[kelceesmom]

We have a 1 year old who is still up every 3-4 hours and has a bottle at that time. Her normal size bottle is about 4 oz. and that is what she drinks during the night too. My doctor says take the night feeding away but she sleeps with me because my husband works nights, I work also, and because she is up so often. Any suggestions as to how to help her sleep longer and feed less during the night? She doesn't nap for very long during the day is active but it doesn't seem to help. Thank goodness she is so adorable otherwise I might ship her back!! Any suggestions would be great.

[hotspice58]

Don't let her take any naps after 4-5. I had an infant and did that with him and it helped him sleep a little longer. Good luck!!

[KariKae]

I started giving my daughter water in her bottle at the late night feedings. She quickly lost interest in the bottle. Once she lost interest in the bottle, it was easier to quickly soother her back to sleep by cuddling her. A lot of people may disagree with me, but I was never a big fan of "cry it out".

Eventually, it became less and less rewarding for her to wake up at night. She finally started sleeping through the night (consistenly) at about 14 months.

Hang in there! You (and she) will get there!

[KristineM]

I would increase her bottles to between 6 - 8 oz and if needed, I would put some baby cereal in the bottle. Maybe 1 tbsp. Make it warm so the cereal disolves, but also warm milk does help in sleeping.

[KristineM]

I agree that you should take away late afternoon naps as well.

[riverview]

my little man did not nap for more than 20 minutes twice a day until one year old. Bed at 7:00pm and up at 4:30am. I could not find an answer, sorry. At 14 months he does sleep a good 12 hr night and naps once a day for one hour.

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by kelceesmom

We have a 1 year old who is still up every 3-4 hours and has a bottle at that time. Her normal size bottle is about 4 oz. and that is what she drinks during the night too. My doctor says take the night feeding away but she sleeps with me because my husband works nights, I work also, and because she is up so often. Any suggestions as to how to help her sleep longer and feed less during the night? She doesn't nap for very long during the day is active but it doesn't seem to help. Thank goodness she is so adorable otherwise I might ship her back!! Any suggestions would be great.

The only thing that worked for us was to make it less inviting to wake up in the night. Bug has never been a great sleeper but after her year birthday, we weaned her off her bottle, one ounce at a time. She shouldn't need more milk at night as she should be able to get all her nutrition in the waking hours.

The only other thing I could suggest is put her in her own room/space. Bug slept in our room for 5 months (not in our bed, she never liked that) and we figured out that we were all waking each other up. It works much better with her across the hall... just my thoughts on what worked for us.

[squeek]

I would definately suggest increasing her daytime bottle/food feedings. Our 4 month old is on 5oz. every 3-4 hours and sleeps through the night (9-6). Just recently started spoon feeding cereal and fruits. We too were told that if he's getting the recommended amount of food during the day is probably why he's satisfied enough to sleep all night.

[traceyk]

Is she hungry or possibly looking to suck? Does she have a pacifier?

[kelceesmom]

She is hungry and hates the pacifier. Even during the day she refuses to drink more than 4 oz at a time. The last 2 nights I have been able to get down to 1 bottle during the night. She fusses for a little bit but has fallen asleep.

[ValerieP]

My 11 month old had reflux until she was 6 months old. Becuase of that, she wanted to be bottle fed (with cereal after 3 months) every 2 hours or so, day and night. This set up her sleeping routine. Currently, she is still not making it through the night... She eats baby food, finger foods and a bottle in the morning and one at night. She is in bed at 9:30 (after a routine of book, bath, bottle, bed.) she wakes up at 2 ish and 4 ish... everyday.

Good luck. We should create the Up All Night Mommy Club.

[joskids]

Are you sure it's hunger and not habit? Isn't she eating solids during the day? Sleeping with you isn't helping anyone. She's gotten so used to you being there and soothing her with a bottle that she cannot soothe herself back to sleep. I had a foster child (same age) that woke at nite SCREAMING for a bottle. I let him scream for 3 nites straight and he stopped and started sleeping through the nite. May sound cruel, we do have other children and we all suffered listening to him cry but in the end it was well worth it. I did go in a few times to assure him that I was there. I'm quite certain the family that adopted him would have agreed. Sorry if I'm not much help. I've had 8 children and none have had sleep issues. I think they need to learn that you are there but to soothe themselves back to nighty-nite.

[hotspice58]

christinem and squeek: did your pediatricians advise feeding solids to your the babies? I had a foster son who I got at 2 days and the pediatrician said not to feed him cereal until about 9 months as there is a school of thought that this leads to breathing problems.

[StorkWatcher]

Hotspice. I'm concerned about food allergies and didn't want to start out son too early on ANY solids, but hubby was more eager than I. Our ped OKd cereal at 4 mos (my friend's did after 3 mos, but she ended up confessing that she did so that early because so many parents try start earlier, and their little systems just don't handle it well).

Anyway, we started about 5 mos and am very slowly starting foods and waiting a minimum of 7 days between each.

I've always been told/read NOT to give cereal in a bottle - only feed from a spoon, though. I think that's mostly so they learn to eat properly, so I doubt this 1 year old has that problems.

Interesting thought on the breathing problems, as I have not ever heard that. I'll have to look into that....