Feeding FAQ: 0-8 weeks – Formula Feeding

My 7 week old needs a full feed at 5am; this makes it hard to keep on track

My 7 week son is following the routines well and now sleeping at night through till about 5-5.30am. He is not satisfied with only a small feed at this time and will not resettle without a full feed. He sometimes will not go back to sleep even then (he is definitely not fooled by water). This makes it difficult to keep on track for the next sleep and feed – although I’m trying hard. His room is fully blacked out. The 10.30pm feed is sometimes difficult and he often refuses to take more than 4oz.
We are using Colief for severe colic that kicked in at 4 weeks – despite the routines (tried Infacol, gripe water etc to no effect). He is much better on this, although still difficult to wind.
He weighs 10lbs 7ozs. He feeds at 5am 5ozs, 7.30am 2ozs, 10.45am 5-6 ozs, 2.30pm 5ozs, 6.15pm 5-6ozs, 10.30pm 4-5ozs.
He naps in the day at 9-9.45am, 12-2.15pm, 4.30-5pm and is settled by 7pm.

It is not unusual for a baby of this age to begin to get through the night in this way. When he wakes at 5am you must treat the feed as a night feed. Feed by a very low light, keep eye contact to the minimum and only change your son if it is really needed. As soon as he is winded settle him in his cot again. As he gets bigger he should be able to get on further until the 5am and 7.30am feed become joined into one around 7am. This may take another week or so. There will come a point if he begins to stir around 6/6.30am when you could try water and a cuddle and see if you can get him to wait until nearer 7am.
Being awake and taking a good feed at 10.30pm will help towards getting to nearer 7am. With a baby this young you may need to begin to wake him around 9.45pm in order for him to take a good feed and be awake for a length of time. It sometimes helps to split this feed.

Begin to wake your son at 9.45pm and once he is wide awake offer him 3ozs of feed. Then let him have a break of about 30-45 minutes. During this time you can let him have a quiet kick in a reasonably bright room, but just be careful not to over-stimulate him. At 11.15pm change him and offer a second fresh bottle of 3ozs. Give this to him in his room with the lights dimmed and then settle him for the night. This should help him have a slightly larger feed and the longer awake time may help him to push on in the night.