Night Feeding-Time for It to Stop!

I used the babywhisperer, and am not familiar with the sleepeasy solution, but I do know when my daughter was waking up randomly for feedings, I gave her a pacifier instead, which usually helped her get back to sleep.

start reducing the amount in the night time bottles first. Then after they are down in ounces then start putting water instead of formula in them. Every night go down an oz, until you are about 4 oz. Then do a gradual change to water instead of formula - so 3 oz form to 1 oz water, 2 oz to 2 oz, 1 oz form to 3 oz water....

It works

I may get some flack for this, but I think that you should continue feeding him if he wants it. You respond to your baby's needs during the day, why should nighttime be any different? If he's hungry, why deny him food? 7 months isn't very old... he'll grow out of it eventually, especially once he starts solids.

Hi R.. I can't help but wonder if everyone who told you that your son would sleep through the night at 4 months of age is defining "through the night" differently. Some Moms and Doctors consider "sleeping through the night" is a 6 hour stretch.

Assuming your son was full-term and 100% healthy, he will not be able to sleep 12 hours without a feeding until he is 9-10 months old. Until he turns 9 months, he needs one feeding during a 12 hour stretch of sleep (not counting the feeding before bedtime).

Good luck with your sleep training.

Honestly, I completely agree with Jennyzzz. The only reason I think it may be a problem is the fact that you and your husband are so exhausted. My son is now 13 months old and gradually he weaned himself off night feedings. It took about 10-11 months for him to stop needing a bottle at night. The doc said it was completely acceptable to feed him if he really seemed hungry. At 11 months I switched him to a sippy cup and at 12 months, whole milk. Now he sleeps from 8 pm-5 am, wakes up for about 6 oz milk and sleeps another 2 hours. It's not bad that you're feeding your baby at night. But if it's affecting you and your husband and you really want to try to wean your son, then I would try the methods posted by the others here. Good Luck!!!!!

My daughter is alomost 7 months and goes to bed a 7 and wakes up at 1 and 5 for feedings. I have a book that talks about good eating habits and it says as long as the baby isn't playing and just eating and going to sleep keep feeding the baby. I the book also says by 9 months they shouls sleep through the night. Everyone told me also she would sleep through the night at 4 months and i'm geeting very tired and praying that one day she will sleep through the night.

For a baby to be 7 months and still wanting to nurse is PERFECTLY NORMAL !!! Unless you want to bottle feed him formula, you will still have his schedule, as mothers, we ALL have to go to our children's schedule, not ours, unless we want difficulty.
Let your baby sleep beside you, co sleeping, yes doctors warn strongly against it because you can roll over your baby. That is UNTRUE, how can you naturally roll over onto your baby when you know their presence is there.
When your baby wants to feed, feed him or her right there, when your still half asleep. If he or she needs changing, do it, then put him or her back beside you so you can sleep more.
Unless you like cribs like millions of mothers, I hate to say it, but you will be waking up and walking to pick your baby up to feed. Either way, stressing out is only going to make you more tired. Your baby still needs nourishment, and you have it, breastfeeding. Water will only work for one hour, then your baby will wake up again to eat. Babies do not play at night when they breastfeed, all those opinions saying they do is UNTRUE. How can a tired baby have time to play with their mom so early in the morning.
This is how it is for young babies.
Trying to force your baby to eat is also going to create difficulty for yourself and your baby too. Your baby at that age, their digestive system can only really handle rice cereals and such. Solids should be introduced after their teething has started. Too early in introducing will create constipation for your child and tummy aches and such. Do you really want that ontop of your tiredness?
Listen to your baby and yourself. Going cold turkey for the baby is also a cold love attitude being taught for your child. If we wanted passive, obedient children, we should have gotten a pet or a doll. Children do not deserve such punishment. At a young age, they are developing their stability and trust with those around them, and I am sure you would not like to teach your child that you only choose to love him or her at certain times. They are allowed to eat, despite contrary beliefs and opinions of Western Society.
Save your money from buying countless gimmicks saying they can help with your child's sleeping habits. In the end, the company gets richer, you get poorer and still tired, contrary to the surveyed mothers who have used the gimmicks. Think about how much they were paid to test them, how much had to say it worked and how much percentage of the testing did not.
We cannot create methods that will override natural maternal instinct unfortunately, hence Baby Einstein products being recalled from Disney for misleading information.
I breast fed my twins up to 15 1/2 months, co slept with them, and around 10 months, they were pretty much sleeping throught the night. Yes I did get sleep, yes alot of times I did wake up to change them, but in the end, we were all happy in the morning and less tired than what we could have been. And yes, my husband and I tried the separate crib method, and that was true hell for everyone.
Babies only want their mothers beside them, we carried them for 9 months, how can we possibly separte ourselves from them because Western society tells us too.
7 months is still young for a baby.
Relax and take care of yourself and your baby.

Unfortunately we try to take care of our little ones and end up building bad habits. Your son is capable of sleeping through the night without feeding one or twice. But it's routine now and as long as it took you to build this routine it won't change over night. Its a matter of teaching your little one that food is not the only way to sooth himself back to sleep. It might be hard for a couple of nights but it will change just be strong and get ready for some crying just know that he wll be ok and so will you.

Hi, I don't know much about certain techniques, but I suggest eliminating one feeding at a time.

I nursed and I would slowly reduce the amount of time my son ate, then after a week of that, my husband would take over and soothe my son, refusing to give him the bottle, until the feeding was eliminated.

My other suggestion, is to make your plan with your hubby, with details (like how long you are willing for baby to cry it out before giving in) before you go to bed, and stick with your plan, you can revise in the morning (hopefully after giving it all a shot for a few days).

