Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

As I've posted many times before, DD is not a great eater. She is treated for silent reflux and is on Neocate for a milk protein allergy, but her intake is still low. She should be consuming about 30 oz daily, but she usually takes anywhere between 20-25.

Because of her low intake, we still give DD 6 bottles a day. She takes anywhere between 2.5-5 oz per bottle (usually 3-4), and it's often a struggle to get her to take it. She's on a 4 hour schedule, but it's shortened in the evening to get the bottles in. Also, she often goes longer in the morning if she's napping at daycare. Typically, a day will go something like this:

12:15am: Dreamfeed - Bottle #1
5:40: Bottle #2
10:00: Bottle #3
2:00: Bottle #4
5:30: Bottle #5
8:30: Bottle #6
9:00: BED

Lately, I've noticed that DD is either napping or cranky if she's awake by 7:00-7:30 at night. I have her nap in the swing, then get her up at 8:15 to get her ready for bed, and give her her last bottle at 8:30. She goes in the crib at 9.

The issue I'm having is that I hate waking her up. I don't like disrupting her sleep cycle, and I know that sleep begets sleep. I feel like she's telling me that she is ready for an earlier bedtime, but then she misses a bottle, and will likely eat less than 20 oz for the day.

So, any BTDT moms have any thoughts or opinions for me? I really want her to get enough sleep at night, but I also want her to eat as close to enough as she can.

Thanks!

Message edited 10/19/2012 7:37:22 PM.

Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

have you tried feeding her smaller bottles but more often? IMO during the day 3.5-4 hours is still a lot of time in between - even at 17m my DD still eats EVERY 3-4 usually less. so at 4m old i feel like instead of trying to get her to take 5 oz at a time maybe its worth giving 3 but giving it every 2.5 hours or so (or whenever she wakes up from napping).

also i wouldnt worry about the overall volume that much. Em was a preemie and she always took less quantity than other babies and once she reached a normal birth weight she had absolutely no problems gaining weight. as long as Alana is gaining well enough, and your PED isnt concerned about it, a few ounces here or there wont make or break anything. im a firm believer that you DO NOT wake a sleeping baby (I had to when she was just out of the NICU and i HATED it).

good luck!!

Message edited 10/19/2012 7:57:54 PM.

Re: Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

Re: Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

Ds had silent reflux & always drank small amounts more often. I think at 4 months he was still eating every 3 hours. As far as waking her to feed I wouldn't do it. Anytime I woke ds from sleeping he wouldn't sleep well during the night. He was also still getting up in the middle of the night for a feeding. I know you are going to get so many different opinions on spreading out the feedings but every baby is different & you have to do what you feel is right.

Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

I've always found that trying to control and manipulate DD's routine never works and I always wind up following her cues. I think if I were you I would try the earlier bedtime to see how it goes. Maybe give it 2 or 3 days and see if she sleeps well and how it effects her intake. If you notice after a day or two that she's dropping several ounces over the course of the day then you can go always go back to the old routine.

Re: Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

How's her weight? Is she gaining or loosing?

If her weight is ok, I'd let her go. If she needs to gain, then I'd wake up. I had to do it with both girls and it sucks, but they had to eat.

Please give me your opinions on my 4-month-old DD's eating and sleeping

It was around 4 months that DD put herself on a schedule as far as feedings and bedtime. So I personally would move your DDs bedtime up to when she has been napping. I used to be able to tell the time by DD. She would get cranky at 6 and we had to start our routine. She had to be in bed by 6:30pm at that age.

As far as how much she's eating...has your ped expressed any concern? Is she gaining weight? I'm pretty sure my DD was eating around 24 ounces at that age. Honestly, unless there's a weight concern, I'd let her dictate how much and when she eats and not stress over it. If she's hungry, she'll let you know.