giving water instead of milk at night?

[BrookieG]

Basically all my family are advising me to do this...

Ollie was a fantastic sleeper and was sleeping right through until he got oral thrush. this made his feeding so erratic coz we were giving him an ounce here and there coz he was just in too much pain to take a full bottle so now that its cleared we're trying to get him back into a routine of taking a full bottle n sleeping through. I know he's still young but he was sleeping thru b4 the thrush. Thing is we dreamfeed him around 11ish, he then wakes at around 2.30am but is only taking about 2 ounces(!) on tuesday he got his feed at 7 n slept thru until 2.30am but only took 2oz so obv wasnt starving, i fell asleep last night so he didnt get his dreamfeed and this time he only took 3 oz...(his bottles are 5oz). I mentioned this to my family and said i feel like he;s not really waking up because he's hungry but rather that he thinks its his routine now to get up around this time.....they have all suggested giving him water instead of the milk and that he'll soon get fed up of waking just for water....i feel kinda creul doing this but i know that if he takes the full 5oz at 11pm he wont really be hungry at 2,30am....im thinking to carry on with the dreamfeed and just make up a 2oz bottle for his 2.30am feed, give him this and then put his dummy in....if he's ok with this for a few nights reduce the milk to 1oz, again if he's fine with this just offer and oz of water in the hope that he'll sleep right thru...id never leave my son hungry which is why ill continue to dreamfeed until he gives this up himself but im worrying im being cruel thing is he's slept for 7 hours without a feed so really feeding him at 11pm and then only offering water in the thinking he'll wake around 6am for another bottle isnt really being unrealistic....any thoughts or advice based on experience??????? xxx

 

[BrookieG]

bump...anyone???

 

[SJT]

I think you should trust your instinct. It's not bring cruel, babies are creatures of habit, you can try it. I'm sure if he was hungry he would let you know, I doubt he'd just accept it! Babies scream when starving, if he settles you know it was just a comfort/habit thing,. You are not cruel at all hun x

 

[BrookieG]

thanks hun.....deep down i know that if he really is hungry ill know and will just give him more its just a reassurance thing! lol thanks for replying hun xx

 

[nightkd]

Babies should get all the water they need from formula or milk at this age. I got really upset because my MIL was giving Evelyn water even though I told her I didn't want to because it's supposed to be dangerous before 6 months (can lead to imbalances which can cause seizures and stuff - just from what I've read).... I literally almost burst into tears as she continued to do it (DH said not to also...) and then had a friggin panic attack when I got the same bottle out of the cupboard for the first time a few weeks later... =/

Our paediatrician says that from 6 weeks they can and should be sleeping through because they don't need a night time feed. He also says to let them CIO for a couple of nights and then they should get the message - I couldn't do this as it makes me feel sick when E cries for 5 minutes, let alone 45 or more!! So I said to DH that we would wait a couple of months to see if she got into the routine by herself - well the night before I said that she'd slept 8pm til 6am (we thought it was a fluke) and she's been sleeping that way (just waking for a diaper change and/or her pacifier occasionally) for 6 nights now!! As long as baby is getting enough during the day, then they don't NEED a night time feed... E BF's from 6 til 11, then has a 5oz bottle, up for an hour and sleeps for 1 1/2 to 2 hours before another 5oz bottle...she has approx 5 5oz bottles, plus whatever she gets from my boobs in the morning and that does her. She was sleeping horribly until that first night she did 8pm til 6am - and she only went to sleeping nicely again because we pulled her back onto her routine (feeds every 3 hours until 6, then 2 hours before her bedtime feed and bath)... If they don't sleep well during the day, it can make it harder for them to sleep through the night, because they're over tired and fussier....

I really wouldn't do the water thing because of the dangers at this age, just maybe see if a diaper change, little cuddle (minimal light or talking) and whatever makes him comfy (swaddling, pacifier, lullaby music, whatever you might be using) will satisfy him and get him back to sleep without a feed...

Hope something in that long post helps!!

xx

 

[nightkd]

P.S We tried reducing feeds at night and E just screamed (even though we only reduced from 5oz to 3oz!) until we topped her up to her usual amount... It may be worth a try if nothing else works though!

 

[special_kala]

your baby is only 7 weeks old right? To me that is way to young to be substituting milk with water.

If he is waking up for milk at 2am then he is hungry and giving him water isnt going to do anything tbh. River didnt sleep through until 6 months and i thought that was pretty good going.

To me withholding milk from a 7 week old baby seems cruel

 

[venusrockstar]

I don't think babies that young need water.

