Simple Question: is it normal for a 5-month old to Eat Twice a Night?PLEASE HELP

[raquelatx]

Hi ladies... i just wanted to know if it's still "acceptable" or normal, for a 5 month old to wake twice a night to eat? My LO is in bed about 8:30pm every night and will wake up around 1-2am for a quick feed and again around 4am for another feed.. and then she's up for good around 8-8:30am.  I still have her on a 3 hour schedule so I don't know if this is throwing everything off... why should it matter if she's on a 3 or 4 hour schedule? The reason she's on a 3 hour feeding schedule is because she's only taking in 5oz at each feeding. That's not enough, in my opinion, to keep her full for 4 hours. For the 2 NW's, I have tried PU/PD and sshhh/pat, but it does not work for her. :/   If waking up twice is normal, how much should I feed her? Just a little to eventually wean her off or a large amount to try to fill her tummy til morning? Please help!!!

[amayzie]

All kids are different but it is normal for kids to wake at around the times you describe until around 9 months or so. Have you tried a dream feed? This is where you feed them before you go to bed at around 10 or 11pm. So for me i fed him at 11pm. The idea is that this brings the first night feed forward and she;ll only need the 4.30 am feed.

THis is the info on the dream feed-
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=65750.0

did you see this thread?
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63161.0

and this:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=120362.0

With the time between feeds- it's a bit of a cycle- she probably won't want more than that at a feed as you are feeding her more regularly. If you keep them on a 3 hour scheule when they need to be on a 4 they then just sort of 'snack'.. throwing everything off! I'm not too sure what exactly you can do to help with the snacking... Someone with more experience bottle feeding may know (i BF)... But- i feel that if you can get more time between feeds then she'll take more, and possibly then not need as much at night...

Look- the other thing i'm wondering about is if her bed time is a little late? Not sure, is there a reason? Others may have other thoughts on that. If you are thinking you'd like to adjust BT there's this link with ideas:

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=161836.0

[raquelatx]

thanks, Katy! i myself was wondering about her seeminly late BT. i guess it's that late because her last nap is around 6:30ish, getting up around 7:30pm and then she's not tired til 9:00pm or so... should i keep her awake and not let her take that last nap, in order to get her BT earlier? BTW, i will try the dream feed...

[amayzie]

Oh- you need to lose that cat nap!! Here's another couple of links!

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=220768.0

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64837.0

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.0

Hope these Help!! I think getting your EASY sorted with your A times right for your LO will help to get the naps right, and the feeding good.

Hope that's not too much all at once!!

[raquelatx]

well, she just turned 5 months on the 1st so i'm not too sure about going to 2 naps just yet? i'm thinking maybe just shortening her late nap?

[amayzie]

Yeah- that's a good way to start... there are a few ways to go about it!

[katie80]

Hi there, Katy has given you great advice. My DS is only a week older than your DD and he still has 2 NFs (one being the DF). I do the DF somewhere between 10:30 and 11 pm and then he usually wakes around 4ish am.

I would definitely try moving her to a 3.5 then 4 hr EASY. I also BF, but I think she should naturally take more at each feed this way and thus maybe cut the need for one of the NFs. I actually don't think your BT is a problem (if it works for you); since she doesn't wake til 8/8:30, she's still doing an 11.5-12 hr night which is right on. That being said, you may find you need to pull BT forward a little as you transition to a 4 hr EASY, but ultimately a 12-13 hr day is the goal.

Good luck!