My daughter has never been a good sleeper, from the time she was born to 4 months she had to be held to sleep. Even in the hospital. Now she sleeps in her own bed just fine, and puts herself to sleep but wont put herself BACK DOWN to sleep. She wakes up every 2 hours nurses for 5-10mins then goes back to sleep. But a couple of times, when she has been at my mothers, and away for the evening, when she comes home and nurses my breast that is extremely full, she will sleep for 6-8 hours. I have tried to hold her off until bed time, but its impossible while she is near me! Would switching her to a formula bottle just at night be detrimental to her health? (she is very chunky 19lb 4oz) I dont want to make her over weight but I also have my husband coming home from Afghanistan soon and he isnt going to like the every 2 hour wake ups?? What can I do? ps--ferber method did not work, nothing but nursing puts her back to sleep...HELP!!
THANK YOU for all the help and support!!! I actually did try the bottle of formula last night and NO difference. I am gonna try it one more time, and if still no difference I guess she's just gonna be like this for a while! And to those who asked- no sleeping with me does not help, she still gets up that often, i can just satisfy her quicker. I hope she grows out of this, but she has been doing it since she was born! Thanks again--S.
--Sorry totally forgot to say, she is eating solids fine, and I have not tried them right before bed because she had acid reflux for the longest time and I thought it might stir that up again?? And I am only trying to add the formula bottle once before bed and continue breastfeeding the rest of the time....
My daughter was waking up that much at 8 months as well. I don't have a solution for the waking up since that's pretty normal for some breastfeed babies.
It never woke my husband up though. It still doesn't when she wakes up, which she does a few times a night but it's just right back to sleep.
I wouldn't recommend giving her a bottle with formula, but that's just my opinion.
Changing from breast to formula won't hurt her but is that what you want? If Dad weren't coming home from overseas, would you continue with breast feeding? Dad will be excited enough to be home and he can cope with waking up every two hours. Chances are he won't even wake up, if you are taking care of the baby.
I would try to stretch the period between feedings by 15 min. She does need to learn to fall back to sleep on her own but she's only a little one. You could give her breast milk in a bottle at her bedtime feeding so you can monitor the amount she is taking in. To me, it sounds like she needs you to be her pacifier.
I kept my babies either in a crib right next to me or sleeping next to me and I was able to tend to them quickly. That being said, I have yet to find any medical professional who would recommend having the baby sleep on the bed with mom.
Good luck to you and your family. I'm sure whatever you decide to do will work out. And pass on a welcome home to Dad.
K.
Hi S.,
I had similar issues and my advice is to just go with the nursing. It's SO MUCH better for her than formula. Formula, even the best kinds, are full of chemicals that can harm their little systems. She will most likely outgrow this phase in a month or so and I promise you it will all be a distant memory soon. She's telling you what she wants/needs, just go with it :) Do you have her sleeing in your bed or room to make those wake ups and quick nursing session easier on all of you? We have a co-sleeper and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! www.armsreach.com
Good luck and congrats on your hubby coming home too!
S.
Sounds like she is hungry, supplementing with a bottle at bedtime isn't a bad idea at this age, if that will help her sleep. Both of my breastfed boys did not sleep through the night until they were at least a year, and eating mostly solid food. People guilted me into not supplementing them, but I think it might have helped.
Good luck, and thank your husband for us all.
Sounds like separation anxiety or teething to me. Two jof my four would do this, and they did out grow it. Did you know that formula changes the PH in the gut. Just one bottle will change babies gut for up to two weeks. One bottle can reduce babies immune response and add unnecessary allergans. I would still with the breastfeeding. When dad gets home you might find that one or two nights of daddy instead of mommy will put baby back to sleep.
I don't know that formula will be the thing to make her sleep through the night. I have a 10 month old and at about 8 months he went through a period when he would wake up every night. He wasn't hungry, he was looking for comfort, which is what it sounds your little one might be looking for at night with the short feedings. Those nights that she stayed with your mother then came and slept 6-8 hours may be because she played really hard in the time right before bed.
I would try a before bed "snack" and active play between dinner and bed before I'd go with formula. I understand you not wanting her to wake your husband after his return from Afghanistan. He is probably not going to sleep as well as other husbands sleep. Thank him for his service and thank you for your sacrifice.
