I am a full time working mom and am slowly losing my mind! My 4 month old has recently started only wanting to eat at night. She eats very little during the day- an ounce or two here and there. However, in the last week or so, after her bedtime at 7 pm, she is up 3-4 times a night to eat, and she finishes each bottle entirely. I am like a walking zombie each day, and am having trouble staying awake at work. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on, and how I can encourage her to eat more during the day? I don't think it's a growth spurt, as she eats the same amount as she did before- it's the timing that's all off!!!
EDIT: In response, she is kept by my mother and my mother-in-law while I am at work. I was wondering if the opposite was true- if she is getting held and cuddled TOO much, so that she expects it all the time?! She has been doing this while I was off for Christmas Break- so she had me to herself all day, and still wants to eat at night. I'm stumped!
Also, I did mention it to the pediatrician at her 4 mo check up today, and she had no real answers for me. She is in perfect health, and is always a very happy baby. She thinks this will pass. Hopefully before I completely lose my marbles...lol
days and nights are mixed up slowly decrease her night time bottles and she will eat more in the day hope this helps!
I have no answer, I just wanted to let you know that I've been going through the exact same thing with my 5mo in the last week!
WTH???
She could be beginning to teeth and feeding at night is the only time she can eat well if she's sleeping through it, minimizing the pain. This could also be true if she's working on an ear infection or is congested for some reason. Perhaps she's too alert during the day and unable to eat due to pain?
I would suggest also perhaps that she misses you and has come to the conclusion this is the only time to see you, thus she wakes at night. In childcare, she may be being left alone much of the time, encouraged to self-feed instead of being held and cuddled. If she is not crying or insistent on getting attention, if she's easily placated, more laid back or sleeps more easily than the other children in the room, esp in an infant room, she could very well be being ignored for the most part as there are more demanding infants or children to deal with. Unfortunately in a childcare situation with multiple children, the ones that squawk the loudest get the most attention as needed to maintain the sanity of overworked employees. If she is unable to be her own advocate by demanding attention through any means necessary (yes I understand your child's young age), she will be brushed aside out of necessity. Your attention at night may be the only time she gets touched, cuddled, sung to, held, etc, or may be the only time when she gets to spend time with you - all of which is necessary for healthy development.
If you're certain that's not what is happening, I suggest speaking with your pediatrician.
Good luck!
If she was younger, I'd say it's like the old folks used to say that she "has her days and nights mixed up."
I can't remember what age it is, but there is a point where babies are old enough to take all their nutrition during the day and don't need to wake up at night to eat. I remember looking it up because my son stopped waking up to eat and I was worried that he might not be getting enough nutrition.
Have you talked to the ped about it?
