Morning ladies,

I wonder if any of you can help me please....?? Lo is nearly 14 weeks and started sleeping through the night from around 8 or 9 weeks. However, the last 3 nights now he has woken for a feed :roll: The first night he went down at around 7pm and was up at 3.45 am; 2nd night he went down at 7.30pm and was up at 4.30am. Last night we thought we would do things slightly differently so put him to bed after a bath at 8pm (started feed then - normally give him both boobs at bedtime) as I figured this is probably a growth spurt, so I fed him one boob which didn't really feel that full and he was wide awake and full of beans, fidgeting all over the place!! So decided if it is a growth spurt and he has already drained me during the day, then both boobs wouldnt be enough.... So I then gave him nearly 4oz of expressed breast milk and then gave him the other side, making sure I left him on both sides for at least 20minutes to encourage my supply. BUT he still woke at 3.30 this morning for a feed!!!! I couldn't believe it as it was the latest of the 3 nights but the earliest he had woken!

Any ideas on what to do and whether this is a growth spurt ladies :\? I dont want him to get into the habit of waking during the night to be fed and he is normally a thumb sucker but he's not settling with his thumb during the night at the moment. He definately wants a feed as he's getting really frantic, not like he normally is after waking, and I can hear his little tummy grumbling as the milk hits it!

Advice and opinions greatly appreciated ;\)

Thanks

Becky x

Hi Becky, I know they have a growth spurt around 12 weeks ish... but the only other thing I was told is that when your LO previously sleeps through and then wakes up again in the night, is a sign that they need more food - i.e. its normally a sign that he might be ready for weaning soon - he is coming up to 4 months isn't he? Are you exclusively BF? if so, have you considered a top up of formula to try and keep his tummy fuller? If it were me, I'd give it a week or so to see if he keeps waking (i.e. if its a growth spurt, it should pass) but if not, perhaps speak to your HV for her advice? I might not be right, but I know this has happened to quite a few friends and their babies
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Becky
I seem to remember my lo did a similar thing about 15 weeks and I think it was a growth spurt. What we ended up doing was sticking to the normal 7pm bedtime and then giving her a dreamfeed at 1030/11pm (lights off, still asleep). Its harder to wind afterwards but by that age she could mostly bring up her own burps. That carried her through until 630am most nights and she dropped the dreamfeed when we started weaning at 25 weeks.
hth
J

Thanks for your replies ladies, I will see how we go over the next week or so and go from there. For the time being, we shall just have to go with the flow - I may try dream feeding again (tried it previously but it caused him to wake earlier bizarrely!!).