dummy or bottle

Diana - posted on 01/28/2010

If a baby wakes during the night for a bottle, and will only be settled by a bottle, it is because (s)he is HUNGRY, no matter what age, with few exceptions (though there are the occassional few.) Different babies need different amounts of food. Different babies sleep different amounts of time. My ped mentioned once that this is more connected to weight than age (smaller the baby, the smaller the stomach, thus the need to feed more often), although heavier babies still sometimes wake for a bottle. Particularly with babies who sleep for a long time at night (my son has slept from 9 or 10 p.m. until about 8 or 9 a.m. since he was about 4 months), they may need to wake up once late night for feedings. If they can be settled with a dummy-not a hungry baby. BUT sometimes they are genuinely hungry. With this one, it's best to go by the individual baby and not what someone says the baby "should" be doing at that point food-wise.

Mel - posted on 01/28/2010

yeah. I cant fully comment yet I havent had lots of bottle feeding experience. Bri's ped reckons this one will be opposite and eat heaps. We'll see

Penny - posted on 01/28/2010

I dunno, I've always just gone on what my babies decided. If my babies dont want to eat they wont, there isnt any force feeding them. My bubba now pushes his lil tongue out when he has had enough.

Mel - posted on 01/28/2010

yeah fair point on that. I guess it depends on the kid. I would think if they didnt need it they could settle with water but then again I supposeif they are having several feeds over night then maybe that would be the time to start weaning them like to cut the amount of feeds down right? Ive always thought 9 months was over the top, but this was the first I heard about 6 months. But I suppose it depends on the kid

Penny - posted on 01/28/2010

And Kati contradicts herself by saying at 6 months a child doesnt need a night feed, but then says that if a baby is hungry it wont let up til fed. So do you feed a crying child, who wont "let up" who is 6 months even though its night time????

Penny - posted on 01/28/2010

Not trying to start trouble, but so many parenting magazines say so many different things you dont know what to believe. I'm pretty sure at 6 months both my babies still had at least one feed during the night. And it was because they NEEDED it. Their bedtime at that age was about 6.30pm, then they would wake for a feed about midnight just after then back to sleep til about 6/7am. If you want to listen to parenting books/magazines, because its "correct info" Then smacking your child is WRONG and you should be using timeout or whatever.
(not having a go at anyone for smacking their child...I use smacking as a method of discipline with my children) Just using it as an example.

Mel - posted on 01/28/2010

well Kati said she read it in a magazine for parenting right so I assume it is correct info. Most of the time babies who are past a certain age wake out of habit not because they are hungry and need calories. They can have the calories during the day

Cassie - posted on 01/28/2010

If their bodies still need calories during the night then giving them water will deprive them of the calories they need.

Mel - posted on 01/28/2010

what she is saying is that they dont need it but some people choose to feed thier children over night. SO what that means is if you choose to give your child only water during the night it will be sufficient. I found the info very helpful anyway

Cassie - posted on 01/28/2010

I will say it again, some babies do NEED breastmilk/formula through the night even after they reach 6 months. They do not magically go to sleep when they turn 6 months and not need as many calories. You have to follow each individual child's cues to know whether they NEED to eat or not.

Mel - posted on 01/28/2010

no your fine Kati :) some people choose to allow thier kids to feed over night but Im sure you said they dont need the over night feds which is correct except I always thought it was after 9 months. So some parents choose to give thier kids milk rather then water over night but they dont NEED it. With my next at least I now know I only need to give her water after she is that age rather then formula

Rosie - posted on 01/25/2010

i did choose my words wrong-i should've said most babies-however i did get it out of a parents magazine (which i know isn't the bible, but still has good info. as guidelines). and you also have to remember we were talking about a formula fed baby-not a breast fed baby. my second child (all of mine were formula fed) took until he was 9 months old to sleep through the night without waking for a feeding, so you are right, it is on an individual child basis-but the norm is around 6 months.

Diana - posted on 01/23/2010

Yep, I was thinking the same thing...Especially for small babies, they may still need those calories. My son didn't stop night feeds until he was about 8 months old. But trust me, I knew he was hungry, because a bottle was the only thing that would soothe him. Just because he wasn't "supposed" to be hungry doesn't mean he wasn't. I really think it's just one of those things that vary from baby to baby.

Cassie - posted on 01/23/2010

I was going to say something along the same lines as well. Just because a child reaches the age of 6 months does not mean that they are automatically ready to go without night feeds. Every mother has to look at her child as an individual who may need night feeds for much longer. My daughter only just was able to go the full night without nursing at around 12 or 13 months.

It can be dangerous for any child to have their night feeds taken away when their bodies are not ready to give up those needed calories through the night.

