Nighttime feedings

[Kimberli]

I get these email tips from Parenting Weekly and this is what this week's said...

If you're having a hard time weaning your baby from nighttime feedings, and your baby is eating solid foods, try giving only water during these nocturnal feedings. He may decide that the water is not worth waking up and crying for. However, you should not give your baby water until he is eating solid foods. Babies who are still only taking milk may fill up on water and then not be hungry for nursing, causing them to not meet their nutritional needs.

I'm not sure if I would do this because it seems cruel (and not to mention at this point, it's still okay for him to be waking up to eat) - what do you think?

[Raquel]

i the book what to expect the first year it says to gradually down it to water. so say you make 6 oz but w/ only 2 1/2 scoops instead of 3 then 2 scoops the 1 1/2 then 1 then its only water so then they wont want it. i have noticed lately when the boys wake and i give them a bottle at say 2-3am they dont drink it all but when they wake at 7-8am i try to give them one they wont drink it.

[Stacey]

I think it's cruel....I can tell when Trevor wakes up he is really hungry so I will feed him till the point I see that he is just waking up for a snack.

[Sarah]

I couldn't do that.

[Chris]

I have been trying to wean night time feeds too. Jared has 4 meals a day and tons of bottles.
And I sit puffs out and he snacks all day long. So I think when he wakes he only wants the bottle for comfort. But on the nights when it is obvious he is hungry I give him what he wants. I think he has a different I am hungry cry. He usually does get at least one bottle in the middle of the night.

[Raquel]

we are down to one bottle usually about 3-5am