Author Topic: 5mo: crying after/during sleep  (Read 5705 times)

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Offline Apple001

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5mo: crying after/during sleep
« on: September 15, 2015, 02:20:33 am »
Hi all,

I'm not sure if I need to start a new topic or continue with the previous one: 4mo: 3.5-hour or 4-hour EASY?!

After the pediatrician told us to remove the night feedings and we succeeded to remove one of them. She had one feeding around 2-3am.  Then something happened and she started waking up around 10-11pm. During the first nights she would talk to herself and fall asleep on her own. But lately after "talking to herself" she starts crying/screaming. The only way I am able to calm her down is by feeding her (but sometimes she doesn't even want to feed). Of course I would feed her on demand later during the night. Then this screaming/crying started happening with every night feeding and today it started to happen during the naps too: 30-40 minutes into the nap she would wake up, smile, "talk" and then all of sudden she starts crying.
At first we thought the problem is sleeping on her tummy: during the night she would roll to her tummy, and when she wakes up she lifts her head up and can't go to sleep [she can't roll to her back]. We started rolling her to her back during her sleep, but she would wake up crying. So now she is sleeping with two rolls of swaddles by her side - but they do not help much.

Now when this "crying" transitioned to her naps, I'm not sure what to do. During the night I will feed her and she sleeps, but during the day she will not fall asleep afterwards and her EASY becomes 2-2.5 hour easy.
I tried shush/pat and it doesn't work since she is too hysterical at that point.
I tried PU/PD, but it will take me some time to calm her down even in my arms (around 20 minutes) and then as soon as put her horizontally (even in my arms) she will start crying.

I'm not sure what to do. Should I continue with PU/PD during the day and feed her on demand during the night?

Our day EASY is the same:
E 7:00 +/- 30 mins depending how close the last night feed was
A
S 9-10:00

E 10:30
A
S 12:30-2pm

E 2pm
A
S 4:15-5pm

E 5:15pm
A
Bath 7:30pm
E 7:45 pm
Bedtime 8pm

Night wakings/feedings before: 2-3am
Night wakings/feedings now: 11pm (+/- 30 mins), 3am, 6am.  (I usually try to limit the last night feed by 1-2 minutes. Sometimes it is not enough for her and she feeds for 3-5 minutes).

Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2015, 17:23:22 pm »
Just a small update:
DD woke up 4 times today at night: 11pm. 2:30am, 4:40am, 5:40am! All 4 times I couldn't calm her any other way than feeding her. She didn't even feed that much when she was a newborn.

I hope it is just a growth spurt and it's going to be over without our "new" habits.

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2015, 21:44:40 pm »
It could be discomfort?  How is her reflux/spitting up now?

I think her routine probably also needs a tweak. The first A times of the day could probably do with a push by 15 mins or so to get a longer first nap.  And her last A time is likely way too long,  especially after just a short CN. She is probably really OT at BT from that 3hr A time.

« Last Edit: September 16, 2015, 20:08:56 pm by *Ali* »
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2015, 07:06:39 am »
Ali, thank for your reply.

I also thought about discomfort from reflux, but she doesn't spit up much: maybe once after a day feed. Her bed is dry and no spots, so no spitting up at night.
I also checked her gums for signs of teething, but everything looks normal.
Are there any other discomforts possible?

Sometimes her first A time gets increased, but her nap time is still the same. Before sometimes  I could extend it using shush pat, but not anymore.

Regarding the bedtime, when do you think it is reasonable to start the routine? If I do it earlier, will her wake up time change? She used to nap for 20-30 minutes between 6-7pm, but not anymore.


Currently it is midnight here and she already had two NF at 10:20 and 11:40pm.

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2015, 20:15:59 pm »
I'd work on pushing the naps she has later rather than making BT earlier. She is likely moving towards dropping to 2 naps rather than needing 4 so I'd forget the 6pm one. Making the existing naps later should just help to spread the A time a tad more evenly over the day and avoid that very long A time before bed.

