4 a.m. feeding - Hunger or Habit?

[Critter]

My baby boy is 6 months old, on a 3 1/2-4 hr EASY, formula fed, and well established on solids...
Here's his day typically looks like

4 am   - 7 oz formula and back to sleep
6:30 - awake for the day
7:30 - I give him another bottle to start his day **
8:30ish - fruit
9ish - nap for 45min to 1 1/2 hrs
11:00ish - 7 oz formula
12:00 - veggies and fruit
1:00 - nap for 45 min - 2 hrs
2:30ish - 7 oz formula
4:00 - veggies and fruit
possibly a catnap here
5:00 - bathtime
6:00ish - 7 oz formula
6:30 - bed
10:30 - DF



He has set his own bedtime.  I would prefer that he stay up until 7, but he just can't do it.  It's fine because it gives us some time with our 4 year old, but it sure would be nice to be able to go out to dinner.  That will all come in time.

BUT, what's killing me is the 4:00 feeding.  It's been in place for a while and you could almost set your clock by it.  I feel like he's truly hungry because he drains his bottle and then goes right back down.

Last week was a real treat (NOT!) because he had a nasty stomach virus and his reflux got so bad that the two combined sent us to the ER.  He's better now, but I think he's trying to play catch-up from a week of not eating, or possibly he's in his 6 month growth spurt because he doesn't make it 4 hrs between feedings.  Sometimes he barely makes it 3 hrs.

**Somedays I give him his fruit at the 7:30 feeding and then his bottle at 8 or 8:30 before his nap.  I don't think it really makes a difference.  The only thing that really could come of it is that he'll end up with another 4 pm bottle, and then a 6:30 top-off before bed. 

It's a multitude of issues, but my main question is, do you think the 4 am wake-up is hunger or habit??

[CaedensMama]

What would he do if you only gave him 5 ounces.... then the next week only 3 and then a couple days later just a  tiny bit and then tried replacing his paci instead of feeding?

I would "think" its more habit - but that he is "relying" on the food at the moment :-)

If he is back on track now from last week, I would start weaning that feed away and see if he just sleeps thru or when you get it small enough for a few days and his tummy won't care, just replace the paci.

[~inbalance~]

It sounds like habit and he is probably 'programmed' to feel hungry at that time.  I know my DS will take a full feed at just about any time of the night, but I also know he is perfectly capable of going the night without feeds.  I think the pp's idea of offering him less and less might work (especially if you don't want to go cold turkey).  However, you could do cold turkey and it will take him several day to not feel 'hungry', but trust that he won't starve and will probably make up for it during the day.  Then once he realizes he won't be fed at night, hopefully the waking will disappear. 

HTH

[Critter]

I'm also going to try feeding him every 3 hrs today to see if that helps some.  Maybe the extra day calories will help ward off the 4 am feeding.

My gut really tells me he's hungry because he DRAINS the 7 oz bottle.  I could understand if he just took a few ounces, but he drinks all of it.

[~inbalance~]

Even if he is really hungry, there's no reason he can't try and make up for it during the day.

But, if YOU don't mind the 4am feeding, and all it is is one feeding at that time, then don't feel pressured to get rid of it if you still think your LO needs it.  My DS is 9.5 months, and I'm still doing a 3:30 feed with him even though I know at any time I could (and maybe should) stop, and while he'd protest at first he would be able to go without it.

If you would ultimately like that feed and waking to be gone but are really worried that he's hungry, then I would do it the gradual way (decreasing the amount every few days).  His body will adjust to the less amount and he will feel less hungry over time.