Amie - posted on 01/23/2010

Kati is not entirely correct! I just thought I should point that out.

Not ALL babies stop night feeds by 6 months. Just because a certain age is reached does not mean you automatically stop feeding them at certain times. My youngest is almost 10 months old, she's fully on formula now, eats 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks, and she STILL wakes up at night for a bottle. /:)

There is no magic age when you stop giving them a bottle at night. It depends on the child and if they don't need it. Some do, some don't. People need to be careful how they word their advice.

Melissa I will say I'm glad you have finally worded yours in a way so that is reflective of your situation with Bri and realize it is NOT the norm for all babies.

Krista - posted on 01/23/2010

If it was hunger no pacifier on this planet would soothe him enough to go back to sleep.

Mel - posted on 01/23/2010

Thanks a bunch Kati yes I sent the person in question a pm so I think she has realised that some peds are just different to others now. We even had to give her milk in a bottl back when she was first weaned off a tube even in hospital so I think they would have said smething it if wasnt allowed in our situation. The nurses have always been brilliant at the hospitals we've been to very nice people. Wow is it 6 months thanks I always thought it was 9 months its nice to know it is 6 months when they dont need night feeds. I appreciate that advice

Rosie - posted on 01/22/2010

mel my ped. and pediatric dentist told me it was fine to give my child water in his bottle at night as well. there is no sugar in it, therefore nothing to give the child cavities.

as for the initial question, no i don't think the baby is hungry. my kids often woke when they lost their binky, popped it back in and they were fine. at 6 months the child doesn't need the night time feedings if it's formula fed. a baby will definitely let you know when it's hungry and won't give up till it's fed.

Mel - posted on 01/18/2010

there is Morgan some people conpact the formula beause they dont realise your not supposed to. Personally we had to put extra scoops in our daughters bottles for weight gain. We made it for 24 hours and it had something like 4 extra scoops. It causes bad constipation but sometimes has to be done.

I think babies eat what they want to eat they cant be over fed. When my little girl was born the amount your supposed to feed them is 60 mills, my daughter dran very little and they said to me you know we have new borns in here drinking 180 mills. If over feeding was bad they wouldnt let babies have that extra formula. Its just sme babies get more hungry then others. If its too much for thie tummy thier throw it up

Charlie - posted on 01/16/2010

Its on the side of most formula cans im just saying what the formula companies are warning on their own products .

I was very careful to read all of the information before feeding my bubba formula but i agree with Amie in her last paragraph , your friends baby sounds fine if a dummy is soothing them back to sleep .

Amie - posted on 01/15/2010

Uh that's not what over feeding means. Over feeding means they are getting too much formula in a 24 hour period. Not too much at one feeding. /:) Regardless of BF or FF all babies will spit up if they eat too much at one feeding.

The most common reason for FF babies being over fed is because bottles are easier for them to eat than it is for BF to nurse. Their suck instinct isn't satisfied so they cry, mothers misinterpret this and feed them more. Which leads to over feeding. A pacifier works well to help babies with a strong suck reflex.

Your friends baby sounds fine. If it was hunger no pacifier on this planet would soothe him enough to go back to sleep. It most likely is because he lost it while he was sleeping, went to suck and woke up because he realized it wasn't there.

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

no clue how much he gets fed. I dont think you can over feed never heard of that, wel it beng dangerous, see babies throw up what they cant fit in thier tummy if they comfort suck and drink too much

Charlie - posted on 01/15/2010

It depends , are they feeding her the required amount of formula for her age ?
there are certain amounts for each age group and while its ok for them not to finish a bottle it isnt ok to over feed them formula as it can be dangerous as stated on all tins to go over the recommended amount .

Diana - posted on 01/15/2010

If the baby was hungry, a dummy probably wouldn't satisfy him-and I'm of the opinion that, unless instructed by a doctor to do it, you really shouldn't wake a baby to feed them-they will wake when they're hungry, and they will cry until they get what they need.

Sarah - posted on 01/15/2010

In regards to the original question, i would think that so long as the baby is getting enough to eat in the day, he wouldn't need a bottle at night. The dummy wouldn't settle him for long if he was hungry!
He's probably just lost his dummy and wants it back.
Shia was about the same age when she started waking up all night for her dummy.........a good time to take it away! That's what i did and she slept right through ever since. :)

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

I didnt think I would specifically be able to find that information as its something tats just generally known for parents and doctors of these kids. I found sites that provide information and say how it is difficult for them to understand how mcuh to eat and how to eat and drink which is one of the reasons they need to have food/drinks provided 24/7 for them during the 6 months during and after the weaning process.

http://www.new-vis.com/fym/papers/p-feed...

http://ippec.org/english/clinicalwork/tu...

