My 17 week old baby is still waking in the night ie 3am for a feed. I started her on solids at 16 wks...?

Question

much to my HV's disapproval but like I said to her, 'Do you want to come round and give her a dummy back for an hour or so till 5 am?'. She started to sleep again till 5 or 6 am but has started waking again. I don't really want to give hungry baby milk for bedtime as I fear she will want that all day. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Answer 1

I have to agree with Silly G.  My son is 11 1/2 months and he still wakes up at night. Most 4 month olds usually don't sleep through the night.

I don't understand the part ~

"I don't really want to give hungry baby milk for bedtime as I fear she will want that all day."

At four months old bottles or nursing makes up most of their nutrition.  My 11 1/2 month old still drinks at least 5 bottles a day and eats 3 meals.

Answer 2

she is too young for solids and at that young age when she wakes to be feed then you need to fed her.

Answer 3

if she naps during the day, shorten the length of her nap. no more than an hour or so. dont let her nap after 5pm.  i had problem with my daughter sleeping through the night. however, she was taking wonderfully long naps during the day. told pediatrician,he said that is the problem. by doing as he said, she started going to sleep around 7pm and sleeping 8, then 10 then 12 hours straight. took about 2 weeks to turn her sleep pattern around. never had a problem. when my next two kids were born i knew what to do from the start. it worked.  All three slept through the night by the time they were one month old.

p.s. as far as the solids, number one and number two would not eat solids till a four months old. number two started at before he was a month old. cant say if solids actually worked because i followed doctor suggestion regarding shortening sleep schedule during the day hours.  

Answer 4

Every baby is different, so you can't generalise these rules. Giving more protein rich solid/semisolid food before bed will satisfy them for longer. Hungry baby milk (if it works) can be tried. Its not tastier so baby will not ask all the time for it. Trial may be worth.

Answer 5

your baby is probable waking up because she has stomache .why do you think they advise you NOT to wean your baby until 6 months.Because babies stomach cant digest solids....

I DON'T understand why people are obsessed with babies sleeping through...

when your pregnant you now for well that a baby dont sleep through the night.STOP WORRYING

my son is 1 year old today and he still doesnt sleep through the night and never as yet, also my sister has twins who are 2-1/2 year olds and although they do sleep through most nights ,still wake up and want there mum.

I think your selfish if you expect your 17 week olds to be sleeping through . all babys are different .let your baby take the led .listen to her .let her tell you what she wants and needs ..

Answer 6

My 5 month old is still waking every 1-2hrs at night to eat even with cereal before bed. If they are hungry, they are hungry. They are growing and need to eat. There is nothing wrong with feeding before bed. I nurse my son to sleep each night, it's the only time we do it. He does not expect it for naps because we have never done it. It's only part of our bed time routine.

Answer 7

Amazingly, your responsibilities as a parent do not cease at night time. Your baby will still (particularly at such a young age) have needs which you should be striving to meet. I find people who give solids against medical advice because they can't be bothered to do any night-time parenting pretty selfish to be honest.

Answer 8

when my daughter was 3 months old I would give her baby cereal(oatmeal) with formula mixed in it and I fed her with a spoon and she has slept through the night ever since.

Answer 9

Lol...Did you just say "my 17 WEEK old baby is STILL waking"...uh...my son was "still" waking to be nursed at 17 months.

I don't know what to tell you other than good luck.

My son started sleeping through the night at 19 months...so I really don't know the bliss of expecting a 17 WEEK old to sleep through the night...lol

Again...Good Luck.

Answer 10

Hi

I know you are tired (join the club lol!) but sleepless nights go hand in hand with having a new baby!

My baby is 21 weeks old and he's decided he now wants to wake in the night again after sleeping from 9pm - 6am! i'm just starting to wean him too.

Maybe its separation anxiety or a growth spurt or just out of habit - who knows?

its just what babies do!

Try the hungry baby milk - he might not want it all the time - you'll never know unless you try.

Although I tried that with my baby and it made no difference to his sleepig patterns!!

The baby stage will pass by very quickly and you need to enjoy it while you can.

They will sleep through the night one day - that is certain.

Sometimes there just isnt anything you can do apart from be patient.

I know how you feel though!

Good Luck!

Answer 11

SHE'S ONLY 17 WEEKS!!

MY DAUGHTER IS 2 1/2 YEARS AND STILL WAKES 3-4 TIMES DURING THE NIGHT!!!

Answer 12

It's not unusual for babies to still be waking up for a middle of the night feed at 17 weeks.

My son was sleeping through the night at 12 weeks. My daughter took 18 months to break her of the habit. We weren't even feeding her, she would just wake up and need 5 minutes of rocking to get back down.

Some sources state that by 6 months, most babies can consume enought calories during the day to not need a nightime feed. At some point, it just becmoes a habit. Some say to only give water at the nighttime feed. When baby realizes they aren't getting food at night, they stop getting up for a feed.

Good luck!

Answer 13

Your baby needs a milk feed at night to sustain her through the night and to keep her hydrated. You should not mess with a childs needs.  Milk is the most important part of her diet at her age, solids is YOUR way of trying to bulk her out. If your way of doing it was right we would all be doing it.

Answer 14

Its quiet normal for babies to wake up in the night. Be happy when she wakes You only once in a night.

By the way: 16 weeks is a bit too young for solids.