Reflux pain from the acid doesn't have to equal spitting up. She could be experiencing heartburn type burning from the acid coming up her throat without actually bringing anything up. Check our reflux board for more info. Reflux 101 - General reflux information
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2015, 01:20:23 am »
*Ali*, the problem with naps that if I don't pick her up instantly after her nap and try to extend it, she will start crying. I read somewhere here about "not letting her wake up" technique by holding her arms in the right moment. Maybe I should try that.

I also noticed that:
- she stopped taking a pacifier: she will take it to fall asleep but during the night she will refuse it. But she refuses everything right now.
- her day feeding times increased up to 5-6 minutes (they used to be 3-4 minutes). <--- Is it possible that my milk has changed? Or is it just a growth spurt? Or is it just a consequence of re-appeared reflux? I think her feeding times became 3-4 minutes when her spit-ups went away.

Thank you for the link. It sounds like she has a reflux (symptoms: colic, frequent night wakings, pain when lying down, refusing to feed, arching back, ...). But I thought she doesn't have it anymore since the spit-ups ended - everything was normal for a couple of months. Maybe we should call the doctor again.




Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2015, 09:19:31 am »
Yes you could try to catch her while she is still sleepy and see if it helps extend naps.

Feeds change all the time. It could be that her belly is bigger and she can take bigger feeds now she has grown. Or as you say could be a GS.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2015, 03:50:52 am »
Hi Ali, I was able to extend her first nap, but she didn't have her third nap (even the car ride didn't help), which caused a 4-hour A time. Below is our EASY for today:

WU/E: 7:30am
A
S 9:50-11:30am

E 11:30am
A
S 1:40-2:15, 2:30-3:30

E 3:30
A
no sleep

E 7pm
A
BD 7:45

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2015, 22:07:02 pm »
Have you tried an earlier BT if she doesn't CN?

I'd keep pushing the first two A times towards 2.5hrs.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2015, 20:09:56 pm »
Hi Ali,

Thank you for your reply again!
I didn't try to do an earlier BT that day because at first I thought she will be napping and I was working on that, then I needed to run an errand, so I took her with me (she usually sleeps in the car, but that didn't help.)

Regarding longer A-times: she doesn't do more than 2 hours especially in the morning. She usually starts shows the signs at 1:45min mark and then I start "calm-down" routine. I can try to extend it, but it means I need to carry her around during that time.

The second day went perfectly: 2 naps of 1.5 hours and a catnap. After that I noticed that she stopped crying and screaming at night when she wakes up. She finally was taking a pacifier!!! So it seems that discomfort went away (or was it a routine issue?)

The third day: one good nap of 1.5 hours and 2 catnaps of 40 minutes. We spent almost the whole day outside on the beach (because it's too hot to stay indoors - we don't have AC) and she is not a good napper outside of the house.

During all these 3 days DD was able to keep up with a 4-hour feeding routine (with exception of the last feeding after a catnap) with a solid 5-6minutes per feeding. But at night she still asks every 3 hours (11pm, 2am and 5am). It seems like she switched day and night feedings. Before she could go 5 hours after a BT-feed (till 1-2am). I guess it would take time to re-adjust to "normal".

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2015, 10:07:35 am »
If her wakings are always 3hrly it sounds like she may be waking at the end of the sleep cycle rather than transitioning to the next one. That is normally because of either discomfort or prop issues. True hunger wakings are more likely to be at irregular intervals I find.

So it could be that she needs to milk to soothe the burning from relux or it could be that she just hasn't learnt to fall asleep without your help. She likely does need some night feeds but I don't think it is all down to hunger.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2015, 21:31:37 pm »
Hi Ali,

I was thinking about your comment regarding her wakings, she seems to be hungry and she won't settle unless I BF her (before I could give her a Pacifier and she would sleep).
She can fall back on her own, but most of the time she needs a Pacifier. But recently she started pulling it out and playing with it, so it doesn't help as much as it used too.  Below our last 5 nights:

