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Should I wake my baby up for night time feedings?

My baby girl just turned 4 months old. At around 3 months old, my baby started sleeping 8-10 hours at night. Just recently for over a week now, she's been sleeping 12 hours straight with no feedings. She's a little baby, and I'm wondering if I should start waking her up for feedings. She's happy and active during the day, and I try to get 6-8 feedings during the day, but it seems to me--since she started sleeping for longer stretches she's not gaining as much weight. She was gaining 2lbs for the first 2 months, but has only gained 1.5 pounds for these last 2 months combined. Anyone have any ideas? She was 6lbs 7oz when born, and she is now around 11 lbs 11 oz.

This is a picture of my daughter around 2.5 months old.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150943477...

and this is a picture of her now

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151025123...

Update:

I started waking her up around 9-9:30--and she ate like she was hungry--didn't cry one bit, and went right back to sleep. That allowed her to still get 10 full hours of uninterrupted sleep.

7 Answers

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Well, it's your call & if you feel better to wake her for a feed at 930pm, that isn't going to hurt anything. I am not sure how she is being fed, but typical growth for a breastfed baby is 5-7 oz a week for 0-4 months, then dropping to 4-5oz per week for 4-6 months & then 2-4 oz per week for 6-12 months. You may notice a bigger drop in growth if your baby was gaining very fast - for instance both my boys slowed greatly by months, but before that they were gaining nearly a pound a week - so thank goodness they dropped back. They gained about a pound a week for the first 10 weeks, then tapered back down to 1/2 a lb & then finally - by the time they hit 7 months, both stalled out almost completely & gained VERY little from then on until after their 1st bday.

  • 5 years ago

    Unless you shild is napping like a loopy 12+ hours and not using a feed, at this factor I consider you're alright to allow her pass and no longer wake her up. She will wake you whilst she is able for a feed She is not going to whither away and starve or dehydrate in five and even 7 hours, above all at this factor. When they're more youthful than three weeks I could no longer et them sleep longer than four-five hours and not using a feed (if you're in spite of this fortunate as to have a infant so that it will sleep) however at 12 weeks allow her sleep so long as she likes and feed her whilst she wishes to be fed.

  • 9 years ago

    Your never supposed to wake a child for night feedings. They have the little tummy growler like we do, if they get hungry they will wake up and cry to eat. Never wake your child unless the doctor says her weight and growth aren't doing well and directs you to do other wise. My daughter only gained about 1 lb a month and she was on formula. She has always slept through the night, never woke up for feedings and still doesn't.

    Source(s): Mommy.
  • D
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Talk with your pediatrician about growth, but unless they are concerned from a medical perspective, there is no reason to wake a sleeping baby to feed. Sleep is also essential for proper development. Discuss this with your pediatrician.

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  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    oh your baby is still thriving - even more so when she is sleeping. my gran used to say "a sleep is as good as feed"

    i wouldnt wake your baby from her sleep, it just proves that she is settled and probably gets enough food/milk during the day! lol, your very lucky to have such a good baby :))

  • Leon
    Lv 5
    9 years ago

    you have a cute baby

    i think you should wait until she wakes up so shes ready, waking her up to feed her will have more crying than feeding

  • 9 years ago

    no

    u should not be diong that according to my mom...

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