whole day out?.

Nope.  Not until she dropped to one nap at 11.5 months   I shifted her day so that she woke at 6am... she was one of those kids that just did better with two good naps and a shorter night.  She moved to two naps at 5 months and she took a nap from 8-10 and another 1-3pm.  Night was 7-5am.  Sucked but she was always a happy baby.. . Her naps shortened around 8 months to 90 mins each and she slept 8-6am overnight.. once we moved to one nap, she napped 11-2pm and slept 7-630/7am   I really couldn't complain given that she slept through 10hrs a night without waking from 18 weeks of age

[Clairehv]

Hi, that sounds good! I could cope with 8pm-6am every night. Was up from 2am-4am last night with her. Maybe teeth and that was after 2 STTN
Who knows what makes these babies do what they do

I am slowly pushing her on in A time so hopefully we'll get to three hours awake soon

Take care
Claire x

[*Kara*]

Could be teeth or it could be UT at bedtime

[Clairehv]

Hi Kara,
We are just back from our two week holiday in Spain. The good news is Daddy did alternate BT nights and she went down fine for either of us,
The main issue was keeping her asleep. Woke twice a night for a fortnight ( with the exception of two nights where she slept 12 hours).
She was generally waking at 11pm and 3/4am and would only settle with a bottle.
So I have a great suntan which is thankfully hiding the bags under my eyes

How does her being UT at bedtime affect the nights? Trying to work out if it is that, genuine thirst from being in a warm place, hunger or teeth?
Back home yesterday and she was definitely tired enough at BT. Had 7/8 oz at BT but woke at 1.30am and did 6oz, then woke at 5am but I ignored and I think she resettled. Then woke properly at 6.15am

Hope you are well?