Consider shift sleeping (you nap from 10-12, feed baby, then husband takes next feeding, or you take weekends, whatever), so that at least one of you feels rested at any given time.

Also, feel confident that you are doing the right thing for your family, because you are. That's just something to remember through the crying.

Also, do you think your son is sleeping too much in the day too? Is it possible that his day/night schedule is off? Maybe get him out in the sun now that the weather is nice ( a bit of a long shot, but a thought nonetheless)

First off I know how you feel and my heart goes out to you. I had 3 children and each of them were awake every 4 hrs. until they were 8mos. old. Why I don't know. At this time they were already eating baby foods but it just seemed that they needed that extra in the night. I tried soothers', everything. Nothing worked only the bottle. By the time they were 8mos. they were able to hold their own bottle and I would put it into bed with them at night. They had one to go to sleep and I would fill it up again prior to going to bed myself, leave it beside them so they could take the bottle themselves. With the first one I was getting up at 5:30am. and it sure played me out working full time. They daughter would be in bed by 7pm. and it wouldn't be long that I was behind her. I'd listen to all these moms' saying oh my son/daughter sleeps all night now, it frustrated me to no end. I was so jealous. If I were you though I would pick a wknd. that you know that if need be you could have a nap in the afternoon and let the little one cry it out. He will soon realize that your not coming and it won't take long. Maybe a couple of nights. Good luck!!

If you don't want to cut him off cold turkey, try only giving him 4 oz. for a night or two and then cut him off. Or just give him a bottle of water. He will then get the message that eating in the middle of night isn't an option anymore. Your doc is right and your son does not need to eat in the middle of the night anymore - he's playing you.

Dear R.:

I understand a little of what you're experiencing. The right response so much depends on the family. My son started sleeping through the night at 6 mos, after we moved and gave him his own room. But, between 10 months and now (17 months) with eyeteeth and molars coming in, he's up once a night a couple times a week. My husband and I decided that going in and responding to him worked best for us. We change him, give him a wee bit of milk diluted with water, then put him back to bed, and he falls asleep. On the other hand, my co-worker has let her little girl self-soothe for several months, and it works perfectly for them. As it sounds like you're doing, continue to trust yourself and follow your son's lead. Good luck.

You might try adding water to the night feedings. Start with one ounce for a few days, then two ounces, then three…. Some moms have used this idea and found that the interest in/need for the night feedings gradually stopped.

I haven't read about the solutions you mention, but would be extremely reluctant to try too great a change. Slow adjustments will probably be least likely to simply create a new problem to replace the old one.

My best to you. I remember how hard those early months were.

You didn't mention if he is eating oatmeal/cereal or veggies & fruits. If he isn't, he needs to start. It sounds like he isn't getting enough before bedtime. When you say he 'loads' up - what does that mean? He's not eating in the morning b/c he ate all through the night. The fact he is not eating for 5-7 hours in the AM is proof he can make it through the night w/o eating. Change his feeding times and possibly keep him up until 9:00pm then put him down just after his last meal (not just a bottle). Get him off of a schedule!!! Feed babies when THEY are hungry and NEVER wake a sleeping baby to eat. I have never understood the rigid feeding per schedule (unless it is a preemie) such as every 3 hours or picking specific times, i.e., 10:00, 2:00, 4:00. I hate it when I see a mother forcing a bottle on a baby only b/c it is 'time' to eat and the baby is obviously not hungry. This is the perfect example as to why schedules can backfire. When he does wake at night, give him water not formula or cereal. Once he realizes, all he's going to get is water, it is possible he won't call out. Breastfeeding is a whole other ball of wax, but you still don't need to be so rigid with the schedule. But do remember this...this is all temporary! You will eventually get him sleeping through the night. I know that doesn't help now but like an example my grandmother would always use, "Honey, he won't walk across the stage (at graduation) not being able to sleep through the night." She always put things in the right perspective :)

You just need to do it! I know it sounds harsh, but it will work and work the fastest. First I would cut those bottles in half. Let your son adjust to that for a few nights and he will compensate by eating more during the day. Then cut one of them out completely. Let him adjust to this (again he'll eat more during the day), and then cut the other one out. It is going to be rough (a lot of crying and protesting), and probably heart breaking for you and your husband, but if you stay strong he will get it and sleep through the night. I did this with my daughter as soon as she doubled her birth weight (around 3 months), and she has never gone back (not even when she was sick)!!

Like one of the other mom's said he should be eating some solids by now, so he will be able to get enough during the day. How often does he take a bottle during the day? It should be anywhere from 3 to 5 hours so he doesn't get accustomed to snacking instead of eating...this will also help him not feel the need to eat in the middle of the night.

Good luck and hang in there mama...you can do it and so can he!

Try giving him some water in his bottle at night instead of formula. This may satisfy his need to suckle, without filling him up. Over the days, gradually decrease the amount of water you're giving him until you just go in a rock him for briefly when he wakes up. Hope this helps.

My 11 month old still wakes up 3-4 nights a week and feeding him is the only thing that works to get him back to sleep. He goes to bed at 8 and wakes up around 1a. He nurses and then I lay him down and he goes right back to sleep. At first I thought this was just a habit, but considering he goes back to sleep after eating, I think he is just hungry. He is on three meals of solids a day and definitely not overweight, thin if anything. I would maybe try to eliminate one of the feedings, if possible. Try the water or decide how long you are willing to let him fuss.. Good luck, but don't let people think you are doing anything wrong. A baby has needs and you are the only one that accurately figure out what they are!

sounds like a growth spurt. just because they can go that long doesnt mean they should. sure he isnt going to die, but he is also going to learn you arent there when he needs you. try going about it a different way. have you read the no cry sleep solution for babies?