I would suggest the book "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems" By Richard Ferber. i just bought it and there is a good section on eliminating night time feedings. most children over the age of 3 months can sleep through the night. good luck! oh yeah.. not the cry it out method.. just eliminating night time feedings. i had the same issue with my daughter my mistake was letting it continue until almost 2 years old! thinking she'd grow out of it. plus i don't believe in the cry it out thing
Breastmilk is digested quicker so she may need more. Formula will not make her over weight or be detrimental to her health. Talk to your pediatrician BEFORE adding it. Is she eating cereal yet? If so, some before bed might hold her longer. Also check her for teething, it may be gum discomfort and the pressure from nursing helps. Good luck.
Just wondering... have you tried pumping and adding cereal to the last bottle of the night? That way she still gets your milk, which sounds llike what you want to do, but maybe she just needs a more full belly.
Hi - I too was really reluctant to supplement with formula but when I finally started doing so and having Daddy do the 3 a.m. bottle and then slowly reducing the amount of formula - it finally got my son to sleep through the night. We also starting giving a "chaser" formula bottle before bed and after breastfeeding at night. After about 3 weeks of doing both of these things, he cut out the 3 a.m. feeding. You already have a good BF-ing relationship, so I would not be concerned with adding a bit of formula to help with the nighttime issues. Our pediatrician actually suggested the Daddy/ formula/ bottle thing when I was 1/2 dead b/c he had not slept through the night at 8 months. You just have your husband (or you) slowly increase the water and decrease the formula and then the baby learns not to rely on this feeding. Hope this helps!
This sounds very normal. My baby's have been the same way. I find that my husband and I get the most sleep by having a king sized bed. My babies sleep with me until they are weaned. Because of this I don't even have to fully wake up to feed them, I just roll sideways and lift my shirt. Baby latches on without even waking up. I often don't remember the end of the feeding because I fall back asleep and baby lets go on his own when he is done. Unless there is teething or some other factor my husband doesn't wake up at all for the feedings because there is no crying involved. That being said you can get a little more space before the first feeding by giving solids in the evening, like rice cereal. It seems to stay with them a little better, breast milk digests quickly. Also, don't worry about weight gain with a breastfed baby. They are normally a bit ahead on weight early on and then when they start crawling and then walking they start to even out.
The only other thing I would say is that when they get older and you know they don't need it and it is just wearing you out you can start saying no to frequent nursing requests at night. Follow your own instincts but I think I started trying that around 14 mo or so with the last baby.
My last one (have 3)did this. I found she she wasn't really hungry but just wanted mommy. I started nursing her from only one side all night. After a few days she started sleeping longer. The quick fix was gone. I was slightly uncomfortable by morning but it worked for me.
It sounds like she is just waking up hungry. There are a couple things you can do. First you dont mention if she is eating rice cereal and purees yet. These are great for helping them get the sustenance they need to sleep through the night. You could try and move the last solids feeding of the day to right before bed and fill up her little belly. The other thing you can do is keep breast feeding her if you want and just add one formula bottle for her right before bed to help her tank up for the night. At 8 months she should be getting more consecutive sleep than waking up every 2 hours and there is nothing wrong with giving her more than just your breast milk!
will she go back to sleep if shes iin bed with you? also i know daddy wants time with just you but thats not always going to happen. maybe make sure he knows that now. make sure to make time fo him when he comes home but not just at night.
S.:
Hello! First off - thank you to you and your husband for your service and sacrifices to our country. I know being apart is hard on a marriage and a family.
Switching to formula is not going to solve the problem. If you are successfully breastfeeding, which it sounds like you are, there is no need to switch.
DO NOT worry about her being overweight YET - that's when she's 4 and 5, not a baby! :) A child grows more in their first year than they will for the rest of their life. She NEEDS this chunk to help her grow.
Babies LOVE routines - our routine is bath, brush (hair & teeth), book and bed. We've been doing this since they were born and it works. Get her into a routine and things will be fine.
She might also be picking up on your cues too - your husband is coming home soon! You are excited and nervous! You might be surprised what your husband will want! He will be thankful to be home safe and sound and love being with his girls!
Is she on solid foods yet? Like oatmeal or rice? Try feeding her before bedtime and then nursing her - that might help her feel full longer.
I hope this helps!
Best regards,
Cheryl
What about pumping the bottle for her? If it's YOUR milk she likes, chances are she might not like the formula anyway... maybe you can get her to reach for that instead of waking you?
GOOD FOR YOU for your commitment to breastfeeding! A true gift for our babies!!
