7.5 months still feeding to sleep does he need it?

[babyrose]

My lo is 7.5 months and takes roughly about 18-20oz a day with plently solids and he still doesnt STTN does he still need a feed during the night or is it just him needing me to get back to sleep?

[~ Vik ~]

Dylan didn't sleep through the night until he was just over 1 year old - he was doing a dream feed plus a feed in the early-morning hours until we dropped the DF around 9mo, then he kept that early morning feed for a while longer.  I didn't actively drop any night feeds except that dream feed, IMHO STTN is a milestone (no different than rolling, sitting unassisted, or walking) that each baby will reach in their own time.  There are things that we can do to help, like teaching self soothing and independent sleep skills and keeping them on a consistent routine, but ultimately babies will STTN when they are developmentally ready to.  Just MHO

Having said that, you are the best judge of whether your lo needs the night feed.  Does he take a full feed?  I would hazard to guess that he does still need that night feed, as 20oz/day really isn't a lot of milk at 7.5mo (kellymom.com says an average intake at 7mo can be up to 30oz, http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html).  You said that he eats plenty of solids, is it possible that he's filling up on them rather than having his milk?  Milk really should be their primary source of nutrition until 1year, as it has all of the fat/protein/carbs/nutrients that they need.  Solids are more for fun and learning.  (BTW, how do you know how many oz?  Are you pumping and bottle feeding?)

Here is another link from kellymom with gentle methods for encouraging fewer nighttime nursing sessions:  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning-night.html

hth

[babyrose]

hi, he STTN for a week and then one random night in nov. im trying to figure out how, i think it maybe he isnt getting enough milk but he wakes up crying at 10pm (bed between 6&7) i feed himthen he wakes anytime between 2&4 on his hands and knees and i feed him back to sleep which we are working on at the moment.

i expressed yesterday and gave him the bottles and with his breakfast he had weetabix and yogurt after his lunch which i think counts into milk feeds. roughly it was between 18-20oz going to do the same today and reduce solids see what happens.

what do you think?

[~ Vik ~]

Keep in mind that lots of things could cause random STTNs - getting over illness or teething, immunizations (the only times that Dylan STTN under 1yo was after needles!), growing, a particularly active or exhausting day, more fresh air than normal, etc.  You may drive yourself crazy trying to figure out how!

A feed at 10, and then another between 2 and 4 was pretty much what we were doing at this age.  Our DF was between 10-1030, then Dylan would wake around 3 or 4 for a feed.  So, TBH, I don't really see an issue with those nights...   That's just me though, because we decided to let Dylan drop his night feeds on his own when he was ready rather than actively weaning them.  I know many moms do actively wean night feeds, but that just wasn't the right decision for us. 

Whatever breastmilk or formula you add to solids that does count towards total milk intake for the day.  Yogurt I'm not sure about; Dylan has a milk allergy so never dealt with that.  I would hesitate to include it though as it won't have the complete nutritional compliment that breastmilk or formula do.

How did today go?

[babyrose]

last night he was up at 10:30,2 and then 5:45 and then up for the day at half 7. it is an improvement to how things were b4 but i thought maybe he wasnt getting enough milk during the day thats why he is waking up during the night.

[~ Vik ~]

Could very well be that he's getting not enough milk during the day - causing him to wake more at night because he needs the calories.  Have you thought about spacing night feeds the same way you would day feeds?  So if he is on a 4h routine during the day, then ensuring he goes at least 4h between feeds at night?  If bedtime feed was at 7pm and he wakes at 10 then you would try to settle another way, but if he wakes at 11 then you would feed.  And carry on the night like that - so if you fed at 1130, next feed wouldn't be before 330, kwim?

Could he be teething?  Too hot or cold in his room?  Just trying to think of other reasons he may be waking too.

[babyrose]

we had a really terrible night, he has 4 milk feeds a day and i only feed on one side but think maybe start both sides. its beginning to get a real struggle feeding him, its like he isnt even interested and too nosey. he is teething at the moment, we give him meds b4 bed. the temp in the room is ok we have one of these eggs that tells exact temp and he is learning to crawl.  there is alot going on aswell.

[~ Vik ~]

You could definitely try double sided feeding to get more into him during the day!  If he's really distracted, have you thought about feeding immediately upon wakeup, still in the dark bedroom, when he's still a bit dozy?  We had to do that to get a reasonable feed in started at about 4 or 5mo   You mentioned meds before bed, do you give them at nw too?  Have you thought about doing a med dreamfeed?  Developmental milestones (like learning to crawl) can affect sleep too.  Does he get lots of opportunity to practice during the day?

[babyrose]

ive tried feeding as soon as he is awake but he just wriggles or babbles between feeding im struggling to feed him now he is bigger. he was up twice last night which is an improvment. i try to give lots of opportunity on the floor to encourage him to crawl.