Feeding at night, refusing during the day

Barb - posted on 01/04/2010

I breast feed, so I am unsure how much he feeds, Kelsey. I do have a pump so I might try your suggestion Andrea. Cluster feeding does not work for us as if he doesn't want his milk, he just refuses (also has 2 teeth, so if he gets upset and I try to force the breast he just bites it! LOL)
I have been feeding him solids, and now has them 2 times a day.
Thanks to all so far for their help :-)

Andrea - posted on 01/04/2010

At that age, he needs the "cry-it-out" method. However, here is a trick I have done with my daughter who is only 7 weeks old, and she is sleeping 6 hours at this point. I express about 2-3 ounces during the day, and then after I nurse her for the last time at night, I get her changed and ready for bed (low light and some white noise, warm room) then I give her the expressed breastmilk in a bottle - then onto my shoulder to burp and sleep, then she is out for most the night. I think that giving it to her in the bottle gets it into her system quicker and makes her feel more full, rather than getting it over the course of 20 mins. This has worked for me, maybe for you? Not sure if you have a pump or not.

Janice - posted on 01/04/2010

Although I hve not tried this, my daughter is only 2 months, my suggestion is to cluster feed in the evening. Offer your breast multiple times in the 3-4 hours before bed. When your son wakes up to feed it is mostly out of habit. You need to comfort him w/o picking him up till he goes back to sleep. These are suggestions I have heard work from other breastfeeding moms.

Carla - posted on 01/04/2010

maybe you need to reverse it...get him to brestfeed more during the day and none at night...i guess i would probably make him cry it out during the night for the first night and he would alot hungrier during that next day and if kept crying that next night give him a bottle instead of you going in there...good luck

Tracy - posted on 01/04/2010

I just got this book called "the sleep easy solution" let me tell you it saved my life lol...My baby is now on a schedule and everything. According to the book your baby is feeding at night out of habit because once they reach 14 lbs they don't have to eat at night anymore. what you need to do is feed him one less ounce per feeding til there is none. also you have to pick only 1 time a night to give him the bottle and don't give it anymore because you are helping his habit by giving it to him. Let him cry for 5 minutes walk in the room. Don't touch him! just talk to him for 30 seconds leave the room and let him cry 10 minutes walk in the room talk to him for 30 seconds and then 15 minutes...repeat this for as long as it takes...the first week is the hardest but they learn fast! keep trying...it works!

Kelsey - posted on 01/04/2010

How many bottles does he get and how many ounces? How much baby food is he eating? When do you usually give him a bottle?