4months old - should I drop night feed

[angesax]

Hello,  My baby is now four months and sticks to the 4 month easy routine with no problem.  I am breastfeeding and he is still having a feed at 3am.  Should I be looking to stop this feed?  He has a full feed but come 7am he doesnt really have that much.  What is the best way to drop this feed or should I carry on.  He was 10 15 at birth and now weighs 16lb and is 17 weeks old.  Thank you.

[rachelle]

hi there,
Can you tell me what your daily schedule looks like, and also, does he wake up at the same time every nite?

[angesax]

Hi,

He breast feeds at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm, 11pm.  He wakes during the night usually at 3am but it can be 2.30 or 4am.  When I feed him he has loads but then doesnt have very much at 7am.  I think its habit but Im not sure.

Many thanks
Ange

[rachelle]

My biggest concern with you dropping the night feed would be for your breastmilk supply.  Sometimes being on a 4 hour schedule so early combined with no night feedings can really diminish your supply.

With that said, he is a big baby, so he may very well be able to make it through the night without that feed.  The fact that he doesn't eat much at 7 is a big thing, I think. 

Have you tried wake-to-sleep?  That might help get your past that.  Or else offer a pacifier instead and see if he will go back to sleep with some pat/shhh.  Hope this helps!