Night 1: BF for BT at 7:45, then NF 11pm, 2:15am, 5:25am, WU/E 6:45am
Night 2: BF for BT at 7:45, then NF 10:25pm, 2am, WU/E 6:35am                   <- I was so happy with this night.
Night 3: BF for BT at 7:45, then NF 11pm, 2:35am, 5:25am, WU/E 7:25am
Night 4: BF for BT at 7:40, then NF 11:10pm, 2:15am, then I tried to give her a pacifier at 4:35 instead of BF, she woke up and didn't sleep at least till 5:40am. I BF her at 5:25 (I was hoping she would go to sleep, but it didn't help.) WU/E at 7:20am.
Night 5: BF at 6:20pm, BT at 7:50pm (no BF), then NF 10:40pm, 2:25am, 5:10am, WU/E 6:45am.

Do her NF seem to be regular?

Another issue: her crib is right next to mine (like a co-sleeper) for an easy BF. I thought about moving her crib as soon as she is down to only one NF. But lately I'm thinking that I probably react to her every move. Another problem is that I couldn't move her crib far (it will stay in our room, but in a different corner), so I would still be able to hear her and BFing would be a little problematic (because I would need to pick her up, BF her on my bed and then put her back to her crib).

Will moving her crib help with NW?

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2015, 21:31:04 pm »
They do seem very regular yes.

Moving her away will only help if you make a decision not to feed her at every waking and stick with it I would think. I'm not sure how it would help on its own if you are still in the same room as she will still hear you I'm guessing.

What actually happens when she wakes? Is she crying straight away or does she lie there chatting for example? Are you getting her up to feed her when she cries or to get her back to sleep?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2015, 03:59:54 am »
Just to add a couple of more nights:
Night 6: BF at 6pm, BT at 7:50pm (no BF), NF 9:25pm, 12:10am, 3:35am, WU/E 6:30am
Night 7: BF for BT at 7:40pm, NF 12:00am, 2:40am, 5:10am, WU/E 7am

She doesn't usually wake up to the full alert state. (Before she did wake up several times to the full alert state, but she would chat and fall asleep on her own). She usually starts moving around and fussing while she is still asleep. (Should I wait till she is fully awake?)
I first use shush-pat, then I try to give her a paci (before just these two steps would be enough), but now she refuses the paci (most of the time) and she would start crying. Then the only option is to feed her. I tried PU/PD at this stage but it won't help.

My DH and I are thinking about me leaving after 2am feed (I will go to sleep into the living room). We did that when she had 2 night feedings (1-2am and 5am), and we managed to drop the 5am feeding. But then her "crying" sessions started as well as the constant feeding at night.
 

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2015, 10:38:06 am »
What are your views on the reflux? If you are in doubt as to whether she is uncomfortable from that then I wouldn't do any sleeo training/active weaning if NFs , especially not PUPD.

At NWs I'd definitely wait until she is doing an I-need-you cry rather than fussing in her sleep before you get her up. Would it help to lay your hands on her chest at all do you think?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #15 on: October 04, 2015, 04:03:51 am »
Hi Ali,

Sorry for this late reply. I was just trying different things. It seems like nothing helps.


1) She stopped going to sleep herself. Before I used this strategy of putting her to sleep: go around the apartment and balcony with her, then closing the shades and saying "have a good sleep" to the Sun, turning on the white noise machine, and actual putting her to bed. Then I would come in 5 minutes (if she is not asleep) and give her a pacifier. Then I would come in 5 minutes and find her asleep. Now I will need to actually hold her in bed to restrict her movements. Sometimes it take 10-15 minutes of holding her.
I might be missing her "sleep" window and trying to put to bed an OT baby. Before I was putting her in 2 hours of awake time, but then you suggested to prolong it. So it seems like she is not ready for longer A time.
Will the "Sitting" stage of 4S ritual help? I just don't have a comfortable place to sit in the bedroom: if I sit on the bed, then she has a full room of interesting stuff to see.

