Ive been advised not to wean until 6 months but Grace my 17 week old is waking in the night hungry!

Minnie - posted on 11/20/2009

Wean from breastfeeding?

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of two years.

A breastfed infant is expected to receive about 25% of his or her nutrition during the night for the first 12 months.

If by 'wean' you mean begin solids, it's a myth that introduction of solids will help your baby sleep longer at night. Her digestive system is immature and permeable still and what she needs is more of your milk not solids or supplementation.

Many mothers find they get more sleep if they bring their infants into bed with them. Latch baby on and go back to sleep.

Sharyn - posted on 11/20/2009

My daughter started sleeping thru the night at 6 - 7 months and i didnt have any weaning to do thankfully .. if your child is waking up hungry then feed her. maybe add some rice cereal to her bottles to get her more full and content.
i've been feeding cereal in my daughters bottles since she was 2 months old because she was always hungry.

Lisa - posted on 11/20/2009

Quoting Elizabeth :

Try supplementing with a bottle. My son did that and he just wasn't getting enough from me so my doc said to give him 20 min on each side and then if he is still hungry give him a bottle and let him eat until he is full. Sometimes we just don't make enough or it is just to hard to get out. There is really no way to measure how much they are getting from us. This worked wonders for me. He began to sleep for 2-4 hours at a time. But you may want to talk to the doctor to see if you are just under producing or something because if your health is bad or you get sick at all the slightest fever can dry up your milk. You could also try pumping and that way you can measure exactly how much the baby is eating.

pumping does not stimulate the breast like a baby does and you're unlikely to produce as much for the pump as you do for baby.  It is not an accurate indicator of how much milk baby is getting.

Breast fed babies are more likely to wake in the night to be fed because breast milk is easily digested (just as it is supposed to be). formula may help a baby sleep for longer, but that is because it is heavier and sits undigested in baby's stomach for longer, definitely not best for baby. 

If your daughter is gaining weight and having plenty of wet nappies then you are not under producing.  it is completely normal for any baby to wake for night feeds for 6 months and longer, especially if they are about to have a growth spurt.  I know it is hard to be sleep deprived but it does get better.  Many mothers are now choosing to cosleep to make night feeds even easier, possibly something to look into.  good luck xx

Eileen - posted on 11/20/2009

Babies night wake until at least 8 months, for nutritional reasons. Grace is very normal!!! :)

Diana - posted on 11/20/2009

While some 17 week olds sleep through the night, most don't. Don't get discouraged because of that. I know it's exhausting, but it has to do with how big their stomachs are-and most of them have really small stomachs at that age. Also, keep in mind how fast they're growing-it takes a lot of energy to grow and learn as much as they do when they're tiny. So just let her take the lead-it will end soon enough, and then you'll actually kind of miss it.

Dana - posted on 11/20/2009

That's normal and will continue. My son still ate in the night at one year but, all babies are different and I still offered him the breast.

Elizabeth - posted on 11/20/2009

Try supplementing with a bottle. My son did that and he just wasn't getting enough from me so my doc said to give him 20 min on each side and then if he is still hungry give him a bottle and let him eat until he is full. Sometimes we just don't make enough or it is just to hard to get out. There is really no way to measure how much they are getting from us. This worked wonders for me. He began to sleep for 2-4 hours at a time. But you may want to talk to the doctor to see if you are just under producing or something because if your health is bad or you get sick at all the slightest fever can dry up your milk. You could also try pumping and that way you can measure exactly how much the baby is eating.

Leslie - posted on 11/20/2009

If she is also taking a bottle.. Add a little bit of rice cereal..My grandson weighed 10 lbs when he was born..He would drink 8oz at a time and still wasn't full..The rice cereal worked wonders !

Isobel - posted on 11/20/2009

plus...night feedings are WAY easier when you are breast feeding...I promise, you don't want to go through the pain of weaning, just to have to STILL get up in the middle of the night AND make a bottle.

Lydia - posted on 11/20/2009

Its not unusual for such a young baby to wake for feeds in the night - heck my 10 month old still occassionally needs a night feed if shes growing. Wean when you feel shes ready but please dont make her go hungry if she needs a feed...

Sherri - posted on 11/20/2009

That is normal for her to wake up to eat, she still very small.My son was a big baby (9.12 lbs) and he got up in the night til he was 10 months old. Breast fed babies eat more often.I know its hard trying to function on little sleep but it is whats best for baby. I loved nursing my babies however formula does help them sleep better, its more filling.

Sarah - posted on 11/19/2009

some doctors will allow weaning onto a very small amount of baby rice at 4 months but that would depend on the size of your baby. Don't worry about your little girl not sleeping through the night yet (I know its hard for the mum but it is perfectly normal). It's still okay for her to be waking up for 4 hourly feeds - she's growing at a rapid rate of knots!

Mandi - posted on 11/19/2009

I applaud the breast feeding sentiment but make sure she is getting enough from the feeds. She still is young enough to be waking for feeds even if she is getting enough but if it waking constantly then you may have the same problem I did. My daughter woke every hour as she wasn't getting enough from the feeds even though she fed herself back off to sleep. Unfortunately we had to also add in the bottle as she didn't get enough to eat. Once we added that she then got a normal sleep - but if she is only waking once or twice a night it sounds like she is getting all she needs and I would follow doctors advice - there are all sorts of stats on developing allergies etc when food is added before babies systems are mature enough at around 6mths.

Maurie - posted on 11/18/2009

Sharon - posted on 11/18/2009

If she is waking from hunger, then feed her. Babies are meant to feed often and even in the middle of the night! She is digesting her food and needs more. Don't let the broken sleep deter you from this as it in the best interest of your baby to feed her this way. Don't forget...this is all temporary and before you know it your baby with be a big girl and the sleepless nights will be a distant memory. Hang in there, we've all been where you are now ;-)

Dayna - posted on 11/18/2009

That's normal. a 17 week old is supposed to wake up in the night hungry, giving formula won't change that. Once she is old enough to start eating cereals you might be able to feed her a little extra before bed and keep her full longer, but don't worry about her waking up hungry unless your pediatrician thinks she isn't gaining enough. If your dr says she is doing good and you are doing good, then all is normal. :)

Kay - posted on 11/18/2009

All babies are different. My first child slept through the night, after the first week. Of course, he was grabbing food from the fast food bag that was set next to him the first day out of the hospital. He is now taller than me. My second and third child were both different. If you wish to keep breast feeding do so. Your doctor can give you advice on something to add to your child's diet, if necessary. If you don't wish to continue to breast feed (it is up to you) don't. Only you can decide what's right for you and your child.

Jennifer - posted on 11/18/2009

im the old fashion type. I never went by what the dr said. my oldest nursed till she was 20 months & my youngest was 15 months. they slept all night sometimes & sometimes not. don't deprive something from them that the creator designed so lovingly for them. if you can nurse that long GREAT!!!

Kate CP - posted on 11/18/2009

Wait until at LEAST 6 months. She's waking in the night because she needs night feedings. Even if she were on a bottle she'd still be waking in the night for feedings. Stick to the nursing until SHE is ready to wean.

Esther - posted on 11/18/2009

If the advise from your pediatrician is not until 6 months - I would follow that advise. I woulnd't expect a 17 week old to be sleeping through the night yet at all. Hell, my 2 year old barely sleeps through the night. If she's hungry - feed her. She has a lot of growing to do still.