problems with 4 hour EASY?

[JenB1974]

Hi,
My son is 19 weeks old and has been on a 4 hour EASY for the last month-6 weeks. Back in the good old days of 3 months old he would go down to bed at 7.30pm and sleep through until 6am on a 3 hour EASY, but since I have moved onto 4 hour EASY he has been waking at between 1am and 3am for a night bottle, which he drains. I've decided today to see if I can give him this "night bottle" in the daytime, but this has resulted in me having to go back to a 3 hour EASY. Is this the right way to go? (I guess time will tell tonight!) He is already on 8 oz at each feed so it's hard to stuff any more into him!
This is his current 4 hour shedule:

6.00am: wakes and coos/plays in his cot
7.00am: breastfeed both sides for 30-40 minutes
Play until 8.30am
8.30am: Naps until nearly 11am

11.00am: Bottle feed 8oz (drains this)
Play until 1.00pm
1.00pm: Naps until nearly 3pm
3.00pm: Bottle feed 80z (drains this)
Play until about 4.15pm
4.15pm: Nap until 5.15pm
5.30pm Breast feed tank up - 30/40 minutes
7.00pm: Bath time
7.15pm: Bottle (8oz - drains this) and Bed
Wakes for bottle anywhere between 12.30am and 2.00am

Any comments/guidance as to whether this is normal would be greatly appreciated!

[HeatherC]

You are doing right in trying to give him more calories in the day.  My question is whether or not he will resettle without a feed?  Does he take a paci/soother? 

[JenB1974]

Hi,
Well he had a paci when he was younger but hasn't taken one since 3 months old. Last night he still woke up at 2.30am for a bottle which he drained, despite the extra bottle he had in the day! I have heard about some mums diluting the formula in the night bottle so that its eventually not worth waking up for...

[corrina01]

Maybe he is going through a growth spurt, if he is draining his bottles during the night. 

What formula are you on?  Maybe he wants a to move onto a hungrier formula.  Just a thought.

[HeatherC]

I agree with Corrina.  If he's taking all of his bottles during the day, including the extra you've been giving him, and taking a full bottle at night, he must need it.  Like she said, ask your ped. about the hungrier baby formulas, but I wouldn't try to phase out the night bottle until you are more sure that he is not indeed hungry in the night.  But, yes, that is one way to try to drop the night bottle.

[JenB1974]

Thanks guys, I will definately go out tommorow and buy some hungrier baby formula. My dh thinks we should phase the night bottle out but as you say he must need it if he is draining it and my gut feeling is to try and see to his needs rather than phase out his food!

Thanks so much for the advice and reassurance!

[HeatherC]

I just wanted to reiterate that we advise you seek the advice of your lo's doctor before making changes in his diet.
Best wishes!