7 mth old still wakes for 1 night feed - normal?

[meredith1851]

I have a 7 mth old that always wakes between 2:30-3:30 Am for a bottle. He sucks it down (5-6oz) like crazy. My Pedi said at this age he does not really need it and to start with eliminating that first before tackling the other NW's (he wakes a few times per night to be resettled/re-pacified). Am I alone in this? He seems so thirsty that I hate to stop giving him that bottle but at the same time I would REALLY like to sleep through the night. not sure where to go from here. He is on a 3.5-4 hr loose EASY. Goes to bed at 7 and wakes at 5. Takes 2 (sometimes 3) naps per day. The 3rtd nap is SO very tough adn only lasts 30 min if I can even get him to take it which is only about 65% of the time.

[Ima shel Alon]

At this age there is no reason for him to wake up at night anymore. The thing is he *is* hungry, so you need to slowly reduce this feed.
You can reduce the bottle by 1oz every three nights, but don't forget that he would need to eat more than during the day. Is he emptying his day bottles? That would be a sign that he needs more in the bottle.

[meredith1851]

He does not empty his day bottles typically. He has always been kinda a snacker where he takes 2-3 oz and then I worry he is not getting enough so try to get another 1-2 oz in him over the period of an hr.  I have tried pushing him out to 4 hrs but he is  a fussy spirited baby and screams for his bottle and freaks out if I don't let  him have some when he wants it. Ugh!  He has been like this frmo the beginning!

[j.and.e]

is he the same when you are out and he is distracted? Xx

[Ima shel Alon]

I'd still reduce the night feeds slowly and that will increase his day intake.
It's a kind of a circle, because you let him be a snacker he stays one. If you'll stop and "top him up" after the feeding time he *will* get used to it. You might have a day or two that he is hungry, but your problem will be gone.