I have woken in the middle of the night hungry.  I get up and eat.

When my very tiny toddler (just barely on the growth charts) was waking
up in the middle of the night hungry, we fed her.  Breastmilk wasn't
enough for her, although she was still night nursing at that time a few
times a night and nursing a lot during the day (and went on to nurse
until she was 4).  She woke for food for about 3 months and is now on
the growth charts at about the 70th%.  We would wake her and give her
real food, usually protein and fruit, sometimes leftovers, really
whatever she wanted within reason.   Not that I cared where she was on
the charts, it was just interesting to see her eat constantly for 3-4
months, including almost a full meal between 2-4 am each night and how
she grew during that time period.  She was a premie and was small for
her first two years but now is not.  I might suggest to these parents
that they give the child some real food at night, instead of just a
bottle.  Most nights it was something simple like cheese and fruit and
crackers or, like I said, leftovers.

joylyn

Karleen Gribble wrote:

>This is a bit off topic because the child in question is breastfed not
>bottlefed but I expect that there will be well reasoned opinions from
>Lactnetters nevertheless.
>
>Background is:
>Child adopted from institutional care at 10 months of age and is now 15
>months. Child wakes 2-4 times a night (cot next to bed). Mum and dad believe
>firmly in responding to their child's needs but they are copping a bit of
>flack from those around them for doing so and are getting pretty stressed
>about night waking and second guessing what they are doing. The night waking
>issues sound pretty normal to me (heck I've got a 4yo home nearly a year
>waking 2-6 times a night) but the all powerful paediatrician recommends
>training this child to sleep (one can guess at what that involves). The
>question I have to ask Lactnetters is with regards having milk at night.
>When the child wakes most times it seems to be for reassurance (child is in
>a cot in parents room- I've suggested that they move it next to the bed and
>let the side down so  that they can touch her and don't need to actually get
>up) but at between 2 and 4 when she wakes she will not go back to sleep
>without being given a bottle and will drink up to 200ml. Previously
>mentioned paediatrician has said that a child her age should be able to go
>all night without milk- they should stuff her during the day so she sleeps.
>They have tried to get as much food into her as possible but she still wakes
>and want milk. This child is tiny too- not actually on the growth charts-
>but has been growing.
>Obviously there are a heap of emotional issues with this little one and I
>think that the parents are doing a great job in working against the flow to
>be responsive to their child- they're first time parents. I would love to be
>able to tell them that other children her age also need milk (breast or
>bottle) at night- they don't need to stress about this one either. Don'tcha
>wish that our cultures were more supportive of responsive parenting.
>
>Karleen Gribble
>Australia
>
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