[Karen+Zoe]

Was today...although she has a few more days before getting to 9 months. Part of it went well, stats were:
Height : 29.1 inch
Weight : 24lbs 5ozs
HC : not progressing as mush as the rest of her so we go back in a month to check it again.

The part that did not go well was that the health-care nurse told me that Zoe should NOT be having a bottle in the night as she should be able to sleep through without a feed. WTH!
We put her to bed around 7-7.30pm and she sleeps till 3-4am when she will have 7/8 ozs of a bottle and then sleep for another 3-4 hours. If she wasn't hungry, she wouldn't drink the bottle as she pushes her bottle away during the day when she is not hungry. The nurse told me that baby's teeth can be harmed because of "eating" during the night (??)

I was probably being over-sensitive about it but I walked out there and had a little cry in the car thinking that I was not doing this right. Mum rang and I told her what she said and she told me that Zoe is a larger than average baby and if she wants to eat/drink at night, then I should let her. What do you ladies think about it?

Anyway, that's all till 10 months :-)

[irishblessing]

Sounds like she is growing really well.

Just forget about what the public nurse said! I don't think one feeding in the night is an issue at all. I'm sure she could sleep through the night without needing it but if it's not a problem for you to get up and give her a bottle then it's fine. It won't harm her! Heck, my son still nurses 3 times a night most nights!

I have heard the teeth thing before, and that worried me a bit with DD as she always fell asleep with her bottle and would have one in the night. However, her dentist appointments have all reported that she has "perfect teeth with no cavities" so I'm not sure how much truth it holds. It must have some? But it didn't in our experience. You could always just brush them in the morning as well (we just do night time).

[Ahari]

It's called Bottle mouth and its from letting baby sleep with bottle in the mouth what happens is the milk or juice spills in the mouth and it causes bacteria. It rottens the babies teeth and not sure if u ever see kids with tin teeth or no teeth at like 2 or 3? well yeah thats why. But if u watch baby with bottle and or make that night bottle water u have nothing to worry about. I know of this bc I had a cousin who it happened to and I remember him being 4 with dentures so I am so nervous about this with Zaden. Thats my problem with nurses/drs explain to me why don't just throw stuff at me and give no suggestions. Don't worry let her have that bottle just not sleep with it.

[KMQ]

The nurse can shove it. If your baby is waking up hungry in the night, you should absolutely feed her. If you think it's a habit instead of actual hunger, you could try offering other forms of comfort to see if she doesn't need to eat, like a soother or a quick snuggle or something. When Evan's teething he wakes up once a night to eat. He never falls asleep with a bottle in his mouth, so I'm not worried about it.

[~Rae~]

Yes, she CAN go all night without eating, but apparently she doesn't WANT to. If your family is fine with night feedings, then I would have thanked her for the advice & ignored her.
Yes, milk in the bottle at night can ruin teeth, but if I'm not mistaken, it's when you let them hold it & sleep with it. Some parents do that up to age 3-4 & it's devestating. I've never heard of this happening with breastmilk or formula though. Your baby is only 9 monthsmonths. I wouldn't worry.

[mandy5586]

Sounds like a good appointment, she is a big girl! Brynlee was 19 lbs 13 oz at her 9 month check up and 29.25in tall, lol

The NP told me the same thing about her not needing to eat her 3am bottle. Zoe's schedule sounds like BB. She goes to bed about 7-7:30, sometimes wakes at 3 for a bottle, then goes back to bed until 6:30 or 7. Sometimes she doesn't have the night bottle. I honestly think Brynlee's is more out of habit...or easy for us. We just make a bottle and she eats it and goes to sleep...instead of spending forever trying to pat her back and get her back to sleep.

[Admin-Rachel]

Sounds like she's growing well! I would ignore the nurse. Keelan is up frequently at night still and nurses. Heck, he was up at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:40 for the day today. Plus 2 a.m. as well. It was a bad night. Anyway, what Roxanne said is true. Bottle rot can happen if baby is given a bottle and it sits in the mouth all night. It doesn't sound like that's what you're doing, so I would just keep doing what you're doing, mama!

[marieks85]

I agree with everyone else. If she's waking up at 3 to eat then it's bc she's hungry and needs that feeding. Why deprive her just bc a nurse thinks she'd be okay to go through the night. If it doesn't bother you then keep night feeding. Sounds like she's doing great!

[teacher.123]

What everyone else has said! Just don't let the baby fall asleep with a bottle. I think it is totally different if you are BFing or taking the time to feed them a bottle. She will swallow and get the saliva going after the bottle and she should be fine. Stopping the bottle would be more for you to get your sleep. If you become worried that you might be putting her back to sleep with milk on the teeth, than I would just wipe them with a wet washcloth. Don't sweat it.

[Dixana]

Ditto to what the other girls said. Sounds like she's growing fast!

[navywifey2003]

I seriously cant stand when pedi's say they dont need to. It drives me freaking bonkers. Even the ped that I loved told me that at Everett's 6 month check up. I just smile and nod then I complain to Kyle. haha. You are mom and you know best if she is still waking up and taking 8oz I would say she is hungry. Dont let the ped make you feel bad in the slightest. You are doing nothing wrong! GRR sorry this gets me fired up

[w292737]

I refuse to make food a battle or a sticking point. if my kids wants to eat my kid is gonna eat

[Mama.Angie]

Sounds like she's doing great!

[petalfuzz]

She's growing well! Thanks for sharing. I love that pic of her in your siggy--what a doll!!

[marieks85]

Originally Posted by w292737

I refuse to make food a battle or a sticking point. if my kids wants to eat my kid is gonna eat

Exactly