4 Mo Boy Still Waking at Night to Eat

Hi C., I started my babies on rice cereal at 6 weeks old at bed time, and at six weeks old they were sleeping through the night, it fills them up until morning, doctors may frown on that, but my mom gave me that idea, cause she did that with all 5 of us, and we were fine, I did it with mine and they were all fine, now 24, 21, and 19 all healthy. J.

what i did with my daughter at that age was cluster fed her before bed. i gave her rice cereal (a little thicker and more then normal) then a couple ounces and then a full bottle for bed. if you arent feeding him rice cereal yet maybe try to feed him an extra ounce. if he wakes up in the night give him a few ounces and then offer the paci (if you use one). my lil one was waking up about the same time and then not again till 7a. good luck hope it works.

He is doing really good -- but you might consider adjusting his schedule so that you can sleep during the late night hours. It will also help develop good habits for the school years.

My recommendation is to not feed him as much at his 6 pm feeding. (gradually reduce, so he doesn't get upset) Then he will wake again about about 10 to eat again. Give him a REALLY big feeding here. This should help him to sleep longer.... hopefully 6 hours or longer. If he wakes after 4 hours go ahead and feed him, but radually reduce over time...some babies are stubborn and will have to go through some crying and self soothing, but others will stop bothering to wake up if they realize they are not going to be fed.

Just remember to make changes gradually so that it doesn't shock him. I also recommend the book BABYWISE. It is rigid, but there are some good ideas you can use for getting him on a better schedule that will help move him toward sleeping all night.

My baby is 6 months and has been sleeping thru the nite (with minor wake-ups for a binky once in a while) since 4 and a half months. I used the baby whisperer as my guide and worked hard at keeping with their recommendations of feed, play, sleep. Every baby is different so you'll have to see if this works for your lil guy!

Here's what I did: if she went to sleep at 7pm i would sleep feed her again at 10:30pm and when she woke up at 3 or 4am i'd offer her the binky. If she was hungry she would reject the binky and i would then nurse her. Even now I still put her down at 8ish and give her a sleep feeding at 9:30pm (backing it down from the 10:30 we used to do) so she can make it thru the nite. She wakes between 6 and 6;30 and usually wants to eat within a half hour.

Good luck!!

Babies NEED to eat through the night. If it's breastmilk they digest very quickly. I've heard formula takes longer, but my daughter never had any. Also remember, during a growth spurt they eat even more. I think the first year is pretty much one constant growth spurt!!!LOL

If a baby is hungry, feed him. Yes, you will have to get up, yes it's tiring. But, remember, they are babies for only a brief moment... one day, they will no longer be. Enjoy this moment, for it will pass all too quickly.

Your baby is only 17 weeks old. This is normal. Some children don't sleep through the night until AFTER 1 or 2 years old.

For the first year of life, a baby's primary source of nutrition is breastmilk/formula. This is how they survive, grow, develop,heal, and develop their brains.

With this in mind, an infant needs to be fed "on demand." This is the best for them. But yes, that means we don't get much sleep. Oh well. I have not had a night's full sleep since my firstborn... that was 5 years ago! We adjust and one day, they will be all grown up.

I would not do the cereal thing. (a baby's digestive system and internal organs are still developing and it's not for THEM that we give them cereal, but for "us" to "make" them sleep. I don't think it's natural at this age). But that's just me. Each baby has their own pattern, and feeding needs. My son was a VORACIOUS feeder too. And he had the same waking pattern as your son. But oh well. As he grew and developed though... his wakings lessened...and now at 20 months old, he only gets up once or none at all, during the night. They do adjust.

Perhaps... your son needs to feed more, and more frequently during the daytime. Try that.

Also, during growth spurts...they feed more and more often. They need this... I would NOT with-hold feedings for a baby, if that is what they need. But that is just me.

Are you breastfeeding or using formula? If breastfeeding, perhaps make sure your have enough flow. If formula, well you can tell how much he drinks by the bottle.

If your baby is growing and developing and gaining weight appropriately, then that is good and keep up his feedings.

