Sam has always had issues tolerating large volume feeds. He is currently fed 5.5 oz 5 times a day. My problem is that he is falling asleep around 9P and I start his last feed at 10P. He seems to get irritated towards the end of the feed. I have to hold him to get him back to sleep, but when he falls asleep he sleeps thru the night. I have increased the volume during the earlier feeds and decreased the volume for that last feed but I really want to eliminate that last feed--I just do not think he will tolerate much larger feeds during the day. Just wanted some suggestions--what is working for other tube fed babies out there????

I keep thinking of how nice it would be to go to bed before 11P and sleep thru the night--am I being selfish???

Hi Amanda -- We tube-feed Daniel five times a day, too -- 6 ounces for the first four feeds and 8 ounces at bedtime. I also worry about keeping to our feeding and napping schedule so that he's still awake for that last feed. It's tough to squeeze it all in, and I have a pretty good idea that D wouldn't tolerate night feeds. He's a pretty active sleeper and I can picture him getting all tangled in the tubing.

So... I am sympathetic, but not sure if this suggestion is helpful. Sam is six months old and getting 27.5 ounces a day. D is almost two (and nearly 26 pounds) and gets 32 ounces a day, but his formula is 30 cals/oz. So I'm wondering, could you cut Sam's ounces slightly but boost his calories so that you could do his feeds a bit closer together and not have to feed him after he's in bed? You'd certainly need to get your ped on board to try this, but I'd think if Sam has difficulty increasing his volume, it'd be worth a shot.

I, for one, think you deserve a good night's sleep!

Becky, I was thinking the same thing. I was talking to the nurse practitioner in the GI office today and I was going to ask her about it but we spent a lot of time talking about his constipation issues and then my 2 year old was trying to get my attention so I spaced and did not ask about increasing the calories--we just talked about increasing the volume of the feeds and eliminating the late night feed. I guess I will call back again and feel like an idiot--I even had it written on a piece of paper so I would not forget to ask!!! I have mommy brain!