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

*sigh* it still has plenty of information fromthe parents. My net is capped. Let me see if I can fnd something apart from the articles I have saved to my computer then try and get back on here.

Iris - posted on 01/15/2010

Ok, this website looks like a chat room for moms, not the professional site I expected. So that doesn't tell me anything.

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

I do feed her before she goes to bed. She has breakfast , morning tea, lunch, sleep, afternoon tea which is usually something like pasta with lots of cheese and butter and powder, fruit, ice cream and whipped cream, then dinner and dessert. As long as she has a bottle in bed it doesnt matter how much she drinks, its tehre in case she gets thirsty. She doesnt have the ability to know how much she has to drink to ful fill her needs during the day so she may get thirsty at night. She would not drink a bottle if I woke her to feed her that would be silly. Check out tubefedkids.ning.com for more information on prior tube depedant children and thier needs after the tube is removed

Iris - posted on 01/15/2010

Mel, I don't have to get a number. I have doctor, nurse and a midwife in my family if I need to ask.
The reason I have a hard time believing you is because.
1. You can safely feed her before she goes to bed and therefore no risk with the bottle.
2. By feeding her the bottle before she goes to sleep and then waking up to feed her again, you know exactly how much she is taking in.
3. If you leave her in bed with the bottle, you don't know how much she drinks and how much of it got in the sheets.
Very simple.

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

well if you dont believe it that is your problem. I dont have to explain myself and my child. If you arent satisfied with that medical advice why dont you ring up my pediatrician or dieticians I would be happy to give you the number. you can tell them you dont believe it not me

Iris - posted on 01/15/2010

Sorry, but I have a hard time believing that Mel. I would understand if you had to give her a bottle before she goes to sleep and wake her up during the night for her to get more. But as for her falling a sleep with the bottle, that just sounds a bit reckless to me.

Mel - posted on 01/15/2010

because of her hydration Jodi. Shes still at risk of dehydration. And she has calorie powder in everything even water...

Jodi - posted on 01/14/2010

So Mel, your Pediatrician TOLD you to put her to bed with a bottle of water, and they would have a fit if you didn't? Why would they have a fit if Brianna didn't have a bottle of water? That doesn't make any sense, because water has no nutritional value.....

Kerry - posted on 01/14/2010

ma lil boy wakes up threw the night and i just put his dummy bk in and he falls asleep i can tell the difference between just restless and hungry

Mel - posted on 01/14/2010

To Lindsay - our daughter has special circumstances and should always be put to bed with a bottle. Her pedi would have a fit if he knew I wasnt giving her one not to mention our feeding mangement team

Lindsay - posted on 01/14/2010

You should never put a baby to bed with a bottle regardless of what's in it.

Lindsay - posted on 01/14/2010

I agree with Erin. If he's going right back to sleep with the paci, he's probably just dependent on it and not hungry. A hungry baby is not going to go back to sleep by getting a paci.

Mel - posted on 01/14/2010

Ive heard that about the tooth decay but isnt that only when they are older that you dont put them to bed with a bottle. Mine has a bottle of water in bed at 21 months only jut in case she gets thirsty but she never touches it. My god sons mother and everyone else I know puts them to bed with a bottle...

I think your right it must be no hunger or he'd stay awake. I will ask her though.

Erin - posted on 01/14/2010

At 6 months it's possible that this baby is still requiring night feeds. But he may also just be waking because he's lost his dummy. If he's going back to sleep with just the dummy, with no crying and no effort from them (ie, they don't have to rock/pat him back off), I tend to think he's probably not hungry. When my daughter woke through the night out of hunger, there's no way her dummy would have cut it for more than a few minutes.

Dana - posted on 01/14/2010

Well it wouldn't hurt to suggest that to her. Tell her it might help them all get more sleep if they get up once and give him a bottle. Of couse he could be fine and just wakes up a lot. He probably wouldn't go back to sleep so easily if he were hungry but hell, what do I know either.

Johnny - posted on 01/14/2010

Just don't leave the bottle with the baby in the crib. When babies falling asleep on the bottle can cause serious tooth decay.

Mel - posted on 01/14/2010

I tube fed the bottle feeding for the first 2 months I dont realy remember because it seemed like such a short amount of time. I just tend to write I bottle fed because its much easier then talking about the compications of tube feeding. I actually wouldnt know how to give a baby a bottle and burp them lol guess its pretty simple.

I just hopehe isnt hungry. Alot of her friends and family have had him over night I havent yet probably cause Im too scared my own child will wake up. But would be nice to get some experience

Dana - posted on 01/14/2010

I thought you did bottle feed? Anyhow, I would imagine it's possible that if they fed the baby at one of those times, he might not wake up through out the whole night.