Feeding question

[yaya]

My 6 month old was weaned to bottles from breast 2 months ago and (as u prob know from all the posts!!!) we had a nightmare with btottles, not eatign and sickness for the past 2 months. He's eating better now and I want to know whether hes on the right track as he's waking all the time at night ( USed to sleep like and angel!) He usually takes 180g every 4hrs and 1 feed in the night. I can never tell why he's waking so only feed once around 2 or 3 am. For example he woke at 12pm 2am and 5.30 am last night, fed at 2am then again at 8am! He takes a total of 800g-900g in 24hrs.

SHouyld he still be having a feed at night?? WHy do u think he may be waking?

[LŠuren]

Sound like he isn't getting enough during the day, have you started solids yet? If so, what do you give him?


DS takes;

0730 - 210ml (7oz)
1200 - 180ml (6oz)
1630 - 180ml (6oz)
1930 - 300ml (10oz)

+ 3 good meals per day, at the moment I think he weighs between 18lb - 19lb


What size teat are you using? Are you giving / have you tried a 5 - 10 min rest then trying to feed again? 900ml = 30oz, how many feeds does he get in his core day?

[yaya]

He has had A LOT of trouble eating the past 2 months so I cant force him to have any more than that during the day...do u suggest I feed him when he wakes a night? MAybe just a small bottle? He isnt on solids yet, we need to wait due to illness...may try a bigger bottle at  bedtime? He takes #4 teats

[LŠuren]

Yes, if he is waking hungry a night feed him, i.e randon times at night. 

If, he wakes at night from habit i.e same time every night - I wouldn't feed.

Until you can find out what has happened to make him resist the bottle so much yes, feed at night if hungry.  Does he currently drain his bedtime bottle?
Lauren

[yaya]

Yes he wakes at random time and drainS a bottle... I was resistig feeding him at other times as I thought this would encourage him to eat more during the day? DO u tihnk this is wrong?

[LŠuren]

Yes he wakes at random time and drainS a bottle... I was resistig feeding him at other times as I thought this would encourage him to eat more during the day? DO u tihnk this is wrong?

no, not at all.

At least you are getting himto take something from his bottle now 

You're doing great ! Does he drain the bottle you give before his bedtime? if so, definetely increase it even just by an oz.

[yaya]

Yep he drains that too.. always has eaten better half asleep... was worried that he might take too much but by sounds of things hes ok to take more? I currently prepare 180g before bed but im sure he'd take a lot more if i  let him! No risk of overeating and then being uncomfortable??

[LŠuren]

Try increasing an oz at a time, my health visitor always advised me that when a baby has had enough they will leave about 1/2 oz in the bottom of the bottle, if they drain the bottles they need more.

Calum takes 10oz and that see him 12hrs.

Lauren

[yaya]

Thank u so much, its all so confusing, first he wont eat then he eats to omuch then we have no idea how much to give!! Will def try increasing!
 thanx

[LŠuren]

no bother let me know how you get on!

Another thought....

If he is draining all his bottles, instead of increasing the bedtime bottle, increase the morning bottle, there you can assess how he copes with the extra milk, especially with all the feeding issues you have had. From there you can the increase the rest throughout the day, then the bedtime bottle.

Lauren x

[yaya]

brill! thanx will try that!

[yaya]

Well here's what we did....DF at 10pm (240g), he slept thru till 3.15am then fussed about to get back to sleep then was awake again at 5,30! He couldnt possibly have been hungry.....really not sure where this is going! I was told to wait a few days for DF to have an effect. He def took more milk in his milk which is good, totally to 1120g yesterday (is that about right?) This morning he wont eat though!!

Maybe the 5.30am wake is become habit???

[LŠuren]

we have 0530 wake up too (habit) what is he doing at 0530?  Fussing, crying, playing? If doing anything other than really crying (not Mantra crying) try and leave him to resettle.

[yaya]

I tend to shoot out of bed as if I catch him while he's still sleepy i'll give him his dummy and he goes back to sleep! If I leave him he plays and coos in his bed but is WIDE awake

[yaya]

He's had 2 days of eating about 1000g and last night he only woke twice, fed one of these times and was very eay to settle the other time....lets hope we r getting somewhere!