Very hungry NWs - what do I do?

[Mjaz]

My LO is 16 weeks, 13 weeks developmentally as he was 3 weeks early.

He has been a pretty good night sleeper - sleeping from 6:30pm- till 2/3am - awake for a feed and then back to sleep till 6:30am.  I thought that was pretty good and was not worried about the one NW, as he's always really hungry at that point. 

But...lately he's been waking between midnight and one am, then around 3/4am, then 6:30.  He seems very hungry - downing 8 oz. in 15 minutes.

I have tried for the last week to up his intake over the day - but he doesn't seem to be able to take more than 6oz. at a time.  I tried 7 and he threw up about an ounce almost immediately.

So I'm not sure what to do if he's really hungry during these NWs??? Any ideas?  We do not do a dream feed b/c we were constantly waking him and having trouble getting him back to sleep!  It didn't seem worth it!

Thanks!
Melinda

[Mjaz]

He is taking a full feed and then some.
Where do you suggest I up his intake?  When I give him 7 vs. 6 oz in a bottle he spits up a huge amount.  And yes, he still takes a full feed in the morning.

Thanks!

[Mom to M&M]

FWIW, my DS (6 months tomorrow) is very similar. Still has one NW almost every night - truly hungry. No DF. He's VERY active but will NOT take more during the day - he usually has 6 ounces (give or take a bit) in each bottle but if you try to give him more he will get upset and push it away. During GWs I often have to fit in an extra day-time cluster feed, I still feed him every 3-4 hours in general depending on hunger cues and awake times. He's just like me, he's active, hungry often but doesn't like to have huge amounts at once. A bit frustrating sometimes but IMO healthier in the long run!

We just started solids this week and are taking it very slowly.

In your case, I'd feed if truly hungry. And maybe try to fit in an extra cluster feed in the late afternoon/early evening?

[Mjaz]

Thanks, Karen.  My LO is eating 6 oz. every 3-4 hours and he's 2 months younger than yours!  Ha ha.  He was doing one NW for weeks and weeks...and we were pretty happy with that b/c we felt he was truly hungry and just needed the extra feed.  He was going 8/9 hours - sooo...made sense he was hungry!  But now he's waking twice - once at 12 or 1 and then again around 4/4:30 - which doesn't make any sense to me!  Maybe I'll try to do a cluster feed tonight?  What do you think?

Thanks,
Melinda

[Mom to M&M]

I honestly think some babies have at least one night feed until a year or so! And since neither you or I do a DF...

What times do you generally feed him? Maybe you can do a smaller cluster feed in between his last two bottles?

Oh, and sometimes DS doesn't even go a full 3 hours!

[Mjaz]

Generally he eats at 6:30, 9:30, 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30.  We can keep him to a 3 hour EASY pretty easily and I think if we could extend his naps consistently he could easily do a 3.5 or 4 hr. EASY. 

I am starting to think he's ready to get rid of at least one NW, as we have seen him sleep for 9 hour stretches some nights.  Last night he was asleep at 7, woke at 1:30, then woke at 5.  Fed him at 1:30, got him back to sleep for an additional 45 minutes at 5, then fed him at 6:15.  He seemed WIDE awake at 5:45, so I'm wondering if I should try a a later bedtime?  I keep trying for a 12 hr. day, but it doesn't seem to be working!

For the 1:30 wake, I'm wondering if I should try W2S or try giving him a pacifier (he doesn't use one at all) to satiate the sucking need and see what happens.... 

He was sleeping for 8-9 hour stretches, so I'm now starting to think his wakes are habitual...?

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.  I am exhausted ;(  THANK YOU!

[monsi]

I would think if he is taking full feeds in the night and a full feed in the morning then it is a gs and it should stop soon.

If my ds has a night feed that he really didn't need but refused to settle without it then he is not hungry for his morning feed. He was STTN but now wakes for a feed (2 last night!) and he is 7 months!