My 7 month old son is in the 5th percentile for weight. He slept through the night at 3 months, for about a month, and since then has been up for two night time feeds. Lately, he has been up about 5 times a night for the last month. Three times I manage to settle him without feeding, and the other two times I cannot so I resort to giving him a bottle and he takes 4-5 oz usually. Is this normal especially with his low weight? Or should I try to wean his nightime feeds as it seems to be turning into a habit and some days he doesn't eat as much as he should. If I should try to wean him, how do I do this. FYI, I don't believe in crying it out.
2007-10-28 05:09:54 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
He is also getting 2 solid meals a day (5 tablespoons at each meal approx)
2007-10-28 05:24:16 · update #1
Low weight babies, as in a baby in the lower percentiles, don't necessarily need nighttime feeds. Some babies are small and are meant to be that way and are no less healthy than babies in the higher percentiles. You have to look as his growth overall and whether he is having steady and appropriate growth. If he were to take a big dip in growth rate or lose weight when not expected to, then you may have cause for concern.
His recent night wakings/night feedings may have to do with his 6 month growth spurt or other developmental milestones. His increased needs at this time could have manifested themselves in the way of night feedings. Night feeds and night wakings can occur for a number of reasons, hunger being one of them, but it does sound like he is starting to switch his daytime calories for nighttime ones.
I found this happened with my daughter as well. She is also very small. She has actually been slightly under the chart - less than 3rd percentile. She went without a night feeding from about 3.5 - 6 months. Her 6 month growth spurt hit and she started up a night feed again. I could tell the difference in her cry and in the way that she couldn't be settled easily as she had before. In total it lasted about 4 weeks. I breastfed her and I noticed she was starting to scale back a bit on the feeding after a couple weeks, so started to reduce the time I fed her by one minute every few nights. When we got down to 4 minutes, she dropped it herself. With bottle feeding, I have heard people will gradually reduce the amount given by 1 oz. every few days or increase the ratio of water every few days. By doing it gradually, he will be able to compensate during the day to meet his requirements and then no longer need the night feeds. My daughter is now 10 months and between 15 - 16lbs and has not taken a night feed again since then.
If they are hungry, they will let you know, but size doesn't really have anything to do with it.
Best of luck!
2007-10-28 09:04:38 · answer #1 · answered by josi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am so glad to hear that you dont do cry it out! Awesome!
One thing is talk to your pediatrician as always. But have you tried giving him a later snack/dinner with foods that will fill his tummy longer (cereals, mashed potatoes) like something starchy with protien. This could help. A bottle doesnt last as long, also, does he use a pacifier? Maybe he is just wanting the sucking sensation.
But if he is hungry then I would not wean him off he obviously needs to eat when the poor baby is hungry!
Good Luck!
2007-10-28 05:16:25 · answer #2 · answered by Ree 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in feeding on demand for babies. If baby seems hungry try to feed. They'll stop when they're full. Take cues from your child they know more than most adults, even some physicians. Unless a child has a serious medical problem, always follow their lead.
2007-10-28 07:22:43 · answer #3 · answered by gypsy g 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-02 23:02:30 · answer #4 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he's low weight and if the doctors feel he needs to gain more, definitely offer him food when he wakes up. He is also old enough to introduce semi-solid foods to if you haven't already done that.
2007-10-28 05:19:06 · answer #5 · answered by Rebeckah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he having many bottles in the day? If it is less than 3 I would try to increase them...
2007-10-28 05:19:13 · answer #6 · answered by Daisyhill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