Is this reasonable?

[AllyT]

My LO had been waking up to 6 times a night, and I was nursing him 3 or 4 of those times depending on how tired I was and how persistent he was. At his 4 mos check-up Tuesday the Dr said he should be able to go right through at this age. I certainly am not expecting him to go right through as he is EBF and used to the 3 or 4 feeds, but I decided to take the reins rather than letting him run the show and back it down to 2 feeds at night.

I am working at getting him on a 4 hrs EASY, but I feel he is more suited to 3.5 right now so we might hang out here for a while. Yesterday his feeds were about every 3.5 hrs, but his naps weren't exact. Hi last feed was just before 7pm and he was in bed by 7.

So during the night I decided I would feed him anytime after 12 pm, and then again anytime after 5am. He woke about 9:30 and was right ticked off as I tried to settle him without nursing. He was up on and off until 11:30 and then finally drifted off until about 1:20 when he woke up and I nursed him. Again he woke up at about 4 and I settled him back to sleep and nursed him when he woke again at 5:10. I then had to wake him to get the day started at 7:30 (meant to be 7, but I slept through that).

What I'm wondering is if my designating those two feeding times is a reasonable way to lessen NWs? If I persevere is he likely to stop waking at the other times? I did notice that at the 4 o'clock waking he was easier to settle than earlier in the night, but that could have been due to his being more tired.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. =)

[~ Vik ~]

Hi AllyT

First I just want to say Grrrrrr to your doctor - I hate it when medical professionals give parents unrealistic expectations about night feeds and STTN in general, especially in breast fed babies who often need more frequent feeds.  But bravo to you for realizing that breastfed babies still need those night feeds!  Breastmilk is so easily digested that ebf babies often need night feeds for much longer than 4mo, and often move to a 3.5 and 4h EASY routine later than formula fed babies.

Re: the timing of your night feeds, I don't think that you're necessarily being unreasonable, but I think that your timing might be off.

There is a HUGE growth spurt right around 4mo.  HUGE.  This growth spurt is often when moms start to question their supply, because it feels like their baby wants to feed all the time.  So if you're trying to regulate night feeds while he is in the middle of a growth spurt you're really being counterproductive, kwim?  You might get him to settle briefly, only to have him awake again and again because he is actually hungry.  Where if you just fed, you might wind up with a couple hours of solid sleep.  Have you read http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0 ?  Some information there you might find helpful.

Also, do you do a dream feed?  I ask because when Dylan was 4mo, we were doing a dream feed plus often 2 night feeds.  I don't remember exactly when he dropped the second night feed, but it wasn't until around the 5mo mark I think.  So 2 feeds/night with no dream feed *might* not be enough, kwim?

I agree though that, growth spurts aside, it is not reasonable to be feeding a 4mo 4 times per night.  If you want to restrict night feeds, rather than putting a specific "time" on it (like midnight, or 5am) I would put an "interval" on it.  So if your lo is on a 3.5h routine during the day, he should be able to go 3.5h at night also.  Assuming bedtime feed is 7pm, then I wouldn't feed before 1030 - if he wakes at 930 then work on settling another way, but if he wakes at 1025 then go ahead and feed, kwim?  And then go for the next interval - if you fed at 11pm, then next feed wouldn't be before 230am.  But I wouldn't even restrict like this during a growth spurt!  It's important during growth spurts to feed on cue as that's your baby's way of increasing your milk supply to meet his needs.

Remember too that there are other reasons that he might be waking at night.  OT, teething, too hot or cold, all can lead to nws.  Here is an outside link too with ways to help reduce night wakings and nursing through the night:  http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning-night.html

Let me know what you think?

[Vicku]

Hi there,

I just wanted to say that I second all that Vikki has said I was also thinking 4mo GS might be going on as it *is* a biggie. Hope your nights get easier soon.

[AllyT]

Thanks ladies! I read through the links you posted Vikki and I'm pretty sure it isn't a GS at this point. I should have been more specific in saying that these wakings are not a new development. They have been going on since DS started sleeping in how own crib about a month ago. Up until then we were co-sleeping (he slept on my chest), and he was much happier sleeping on his tummy with me. However, I was getting very little sleep and unable to be much help to DS1 during the day as DS2 needed my chest to nap as well.
I feel that the NWs are more likely OT, as we have been working on sorting out naps as well.  I like your idea of not feeding before the 3.5 hrs mark and going from there. Thanks again.

[CurvyMummy]

Hi, I second what Vikki said as well. If bub can go 3.5hours during the day, he should be able to last that at night as well.

Also, I just wanted to say my son was the same with regard to sleeping on my chest. He wouldn't sleep unless he was being held and we were also co sleeping. But I put him in his own crib, swaddled and on his tummy and he doesn't wake up more than 3 times a night whereas it used to be every hour even in my arms! I know a lot of experts say don't put them on their tummy's but it's the only way my boy will sleep. I'm a tummy sleeper myself and my mother put me on my tummy as a baby and no harm done. Give it a go, you may be surprised, just as I was!

HTH

[mum101]

I've always leaned towards better safe than sorry with feeds.  At night as they approach 6 months I think trying to reduce each feed and bulk up the day feeds with breast compression and feeding both sides, then back to the first side to gain any fatty hind milk is a good way to go.  My DS still fed at night until just after 12 months 

Growth spurts definitely throwing everything in the air!