Which night feed to drop first ???

[Vally]

I have had nw problems for a few months now and really feel I have to do something. I had hoped DD would do it herself but it's just not happening. She has basically got in thr habit of feeding at night rather then the day. She nurses every 3 hours at night and really not interested in the day. She has three solid meals a day and 4 bf but these barely last 4 mins. I know I need to try and reverse her nursing. The HV said I should just do controlled crying from midnight onwards. I am really not up for this, firstly because I don't want to leave her crying, secondly I have s two year old to think of. My thoughts are to try and drop one feed at a time and was thinking maybe the middle one. She usually wakes 10,1 and 4. My plan is to feed at 10 and then get DH to settle her (if possible) at 1 and then feed again at 4. What do you think? Which feed would I try and drop after that? I really hoped that I wouldn't have to do any sleep training with her but I just think every three hours is unnecessary. Oh she is 7 months . Thanks

[Claudiamummy]

((Hugs hugs))

U must be exhausted poor thing, I can't offer much advice as I am on my first baby so just learning as I go, but I do know for your hv to suggest controlled crying is unfair...you are so tired, and they suggest putting you and yr LO through that!! Well done you for wanting an alternative...

Not sure what the others think, but how about trying to push the 4am a bit later... Wouldit be possible to day move her by increments of 15mins every couple of nights ( maybe a nappy change or some other diversion until she makes it towards wake-up time? Ay least then you could have a few hours solid rest as she is not doing a long stretch at all?

I also suspect your dh will need to get on board with pupd for the others which will involve some crying but LO will have someone with her conforting not just timed crying

I will be interested to see what the experienced bw say on this, so will keep watching along

Takecare


















 

[lpperry]

Ahh!  My Claudia did that when she was 9 months!  She stopped nursing during the day completely and started waking up every 3 hours at night!  I feel for you!

My situation was a bit different because I cut out all night feeds, which I don't think you should do. However, it just took me one night and she started nursing during the day again.  I did a version of PU/PD whenever she woke up throughout the night and absolutely refused to feed her.  The first time she woke up, I held her for a few minutes and then laid her back down and she went to sleep. She woke up a 1/2 hour later and I did the same thing.  When she woke a 1/2 hour later, I didn't even pick her up. I just laid her back down on her tummy each time she sat up in her crib. She screamed at the top of her lungs for 45 minutes, but then she finally realized that I was going to lay her down each time. She finally laid down, went to sleep, and I didn't hear from her until morning.  She nursed great the next day.  The following nights, she still woke up once or twice, but I just had to lay her down--there was no screaming.

So, my suggestion is to find the version of PU/PD that will work for your baby. If it is traditional PU/PD, your hand on her back, laying her back down when she sits up--whatever you think will work for your baby.

Then, I would keep the dreamfeed--it is not unusual to have a dreamfeed at 7 months.  When she wakes at 1am, that's the time that I would not feed her.  Do whatever your PU/PD method is for however long it takes.  I would not feed her at 4am either though--I would push that back until at least 5. 

[Vally]

Thanks. We have decided we are going to try some kind of pupd for the 1 am feed first as you suggest. Do you think I should wait for her bottom teeth to come in before starting this? She has a constant watery nose and I can see the teeth in her gums so I am sure this isn't helping the NW situation. Do you know how long it takes for them to come in once you can see them in the gums?