Diluting formula at night

[em_here]

My DS is nearly 5 months old and wakes once at night to be fed, I think she does not really need it as she only takes a half feed and then in the morning she is not interested in her breakfast or bottle.

My question is, should I dilute it at night, will it make her more hungry in the morning, I think she gets thirsty more than anything but won't take much juice or water in the day! FYI she is fully weaned on solids (3 meals a day), its a health thing, reflux and poor feeding patterns and was recommended by my dped

[* Paula *]

If your lo is not very interested in her morning bottle or breakfast, the middle of the night feed is probably interferring with them.

Have you tried to re-settle her without a feed?  Have you tried just offering water when she wakes incase it is just out of thirst?  Have you tried to offer her a smaller feed?

Does she wake up at different times or is it generally around the same time every night?  If it is around the same time, then I would be inclined to think she is waking more out of habit than hunger.

I would definitely try to dilute it if she does not settle without a feed or plain water and see how she goes.

Paula

[em_here]

Thanks Paula

She wakes between 12 and 1 without fail, is that habit? (I dont do DF it never worked for us)
I tried to resettle without feeding, just offering water (which she dislikes) she will take juice (5oz) but then wakes early about 5:30 hungry and that ruins her routine.  Tried dummy to resettle (did not work)

I thought maybe diluting would "fool" her that it is "proper" feed and keep her asleep until 7am.

How would you dilute, maybe 4 oz water to 3 scoops powder then gradually reduce the scoops?  Its not that I mind getting up, its that the morning feed is ruined!

[* Paula *]

The DF did not really work for us either.

Yes, dilute it as you said, and once she is taking to that, you can slowly start decreasing the oz that she takes in a feed.

Have you tried cluster feeding in the evening to see if that helps?

[em_here]

 She is one of those babies who will only eat every 4 hours on the dot, so if I want to go out and its been 3 3/4 hours, she will refuse it, its a bit of a mare really, esp if I have appointments to attend.  So cluster feeding would do nothing, she would just refuse.  I have been giving her fruit puree for tea, but I have tried baby rice today as (I am guessing) that is more substantial!?

Thanks for your help, I will def try reducing the ozs and diluting

[* Paula *]

lol your DD sounds exactly like my DS, he did not take to the DF and would not eat before it was time.

Just keep an eye out with regards to the baby rice.  It can be very constipating, so would keep an eye on her BM if you introduce it.

Good luck and keep us posted on how you get on.

[Lolly]

You DD sounds very like my DS! He is waking between 12.30 and 1.30am, taking about 6oz but then not really interested in breakfast. He wakes for the day at about 5.30 - a long day for mummy! He also won't generally eat sooner than 4 hours and with a DF he was waking for the day around 4am We removed the dummy as it had become a prop and he is good at self soothing. I am planning to cut the bottle back to 4oz bit by bit then start watering the 4oz. Then I'll try W2S I think. Something has got to work! He is not as well established on solids yet but does take good bottles in the day.

Good luck to both of us I think!

Laura

[* Paula *]

Good luck Laura,

Keep us posted on how you get on.

Paula

[Lolly]

Thanks Paula!

Do you think this sounds like a reasonable plan? I'm just desperate for sleep, I start back to work in a week and even though I'm only working afternoons, with an early start and broken night that's the worst time for me! He's also being evicted into his own room at the weekend so I'm hoping every little sound won't wake me up anymore. His room also has a blackout blind!

Laura

[em_here]

Hi Laura

Nice to know we are both in the same boat!  We will have to update each other. 5am what a long day, I am lucky as DD wakes between 7:30 and 8.

Thanks again Paula, baby rice kept Abbi asleep until 3:30 am  (last feed at 7).  Then I gave her diluted formula (4 oz water to 3 scoops powder).  She was a little bit more interested in her bottle and brekkie so that was good.  I shall continue diluting!  I always worry as I had to wean her onto 3 meals a day over a 3 week period and I worry she is not getting enough milk into her, and is bulking up on solids and that I am going to make her fat   She has 22/24 oz of milk plus 3 meals a day and my HV/Doc says that is fine and equates to about a pint but I still twitter on.  I was thinking if I dilute the night feed and eventually eliminate it, she may have more milk in the morning and drink more consistently without fussing around! 

[* Paula *]

Laura, As long as you are persistent, things will work out.  We found moving DS to his own room worked wonders, he slept better and we slept sooo much better too.

Emma Louise, that is fantastic news. Keep it up, and she will soon be weaned from the middle of the night feed.  With regards to 22/24 oz of milk a day plus 3 meals, I would say that is perfectly fine.  Once your lo is fully weaned onto solid foods, they say that the minimum intake should be around 20 oz, but can include milk in cooking as well as other dairy products, so would say that your lo is doing perfectly fine.  You want to make sure she fills up on her milk first before her solids, as this is where her main source of nutrician comes from.

Keep us posted ladies.