Dropping the night feeds - please help!

[MantaRay]

Jack was sleeping through at that age, but Tom used to wake twice a night. Then he started waking only once a night and sometimes sleeping through, and now, at 12 months, he has just started sleeping through nearly every night (touch wood I haven't spoken too soon LOL!!). Personally I would wait a bit before trying to drop the night feeds. I would probably try to drop it down to one feed at around 9 months if he doesn't do it by himself and then you can think about night weaning once he's one. JMO but I think that if they are waking at that age and drinking well, then it means they need it. Once he is eating solids well it is very likely he'll cut down then drop the night feeds on his own when ready.

[Emma1979]

hmmmm at 5.5 months and weighing a whopping 9.3kg, i tend to think he is waking up for feeds during the night more out of habit rather than him actually NEEDING the feed, but try telling him that!! if he's waking for feeds at 9.30, 12, 3 and 5, i would sort of call that 3-4 feeds over night... but the thing is, its often easier to feed than it is to try to get them out of the habit, if u know what i mean..... are u prepared to be up in the night while you wean him from some night feeds? if i were you i would wait until he is say 6.5 months, that way hopefully he is through his 6 month growth spurt, then have a think about how you want to tackle it.... i would have thought by six months you could expect a few more hours out of him over night between feeds, waking three hourly is pretty hard going for you.... this is just my opinion of course...

i guess if it were me, i would try reducing his feeds first, shorter breast feeds or reducing the formula, then go from there...... it might mean there are a few nights where he is upset and you may be up rocking him etc trying to get him back to sleep..... i dunno what the answer is..... ive recently started giving my 6 month old a bottle over night when she had been going without for months, but it is just easier to give her a bottle in the hope that she then goes back to sleep *shrugs*