Dropping night feeds when co-sleeping

[Ponyboy]

Not sure if this is the right place to put this as it does fit under breast feeding as well.

I got told today by the community health nurse that my little darling may be a little bit big for her age - she's 5mths and weighs 7.9kg and is around 65cm long. She asked how she is feeding and I mentioned that she is still feeding during the night/early morning (i.e. 1-3am). She was shocked and basically told me to stop doing the night feed. Now my Anaki sleeps with us and usually just turns to me and nudges my boob when she wants a feed. How do I stop this and why should I stop it? Most other people don't think she is overweight at all.

Any thoughts?

[aardvark]

A breastfed baby will take as much as they need, when they need it.

My DS who is 5 months old is still having a feed, usually around 4:30am-ish. He's co-sleeping with us, too. He's over 8kg, and 68 cm long, so a big boy for his age.

I wouldn't be worried, and I wouldn't be cutting out the feed, either.

[sopolicha]

If it is annoying you, stop it.

If you enjoy it keep on doing it.

Bugger the Child Health Nurse, they are notoriously against co-sleeping.

[Goosie22]

Oh what a Looser CHN!!!!!
Keep feeding your baby, the Child Health Nurse obviously out of touch with what is normal for babies. Babies need to feed 24/7, your baby will let you know she donsnt want to feed when she dosnt wake for the feed. Did she give you any helpful hints on what to do when your withholding your breast??? Did she offer to come over to your house and walk around rocking your baby so you can sleep:laughing: .

She is beyond a jolk.

[Funkychicken]

I agree totally with Goosie here! My DS topped the scales at 8kg at 4 months. I was fortunate to have a very supportive nurse who loved that he was such a boomba of a bub!
Now? He is the smallest in his class and a bit scrawny to boot! Any extra chub on a bf baby will disappear as soon as they get mobile.
You're doing an excellent job!:thumbsup:

[zactyl]

Like they said, ignore the CHN :laughing:

Here's a growth chart for Breastfed Babies if you're interested, your bub is above average, but well within the normal range.
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/chart3.html

[Ana Gram]

I think you will find most parents are rather selective with the details they tell the CHN's. If your daughter didn't need a feed during the night, she wouldn't wake up for one.

[reAllytee]

Im so glad ive only had supportive & helpful CHN's !!!!
As the others have said ignore her .... If bubs didnt want the feed she wouldnt take it & if that CHN thinks your bubba is big then i wouldnt dare think what she would say about my DS !!!!

[*Chels*]

CHN's really annoy me sometimes-they put silly ideas into parents heads and make them worry for nothing!!
My son still has night feeds ALOT!!He nuzzles into my boobie,sometimes when I want to sleep it is annoying,but who am I to deny him?:p
Do what you feel is right.You sound like you have a perfectly healthy,normal,gorgeous bubba.Well done!:)

[Lunar]

One thing your baby is not is overweight!
I know some 3 month olds that could show her up on the scales!
just ignore her. I'd see another CHN if I could. Some of them have no idea at all! Have a look in her health record book, look at the growth charts (even tho they are very outdated) I'm sure she is not WAAAAAYYYYY above the 97th percentile is she? You don't need to worry.
If you and her are both happy with her feeding, continue and tell the CHN to shove her advise!

[Rainbowbrite]

Oh Jeez, i'd hate to see what she'd say to me :eek: Your bub is not too big. MJ gets bf every 1-2 hrs at night, its what she needs, so i do it.

:hugs: to you & your bubba