Baby wakes up at night for feeding. How do I change that?

Becca - posted on 09/04/2011

When they are that age you don't need to worry about night waking and feeding him when he wakes. Research has only shown negative effects in children over 30 months (ie. 2 1/2 years). Prior to that children may wake to eat at night due to a need for additional nutrician.

Katherine - posted on 08/31/2011

my son also had the reflux issues and we started giving him thick cereal just before 4 months. he's now on solids...all on request and suggestion of our doc.

it's bs the babies can't sleep through night on breastmilk. My little one was 3 weeks old, breastfed and sleeping 12 hours EVERY night, hes now on formula and solids and sleeping the same amount.

It's all about routine, establish a good one, stick to it and your golden!!!

Good luck

Kaz - posted on 08/13/2011

Caitie, my son is the same age as yours 4 1/2 months. Same issue of reflux. We started him on cereal at 4 mo. via spoon (in the bottle I hear really isn't safe). It's just thick enough that he is able to handle it. We do rice cereal, not the wheat due to allergy concerns. But, like your son mine wakes up 1 - 2 times a night to nurse....I'm feeling more and more like that is normal.

Sheralyn - posted on 07/13/2011

It wont last forever. Babies change their habits all the time. What you have to do one week might not be what you have to do the next. He will eventually grow out of it, and remember not all babies are the same. Some may need to feed at night for a while and others dont. Maybe he is getting a sore tummy from that thick food and that is what is waking him up? If hes hungry, feed him, he will sleep longer again soon.

Trefalyn - posted on 07/03/2011

Use the prethickened formula, enfamil ar or similac rs, less risk of choking. My son is on this as well

Caitie - posted on 07/03/2011

He's pretty much back to normal now, sleeping through the night. Our doctor recommended cereal because of him throwing up so easily, thick things are the only things that he can keep down. :(

Colleen - posted on 07/03/2011

You can feed a child breast milk (or colostrum) with a spoon from the day they are born.

Trefalyn - posted on 07/03/2011

He is probably getting dehydrated and thirsty during the night with all that cereal. Thats not good for him! He is probably going through a growth spurt. My son wakes up every 2-3 hours for bottles. Cut out the cereal, hold him off a bit with a pacifier. Sometimes my son will fall asleep with that instead

Colleen - posted on 07/01/2011

Feeding them cereal in their milk will not make them sleep more, that is a myth. BS on the "will always want to eat at that time. How old is he? Baby bellies are not big enough to go 8 -9 hours without food. Especially breast milk, as it is digested much easier than formula.

Caitie - posted on 06/30/2011

Can you feed your child with a spoon when he is 3 months old? I thought you had to wait til at least 4 months.

Nikki - posted on 06/30/2011

My first child slept through the entire night at 2 and 3 months then woke up every night until she was 18 months. My second and third children were not like that. If your son is hungry at 3 am then feed him. He is not going to develop any habits he is just hungry. Give him the cereal off a spoon instead of in his bottle. It isn't recommended that you put it in their bottles. I know some doctors say absolutely no food until 6 months but I gave all my children food way before that.

Yvette - posted on 06/30/2011

Hi Caitie. How old is your son? I just wonder as young babies tend to need feeding through the night, even up to 12 months of age, depending on your childs needs. Also, cereal/food that isn't breast milk/formula shouldn't be getting put through your babys immature digestive system until they are atleast 6 months of age because their system just can't process it safely, leading to a number of health issues now and later. I know, our grandmother probably did it, but now our mothers and even our generation are dealing with food allergies that never used to exist. 8-9 hours of sleep at night is the envy of all mothers, so congrats on the miracle that was a full nights sleep and then some. I'm not sure why mothers (I know I'm generalising everyone, so please don't take offence) have this belief that we have a baby, get them into a routine and from there life will become manageable. Even I had to stop myself from complaining about the change in my babys sleeping and feeding patterns as she went through each day. Babies will do what it is their body is telling them to do and if we as adults try to make them go against their bodies instincts we are not doing them any favours. Yes its what us adults do, but that doesnt make it a good thing. It is exhausting having to get up to your baby every 3 hours at night (my baby has started doing that for the past month, from previously sleeping from 10.30pm to 4.30am, which is considered sleeping through the night), but if you baby is warm/cool depending on the season, dry/clean and having their day naps (4-5 naps a day for babys under 6 months), and you still can't settle bub with a lovely long cuddle, with out feeding them in the night, then your baby is hungry! I know its not fair that bub has changed his pattern, but the fact is that many babies can be programmed to sleep, eat, play etc to fit in with your needs, but sometimes our babies just have to go with what their body needs to do to grow and develop, for the short time that they are babies we need to just go with their needs. I'm not one for making my baby fit in with me and my plans soley. If I have to go out then I do, whether its her nap time or not, and I stop to feed her if out, but otherwise, I put her down for a nap when she shows tired signs, even if its been less than 1.5 hours since she last woke up, feed her if she won't be settled any other way even if it hasn't been 3 hours, and continue to remind myself as I wake up for the 4th time in the night to feed/settle my baby that this time is so short and it won't be forever. I have a family to look after in my sleep deprived state, but I know that its not forever, so Caitie, relax, possibly lay off the wheat products in your babys system if they are under 6 months so their bowels don't get uncomfortable, possibly making your baby not settle well, and wait it out.
The mind set of 'I just need to provide for my baby and will let my baby tell me what he needs' will get you through :)

Michelle - posted on 06/29/2011

I happen to see this post and thought I would give you a little input. My last baby (number 6) was born on April 28th and he is up about 2 to 3 times during the night for feeding.
It is pretty common for babies to wake up every 3 to 4 hours wanting to eat. They tend to do this until about 5 to 6 mo's old, but every baby is different. What your son was doing before sleeping 8 to 9 hours straight doesn't always happen with new babies. And your baby is still young and you should be feeding him when he wants to eat. I wouldn't worry to much about your son wanting to continue waking up at the same time. What other people have been saying to you about him wanting to continue on eating at that time is not true.
Take it from a mom of 6 kids that I have been through and seen different ways how babies act (I am also a daycare provider).
In regards to him having cereal I was just curious if you have talked to his pediatrician about it? Generally they don't want babies this age having cereal cause they could develop allergies or choke on it cause their gag reflux hasn't fully developed yet.
I know every baby is different and some just need to have more in order to feel full, but I just wanted to throw out some caution on using cereal at this age for your son.
I do acknowledge that as a mom you do know what is best for your child. Even myself as a seasoned mother end up finding out new things that I need to do/or not do with my new baby. But with any advice you just take it with a grain of salt : )

Bridget - posted on 06/29/2011

Putting cereal in babies bottles doesnt help them sleep longer and it can lead to weight issues as they get older. At this age there is nothing wrong with babies waking in the middle of the night to eat, especially if they are going through a growth spurt, reaching milestones or teehing. Babies at this age need to eat in the middle of the night sometimes, especially if they are growing. And it isnt true if you feed him now he will "always" want it. Give it to him now, when he NEEDS it, and when he is older- after 6 months, he wont need it anymore.

Natasha - posted on 06/29/2011

children/babies eat more when they are going through growing spurts.... why would you want to change it? mine ate in the night till he was almost twoish?