I know, it's not easy and it's tiring getting up...but take heart, it WILL pass. But other phases of development and growth spurts and teething and night terrors will arise also. LOL. So read up on those too. :)

Take care and all the best,
~Susan

Maybe it depends on his body weight- my pediatrician said at my son's 4 month well check that there waas no reason whatsover that my (100% breastfed) son NEEDED to eat in the middle of the night- none. That it was just a habit (although my son also ate at least 20 minutes when he woke up at 2 and 4 AM or 1 and 3:30ish). She put it this way- "if I gave you $100 every morning at 1:00AM- you would wake up to get your money, right?". My son is now 6 months old- and until like two weeks ago- I was waking up @ 2 and 4, then for the morning with him at 7:00 for at least the last two months. Even though my pediatrician said he was just developing a habit the longer I let him get up every night and eat- I just couldn't bare to have him need me- know that I could make it better- and that he'd go right back to sleep after about 25 minutes or so of "the boob" I have struggled with what is "right thing to do" and bought 3 books on sleep- here is what Dr. weisenbluth's well respected book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" said to do because I guess those are really common times for a child to wake: They said to let him cry at the first waking (ususally that happens between 12:30 and 2:30am) then feed him at the 4:00 if he wakes up then. You can even go in and console him at that first waking- I did. I picked him up, told him I loved him- even did a small version of our bedtime routine (mobile, kissed him, etc) and then walked out. He freaked out the first time screamed like he was HURT! I even got up and read my darn sleep book at 1:30 AM for support because I was SICK about letting my sweetie scream- I am sure he woke the neighbors. HOWEVER- he fell back to sleep after an excruitating 45 minutes of on and off fussing/ crying AND DIDN'T WAKE UP AGAIN UNTIL HIS NORMAL WAKE UP TIME! Guess he tired himself out pretty good. Then the next night, no crying or waking at 2:00 or 3:00- he slept all the way to 4:30AM! AT that time I jumped out of bed and fed him- then he fell back asleep until his normal 7:00AM wake up time. He had one more night in like two weeks where he woke up at like 2:30, and cried JUST A LITTLE for like 10 minutes- but then went right back to sleep without us! It has been going really well or the past two weeks- for the first time in six months I am getting some good solid blocks of sleep- and I am feeling so much better mentally, physically, etc. Guess what? Since he is sleeping better at night- he is napping better (longer and at more predictable times) too! In the past couple days the baby has been going to sleep at his normal 7:30 bedtime (well boob at 7:30, bed at 8:00) and waking for the day between 6:00-6:30@!! It is crazy, I wake up at 2:00AM now and check the moniter to see if it is working!! So wake up time is earlier- but life is better for all involved.

Bottomline: If I can do it you can do it. You will be happy you did. Just don't back down at teh first waking and don't give him the boob even though it would just be so much easier in the short run. He will be fine. You will start feeling like yourself again!...gotta run, baby is up from nap! :)

Yes, please don't complain. Both of mine nursed throughout the night (my choice and I'm not complaining) until about 2 years old. Your son is still very young and is probably hungry.

I know you don't want to hear this (again) but enjoy this time, it will go fast.
M.

that sounds like a great schedule! i wouldn't complain at all.

while some of this information may not be what you're looking for, this site does talk about night time feedings and children's nutritional needs.

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/ap/sleep.asp

good luck!!!

Of course he is! That is what 4 mo. olds do. Babies need nutrition in the night. Denying them this or letting them cry it out is an inhumane thing to do.

Cereal before bed did not help my child to sleep longer. The doctors have you wait on solids until a baby is 6 mo. old for many reasons. Babies' swallow reflex doesn't develop until then and their bodies can't process solid food until they are a little bit older.

Keep in mind that cereal is a highly refined carbohydrate. My pedi told me to avoid cereal at the beginning as it has been proven to contribute to diabetes and obesity later in life.

When I called my sisters--who had more experience with motherhood than I did--to whine about the sleepless nights they told me that it gets better with time. And it did. My son has gotten better about sleeping with time. This is all about brain development.

Hang in there. This too shall pass.

Unfortunately that is what he is supposed to do. With my daughter I would just go in before I was going to bed, pick her up, and feed her. I wouldn't wake her up. She would just eat, and then I would put her back in her crib. That would usually buy me another 6-8 hours. Good luck!

He is still so young to cut out night feedings. My daughter is 8 months and just started sleeping w/o feeding in the middle of the night. She was on the same schedule as your son and now she goes down between 6:30-7pm and then goes till 5am then eats and sleeps till 7, when her brother gets up and wakes her up! lol
Enjoy this time with you son, you will miss it believe it or not.
Good Luck!