Annoyed with the word "should"...

[LeeLeeMelis]

I just got back from the doctor and she said my 4 month old (16.13 lbs) "should" be sleeping through the night. He eats roughly every 3-3.5 hours. During the night he goes with a 10:00 DF, roughly 1:30 and 5:30 feeding.  So here are my questions:

-should he be going through the night?
-should I be letting him cry for a bit? Will that do anything to help?
-what are your suggestions other then making sure he gets enough through the day?

Thanks for your help!
Melissa:-)

[Deb_in_oz]

should is the main word you "should" remove from your vocabulary.  every child is different and usually for every milestone the parameters are wide. sleeping through must be one of the widest parameters i have heard of - i have heard of babies as young as several weeks old sleeping through 8 hrs and also of 1yo+ who still wake for 1 night feed.  sounds like your lo is doing just fine and your doctor might be a little old fashioned.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Yeah, should is a word no one needs to hear in regards to their baby. My lo is 4 months old and still takes one or two feeds a night (plus a DF), whereas DD1 was sleeping thru 8 hours by about 5 or 6 weeks!!! (oh, I wish they had done this the other way around....I could really use that sleep now!!)

What a cute little man you have!

Heidi

[sanrega]

My 9 months old has never STTN!!!! (actually only in 2 occasion)
No one should say what your baby should or shouldn't do, it's all relative.
They are all different, they don't come with manuals that's what make them human beings.
When in doubt ask your heart and listen to your mother's instinct.
Sandy

[LeeLeeMelis]

Thank you ladies. I tired not to take it personally and I know she didnt mean to make me worry but I didnt need anything else making me feel like I was doing something wrong in regards to my son!  I got a "second opinon" from the lactation consultant and she said all is good.

I appreciate your support! Here's to a good night's sleep!
Melissa:-)

[rinajack]

My 15 mo still has a night feed some nights

[nwmm]

I am someone who would rather feed my lo(s) then have them cry it out.  Like others have said, it depends on the child.  SOOOO many unique situations that it is hard to fit all little ones into the same mold.  Do what is right for you. 

I used to feed dd1 once at night just so she didn't wake up at 4:00 AM and want to start her day.  The kid was persistent and did not give up.  As a result, I fed her.  I was not traumatized by it.  She is perfectly happy and healthy toddler who can hold her own so who cares.

dd2 is a unique situation where it was mandatory to feed her through the night for a suuuper long time.   Right now, the Dr. wants her to sleep through without feeding her.  Well, if you want to come over to my house and deal with it for a 3 hour stretch that is fine.  Otherwise, give me 10 minutes and the kid is back asleep.  She often sleeps through the night anyway so let me deal with it a few times a week.   It will happen.   She is on her way and is proving it.  Jesh!!!!

[yaya]

Urgh docs!
hugs