 

[AppleBlossom]

I agree, a baby that young doesn't need water, they get their hydration from their milk

 

[BrookieG]

thanks ladies, i phoned the HV and she said giving them an ounce of water is perfectly fine. In the end i didnt even need to give him his bottle he woke at 2.30am i give him his dummy n he instantly fell back asleep, he woke again at 3.30am and again i gave him his dummy..instantly asleep! woke up at 6am in a fabulous mood and polished off his bottle and had his little morning catnap HV said ive done the right thing as his feed during the night was purely because he thought this was his routine not because he needed it and because he's now taking a full bottle cutting the odd ounces during the night sitll means he's getting sufficient ounces in 24 hours!! v happy mummy...but yeah the water thing seems to be perfectly fine...it was only an ounce i was planning on giving him not the 5 oz bottle substitute i was told to give him water throughout the day too when he had oral thrush as it would cool and clean his mouth making him more comfortable x

 

[Teach123]

We've been told to give water to our LO if she is a little consitpated but also have been told about the water in the night if they wake up. We are very lucky in that our LO sleeps from 12 until 8 so dont have this issue. (She is 7 weeks old) At the end of the day you are his mum so trust your instincts. There seems to be so much contradiction from HV in different areas too which doesnt help us first time mums!

 

[BrookieG]

We've been told to give water to our LO if she is a little consitpated but also have been told about the water in the night if they wake up. We are very lucky in that our LO sleeps from 12 until 8 so dont have this issue. (She is 7 weeks old) At the end of the day you are his mum so trust your instincts. There seems to be so much contradiction from HV in different areas too which doesnt help us first time mums!

i know everyone is told diffferent...we were also told about the water for constipation coz his medication was making him constipated....everything in moderation...we've been so lucky though last night he woke up a 4am took him dummy n slept till 6am n took his breakfast bottle xx

 

[Fafy]

My LO's pediatrician told me to give him water as well, especially when it's too hot. Water is fine as long as you don't give him too much.
As for the night feeds, my LO slept twice last week from 9h pm till 3h am which means he could go through the night for 6 hours without being fed.
2 nights ago i decided to try and give him his last bottle at 11h pm. He woke up at 2h am and 4h am and each time i gave him the pacifier. And it worked just fine till 6h am when he woke up crying, so I fed him.
Hoping that this night, he would sleep through.

 

[Eve]

Not a clue as I Just feed my baby when she wants it... lol Sometimes she still has 2-3 feeds, and sometimes none, and she is 8 months tomorrow... I still don't give Kayleigh water much either. When she is curious I share some of mine and she seems to like it. I wouldn't give her it before 6 months though...

 

[Fafy]

My LO's pediatrician told me to give him water as well, especially when it's too hot. Water is fine as long as you don't give him too much.
As for the night feeds, my LO slept twice last week from 9h pm till 3h am which means he could go through the night for 6 hours without being fed.
2 nights ago i decided to try and give him his last bottle at 11h pm. He woke up at 2h am and 4h am and each time i gave him the pacifier. And it worked just fine till 6h am when he woke up crying, so I fed him.
Hoping that this night, he would sleep through.

Well we're back to where we were!
He's been waking up every night at 3h and then at 4h30 and finally at 6h crying. So i 'm thinking of feeding him again!!!!!!!
I'm really lost and confused!!! Thought it would work...

 

[special_kala]

to me that is normal waking for a 7 week old baby. He will sleep through when he is ready.

 

[babylovex]

when my son was 6 weeks he has oral thrush and completly went of his bottles! it took me a week to get him back into taking his 5oz of bottle and going 4 hours inbetweeen! i have always given my son cool boiled water inbetween 1 or 2 of his feeds during the day! i was advised to by my health visitor as he was a bit constipated and he was 5 weeks prem so she said he may get dehydrated without water! im sure once his thrush has completly gone he will get bk to his normal routine! also when taking him doctors he advised to give water as it will help clear thrush up! x

 

[Eve]

I think it's normal too for a baby your LO's age. I wouldn't stress too much unless your LO seems ill. Kayleigh fed at 4am this morning, and then went back to sleep Your LO might be going through a growth spurt

 

[Lara310809]

Babies should get all the water they need from formula or milk at this age. I got really upset because my MIL was giving Evelyn water even though I told her I didn't want to because it's supposed to be dangerous before 6 months (can lead to imbalances which can cause seizures and stuff - just from what I've read)...I really wouldn't do the water thing because of the dangers at this age...

I appreciate that you've heard this and you don't want to give your LO extra water, but I have been told the complete opposite. I only mention it to give the other side of the story, not to have a go at you

I live in the Med though, and here it's about 35c at the moment. If I didn't give LO water, she would be constantly dehydrated. My LO is 4 months old, and will drink 14oz of milk per day, and about 5oz of water or camomile tea. My HV, paediatrician and all the midwives know this, and have supported me in my decision. Just saying that it's not always dangerous, but obviously read the info and make an informed decision.

In regards to the waking at night; my LO has just astarted waking again, and my HV suggested leaving her be (because all she seems to want to do is chat). I have offered a bottle and a nappy change, and none of it has helped, so if I do tend to her I will just give her a dummy - unless she cries for a feed obviously.

 

[Eve]

18 weeks seems a little young for your doctor to advise you to just leave her... I mean if she isn't wanting food, it's different but there are growth spurts, teething, just not feeling well days where they will wake and sometimes a snuggle and some milk do the trick, even when not "needed" anymore. I don't mind feeding my LO though, I'm here if she wants milk