10 month old night feeding x 2

[Ollysmum82]

Hi, this is my first post and after some advice. I have a very active and happy 10 month old boy. Our usual night is like this, bottle and bed at 7 then he wakes before midnight for a 7oz bottle. He then wakes 2.30-3.30 am for another feed. He is a big boy, eats really well during day and I know it was time to stop these feeds which are due to habit not hunger. However, this has been met with some fierce opposition!After the feed I am using the PD method, which is taking about an hour to resettle him. This is leaving him sleepy in the morning and playing catch up with his morning nap. I thought I would tackle the 2.30am feed first by diluting his milk over the course of a few weeks. Is it right to tackle this feed first? Just after some pointers and advice really. He really gets worked up if i stall the bottle in any way. Has anyone else had a baby that seeks comfort from bottle as strong as this? Many thanks everyone! 

[barbaraz78]

Hi. I would firstly substitute the midnight feed with a dream feed. You can give it to him at 10-11 pm before going to bed yourself and then not giving the midnight feed. Then, if it works, after few days I would try to take out the 2.30 bottle. I think he should go without any feed until morning with a df at this age if he eats properly during the day. If I understand correctly, you still have to resettle him after the feed both at 12 and at 2.30 for one hour. In this case, I think the bottle is not what he really needs but it's just an habit. So, I'm not sure if it really makes sense to dilute the milk, it would keep the problem I guess... But it could be worth a shot.

[Ollysmum82]

Hi thanks for your quick reply! I agree he doesnt need this much milk at night. I have to resettle after only after the 2.30 feed as he is more awake and the milk is diluted. I think it is this he is having problems with as I have ruled out everything else. Can a dreamfeed be done at this age and work? does anyone else do this?  Thanks

[Lolly]

I wouldn't dilute the milk I would cut the oz gradually, that way you are reducing the volume he is taking as well as the calories. You are right he doesn't need milk at night at this age, I wouldn't start a DF either to be honest as that feed is usually dropped by 8 months.

I think I would feed at the first NW for now and start reducing the next one by 1oz every 3 nights until the feed is gone. You will have to resettle any way you do normally and you may well have some rough nights. Once that feed is gone or down to 1oz you can just offer water instead. You can then work on the midnight feed the same way.

The night wakings could be because of how the day is going, so can you post your EASY in terms of

Eat - what times, how much (from wake up)
Activity - how long for
Sleep - what times, how long for (naps as well as night)

Does he have a bottle to go to sleep in the day time?

Laura

[Ollysmum82]

Hi Laura,
I think uou are right I don't really want to dream feed as It never really made a difference to us so don't want to start it up again. I will try your idea of cutting the oz instead of diluting with water and see if that helps! He so knows what I'm doing lol! Our day goes like this:
E - 6.30 (7 oz) including breakfast at 7.30
A - 3.5/4hrs
S - 10ish (1.5 hr)
E - lunch and water (protein based)
A - 4hrs including snack and 4/5 oz sippy cup milk
S - 2.30/3.00 (1hr)
E - 5.00 tea, carby based
S - 6.30/7.00 bed routine incl 7 oz bottle

If a good night he is on the four hour end of activity. He goes for naps with no milk, just a  quick cuddle and settled in his cot. Thanks for looking at this for me!:)

S - 6.30/7.00 bath, bottle bed (7oz)

[Lolly]

Your routine looks fine - pretty much what I was doing with my two at that age! The only thing that *may* make a difference is to push bedtime back a little bit, he may be a bit undertired going to bed, but you know better if that's the case or not.

The other thing that springs to mind is teething - have you tried medicating the first time he wakes? Definitly cut the oz, we did it with DD when she was 8 months. She was having 1 NF and no DF so we just dropped 1oz every 3 nights and then offered water once the bottle got right down. She wasn't impressed with the water but she got the message because we stayed firm and resettled her. Pat/shh worked with my kids but you may need to use PU/PD (although more PD at this age) to teach him to resettle.

Let us know how you get on!

Laura

[Ollysmum82]

Hi, brilliant thank you for all your replies! Ill give it a go! Wish me luck!