ds refuses 7am feed...

[kw]

Hi

My ds is nearly 15 weeks old - he was born at 37 weeks.  For the last three days he has refused his 7am feed and lasts 3.5 hrs until next feed.  He weighs 12lbs 4 oz so isn't a big baby.

He's on a 3.5 hr schedule - (am trying for 4 hrs but he's not quite ready yet) and routine is as follows:

Wake - 7am
E -7:30
A - until 9am (if possible, usually 8:30ish)
S - 1.5 - 2 hrs
E: 11 - 11:30

and then feeds at 5:30pm and then again at 7:30 pm.  He doesn't have a dreamfeed as usually wakes up earlier after having one but is now starting to want food around 11:30 (used to be anytime between 12:30 and 2:30) so I may start one up soon.  He then has recently had a full feed (both sides) at 3:30. 

Last night I only gave him one side in the hope that he'd be hungry this morning - didn't work though... 

It's a bit of a vicious circle as I need to get more in him in the day in order for him to sleep through the night but if he won't take more than a minute or two of bm first thing then he's missing a feed.

Anyone have any suggestions?   Does it mean that he doesn't need a night feed and that I should try and put him back to sleep?  I do try and delay his feeds by patting his back and if he's just awake but not too hungry he will usually go back to sleep but the last few days he's been pretty hungry.

Any advice appreciated!

Karen

[lisi's mum]

Sounds like the night feed means he's not hungry enough for breakfast to me! What do you mean when you say that one side didn't work last night? That he wanted both still and got mad or that he still wasn't hungry at breakfast?

I would try tonight to
a) reduce the number of minutes you let him feed (if the 1 side was say 5 mins, just give 4)
b) if he takes a bottle try offering water instead
or c) cold turkey and ssh-pat to try and get him back to sleep. This is not neccesarily the friendliest of options, but works for some.

A is what's called the gentle removal plan. You can read more about it at: https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=52857.0

[kw]

Hi

Yes, tried one side last night (instead of two) and he still wasn't hungry this morning...

Have a two year old so probably won't go cold turkey as she'll wake up!

I will give it a go!

Karen

[RachelC]

I am a little confused by your schedule... do you feed between 11:30 and 5:30?

[kw]

Yes, sorry about that -  he feeds at around 2:30pm...

I've actually moved him to a 4 hr schedule and he's doing quite well.  He fed yesterday at 7:30,11:30,3:30 and then 7:30 with a df (90ml) at 11pm.  He then woke up at 3:30am but I managed to put him off until 4am and then only gave him one side instead of two.  He then woke up at 7:15 but didn't really want a feed and fed for just a few minutes and then lasted until 11:45am!

He obviously is eating so well at the early morning feed that he doesn't want anything at 7am - do you think this is okay or should I try and put him off feeding for longer?  Trouble is, if I do that then he definately won't feed at 7am. Do you think lack of food at 7am feed is impacting on night wakings?

Karen

[RachelC]

Karen,

I would feed him when he wakes and not try to hold him off.  It is still normal to have a night feed at this age.

You can try reducing the number of minutes on the breast over time and see if that makes a difference.

[kw]

Hi there,

Last night he had a dreamfeed at 10:45 and then woke up at 2:30 and with a bit of patting he went back to sleep (after 20 mins) and then didn't wake up until 4:30 for his feed!    So, the question is, did I do the right thing holding him off or should I have fed him at 2:30?  I reduced his feed from 10 mins to 8 mins last night and he still didn't eat again this morning at 7:30 - 2 mins at the most.. Didn't seem to mind though and didn't eat until 10:50 this morning... 

If I'd fed him at 2:30 I'm sure he would have woken up again for more food...

Karen

[RachelC]

Sounds like that worked well.  If he was truly hungry, he would not have gone back to sleep.

[kw]

Hi

Just a quick update...

My ds is now sleeping through without a feed!  I thought he was capable of it and spent the last few days reducing the minutes (by 2 minute increments).  Then two nights ago he cried a bit but went back to sleep and then didn't wake up until 6am! I thought it might be a one off but then last night he did it again and even though he cried a bit (few minutes) at 3am and 5am he went back to sleep and then woke up at 6:30am!

So am feeling optimistic - it seems that at the 16 month mark he's turned a corner which is a relief!

[RachelC]

That's wonderful to hear!