How do I get my 3 month old daughter to stop her night time feed?

Question

She has been sleeping through the night for the past 3 weeks, waking up once or maybe twice, but only needing her dummy to settle her back to sleep straight away. About a week ago she started to wake more frequently at night, after giving her the dummy it took her longer to settle back to sleep than normal, then 3 nights ago, she refused to settle at all until we fed her. We gave her 60ml of milk, thinking that this would be enough to settle her, as before she dropped the night feed altogether, she was taking a maximum of 50ml. When she finished this bottle, she became very upset and did not settle at all, it took another 2 60ml bottles before she settled back to sleep. So all in all she took 180ml of milk, which is normal for a full feed through the day. Now she is drinking so much at night that she does not finish a feed through the day. I dont know how to get her back to the way she was, I cant not feed her when she is hungary, and cant force her to eat when she doesnt want it!

The first thing I tried was water, it worked initially, but then she refused it!

I have been using the routines in the contented little baby book since she was 4 weeks old!!!

Answer 1

Sounds like someone is ready for solids! Just because the books say 16/17 weeks for bottle feeders and 26 weeks for the breastfed baby these rules are not set in stone.
My eldest was on solids at 12 weeks 5 days, her little sister was 10weeks (on medical advice as she was so young) and my son lasted to 13weeks 2 days. They were all big babies the smallest was 8lb11oz at birth and the heaviest was 9lb 4oz.
Try baby porridge or baby rice to begin with at tea time and you will start to get her sleeping through once again.
Good luck x

Answer 2

Must read 'the contented little baby book' it is brilliant for establishing a routine. At 3 months your daughter probably is not ready to give up a night feed so don't try to make her. Also she is changing all the time so when going through a growth spurt will need more (even if she has been sleeping through she make start to wake up again) I don't think you should wean onto solids until you have spoken to a health visitor as there is lots of evidence against doing that too early. It may lead to stomach problems as they just aren't developed enough inside to cope with solid foods. With my two, the trick was to try and get all their milk feeds (breast mainly but top-up bottle at night and breast when waking in night) into them during the 7am-7pm day/evening time and slowly their own body clock will realise that night time is for sleeping. Have a read of the book that I recommended as it really is brilliant and helped me a lot. I used it for sleep training as well and have not had a problem at all. My now youngest (age 2) gets into bed himself and has always settled himself even from an early age. Having said all this, respond to your baby the way your instincts are telling you and remember that this doesn't last forever....
*****PLEASE NOTE!!******* SOMEONE ON HERE HAS SUGGESTED PUTTING A RUSK IN HER BOTTLE - THIS IS VERY BAD IDEA AS SHE COULD EASILY CHOKE. BOTTLES ARE FOR MILK OR WATER ONLY!

Answer 3

hi my daughter was exactly the same i started weening early i found if i gave her a rusk or some baby rice before her last bottle then she settled alot better i have also put a scoop of horlicks into her feed it works wonders then if she wakes in the night just give her water she'll soon get fed up of wakin for that sounds like she just tryin her luck if you are going to give her a bottle when she wakes she'll have it believe me but if she is fuller before going to be she will probably settle for the night again everythin is trial and error my advise is just try anythin another mom has tried i found they new best more than health visitors good lick hope i was some help ! by the way my daughter is three now and weening her at 3 months has done her digestive system no problems at all ask what age u was weened at i bet it was 3 months this 4 month rule is a new thing and there on about changin it to 6 months your baby will let you know when she is ready for solids not the age it says on a jar every child is different

Answer 4

It's called a growth spurt. She needs more food right now. If your 3 month old is good enough only to wake 1 time during the night I really think you should be praising whatever deity you believe in lol. Alot of women would ...well not kill...but close to it... to have a 3 month old who only wakes once at night. By the way... I noticed some people say that starting cereal is a good idea. It's not. starting cereal at her age can cause digestive and allergy problems, causing her to wake more frequently rather than less. Also studies have been done that prove feeding an infant cereal before bed at night does not give any benefits. It will not cause your daughter to sleep any longer than she would have to begin with.

Answer 5

My son will b 11 months on sunday and still gets up 4 1 feed in the night, he 2 refused water, but he is obviously hungray cos he has 9 oz bottle. Your daughter may be having a growth spurt. My health visitor told me 2 feed on demand and that is what i do.

Answer 6

I agree she maybe waking up feeling thirsty?
Try giving water instead of milk if you feel this could be so.
Also, try waiting a little big longer each night before going in to her, so that eventually she is waking in the early hours, and then hopefully progresses to not wake until a decent time in the morning lol
Good luck hon, but it isnt unusual for babies to go through phases like this, just try not to encourage it into becoming the routine :)

Answer 7

You can't stop a night time feed. If she is hungry she'll wake up. During the day see if she'll eat a small amount of cereal. If she enjoys it then give her some more before her bedtime bottle. She is probably hungry more as she is going througha growing spurt.

Answer 8

sounds to me like shes ready for solids if she isn't already taking them. A bit of baby rice or porridge before bed along with her usual bottle should do the trick. She may also be going through a fret-full stage so just make sure you give her plenty of hugs and kisses before you settle her down for the night. I know it's hard when you-re tired yourself but persevere Good luck

Answer 9

Babies work on routine. Change hers. Dont give her a bottle when she wakes at night, let her cry it out. If that doesnt start to work it may be too early to try to get her to sleep through the night. All babies are different.

Answer 10

The first, she needs warm and be clean.........sometimes the litttle babes feel more cold than we, so many times can wake up by this reason, Did you said that is three months old only? So why give a bottle if you can breakfast by yourself?????

The better things for the baby don´t be hungry at nigth is the milk form her mother: Try it!!!!!