How can I stop my 6 month old from having night feed

[Leanne Louise]

Like it says in the title...how can I stop my 6 month old from having a bottle in the middle of the night?? He has breakfast and tea as well as 4 bottles during the day so I can't see why he still needs one during the night..do you think it's just out of habit?? X

 

[admiral765]

Could just be habit Hun. Our lo had two feeds, the first one we felt he didn't need so when he woke up we just left him. He whined slightly for a bit and then went back to sleep. We still do an early morning one but feel he isn't ready to drop that one yet.
Just give it a go, leave lo for a bit. If it seems lo isn't settling try other methods first to get lo back to sleep and maybe increase the amount in bottles through the day to make up for the dropped one? Xx

 

[Hopipolla]

My HV recommended offering cooled boiled water instead and eventually he should stop waking.

 

[kirst76]

My almost 7 month has just (over the last week or so) started doing the same again. She has 3 solid feeds a day and 4 or 5 bottles. I have tried settling her back down but she just screams for a bottle and will go straight back to sleep after having it. Ugghhhh, so frustrating!

 

[Leanne Louise]

Thanks girls...I wouldn't mind as much if he just woke for a feed but he's become terrible at night waking every half hour to an hour and crying and screaming until i pick him and rock him back off!! I then get up about 5 with him and my 4 year old gets up at 6 so I can't even go back for a doze...and my partner works away so I can't get a break...sorry for ranting this sleep deprivation is just getting on top of me x

 

[Dragonfly]

I wouldnt take it away at that age. They do grow out of night feeds they are important.

 

[lisa1980]

My LO dropped his night feeds at around 9 months-ish, despite eating really well and drinking plenty of milk in the day from 6 months onwards. I had tried offering water but he just woke up more until I fed him so I figured he must be hungry.

I don't really know, but I do feel that he needed the night feeds up until that point. Maybe extra fuel for all his growth spurts etc TBH it was more difficult after he dropped them as he would still wake up and then nothing would get him back to sleep I missed just being able to shove a nipple in his mouth!

 

[Bevziibubble]

It could be habit but it could be for hunger or comfort as well so I'd probably continue to offer the bottle for now. Your LO will grow out of it when they're ready

 

[babybutton]

I would carry in going the bottle untill they stop, I think if they are waking for it then they need it xx

 

[Casey3]

I would continue offering it.. I think if they ask for it/take it then they must need it. My LO still has a few feeds a night at 10 months...

 

[megangrohl]

There is a growth spurt at 6 months. My daughter is 6 months and she wakes twice to eat 5 oz each time. They are waking because they are hungry, I wouldn't say it is habit. Probably just going through a growth spurt. If your baby is waking and eating alot and then going back to sleep I'd say it's hunger.

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

6 months is really young, their tummies are still tiny so lots will still need night feeds, my baby is 9 months tomorrow and bfs at night.

 

[VeryHopeful]

My LO just recently started eating during the night again but I know he is hungry because he drinks a full 7oz and I can hear his tummy growling! If your LO is only taking a few sips it might be habit, but most are really hungry!

 

[CeeDee]

IF you feel like they need it then give it to them. It’s too early to cut them out. My daughter doesn’t wake up every night, but I know when she does she’s hungry.

 

[kirbyland1986]

i didnt stop my baby night feed i let him tell me when hes not wanting them - hes 8 months and some nights he go through but sometime its only one wake up which is much better than he used to be!

 

[jessicatunnel]

I wouldn't cut out the night feed. Your lo is still so young, if they're waking for it, give it to them.

 

[DaisyBee]

I know there are a lot who think they still need these night feeds and I'm not trying to argue but I'm really wondering why? And some of it is because my girls pediatrician says she doesn't need it and that after 6 months they will be waking and taking that bottle just because of habit.

We weaned Jordan off night feeds at 5 months only because she was waking Megan every night and Megan wouldnt go back to sleep, so Megan was waking at 3 am and exhausted every single day. And Jordan then wouldn't drink her first morning bottle. An oz at most.

So a few weeks back Jordan was sick. She wasn't having wet diapers as she wasn't eating enough. I purposely fed her at night many bottles as wanted her to drink. So after she got done being sick she still wanted a night bottle. She has gone a few nights without it and the day after had 21-24 oz plus her food. ( her normal intake of bottles) Those nights she has a night bottle the next day she only had 16-17 oz plus her food. So she isn't taking in more calories. Just having them at midnight vs the next day, right?

Op - when we stopped night feeds before we cut back on her bottle. She would take 4-5 oz and then I offered only 4, then 3, then 2oz. I did cc after she had gone over a week on 2oz.

 

[Dragonfly]

I know there are a lot who think they still need these night feeds and I'm not trying to argue but I'm really wondering why?

Op - when we stopped night feeds before we cut back on her bottle. She would take 4-5 oz and then I offered only 4, then 3, then 2oz. I did cc after she had gone over a week on 2oz.

Nutritional needs, comfort , emotional and developmental needs etc Cutting feeds dosnt make them sleep longer, it can disrupt sleep as even I cant sleep when I am hungry. Small stomachs , food digests faster.

 

[DaisyBee]

Well I meant as in regards to the fact that when my girls eat at night they eat less the next day. Are other babies eating additionally? As far as nutritional needs. And I also don't want my girls to associate food with comfort. I soothe both my girls at night, but without food unless they act hungry. I still go to jordan when she wakes at night after waiting to see if she can fall back asleep herself. If she falls asleep within 5 minutes without sounding upset then I don't go in. As she can soothe herself back to sleep. It's pretty obvious when there is an issue like needing help with a burp or leaky diaper or something. I still go to megan at night if she needs me as well. But 99% of the time what they need isn't food. Comfort yes, a diaper change, help burping, or help looking for a lost blanket, yes. But food why feed them if they really aren't needing it. Wont that lead to thinking food can comfort ( which is not the message I want to send to my kids)

If Jordan doesn't protest with only 2 oz or water then I don't really think she is hungry. Just waking out of habit. And in the morning she doesn't drink her bottle if she has eaten in the night, so she hasn't gained any calories.

 

[Dragonfly]

Well both mine where fed back to sleep every night and certainly dont comfort eat. So I dont agree personally in that aspect. Boobs arnt always for food *that goes for bottles to and the teat* they can give comfort, comfort sucking its called. Helps during times of teething, insecurity in changes.