2) 30-45 minute naps! None of the "Wake-to-Sleep" and "Pressure at the Jolts" strategies works for us now. She still cries after some 45 minute nap. Usually either feeding or going for a walk (outside) will help.  But I'm not able to put her down again for a longer nap.
She also refuses the CN in the evening. Because of that we put her to bed earlier and get even more night wakings (some of them she just wakes up, talks to herself and goes back to sleep).

3) Night wakings: I tried to wait for the actual "I-need-you" cry, and it happens after every fussing period at the same time (around 11pm, 2am, 5am). It seems like she is hungry every 2.5-3 hours. One night we even had 4 night feedings (out of 6 night wakings).  I'm trying to cluster feed her before bedtime, but it doesn't help.
I tried holding her, but she still fusses and eventually cries. Pacifier doesn't work at all: she doesn't even take it, she starts crying when I try to insert it (because she is fussing and moving around - i can't do it quietly). 
The only thing I didn't try is "Wake-to-Sleep" strategy for the night-time wakings. But I doubt that it will work (because it stopped working for the naps).
I talked to one of the friends, she said that she probably switch night and day feedings, and that it probably goes back to normal, when she starts solid foods. We didn't plan on starting the solid foods for another 2-4 weeks (until our next doctor's appointment), but now I'm considering to start early.

4) I think it is not a Reflux. The only "Reflux"-like symptom is "cry when laying down", but that happens like once in 4-5 days now.



Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #16 on: October 08, 2015, 16:54:24 pm »
My DH thinks that DD is thirsty at night. He wants to start giving her water. I don't believe that it would work. Because when I tried to decrease the time of a NF by one minute, she woke up in an hour crying for food.
I think my breastmilk is not enough for her and she needs more food during the day. (My DH disagrees with me because she is too chubby and >95% in weight)
I will start solids on Saturday.
I'm also considering giving her a bottle of formula at BT. I really don't want to do it, but currently I'm out of the other options. I reread Hogg's book so many times, I browse old topics to find some new ways of dealing with the hunger cry, but I'm still not getting any sleep (she wakes up 4 times a night for a feed: around 10:30pm, 1:30am, 3:30am and 5:30am) and I'm a working mama, so I need a clear head during the day.

The E part of our routine is fixed: 7am, 11am, 3pm, 6pm, and 7:30-7:45pm (bedtime).
The naps are still jumping around, especially the last CN. But DD sleeps around 14 hours total every day (2-3 hours during a day and 11-12 hours at night).
During her A time she is working on her balance by raising the hands and legs at the same time during the tummy time.

P.S. Sorry, it seems like this thread became "crying it out" topic for me.

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #17 on: October 08, 2015, 23:14:46 pm »
Sorry for the delay in responding.

No, I wouldn't give her water. If you think she isn't getting enough from milk then giving water would only replace valuable nutrients with calorie-empty water. If you think she needs more than she is getting from your milk then the best thing to do is breast feed her more.

Have you considered it may be reverse cycling? http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/reverse-cycling/
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2015, 04:39:41 am »
*Ali*, thank you for your reply! Don't worry about late reply - you have your own life with three beautiful children to take care off. Thank you for being here for us!

I thought about "day/night switch". I also saw you posting this link about reverse cycling in another thread. Probably it is. (Otherwise I'm out of other reasons)
I didn't think my work could have such a huge effect because I work from home during her naps and I only leave her for 2-3 hours 2-3 times a week (and she sleeps at least 1 hour of that time). But there is nothing I can change. Most of the tips provided in that article I'm already implementing. Her crib is right next to my bed (I stopped going to sleep to another room for a while); I'm nursing her in the quiet room (and it actually helped to prolong the feeding times); I carry her in the sling during our daily walks; etc. So I think I just need to wait... Maybe solids will help.

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #19 on: October 27, 2015, 04:46:26 am »
Over the past several weeks I spent almost all my time with DD. We had a change of caregivers (my mom left and my FIL came) and I needed to teach my FIL how to take care of DD. There were no improvement in her night wakings. So I don't think it is reverse cycling.
They actually became worse because she got sick. Now we're back to "at least 3 night wakings a night"
On a good night she would nurse between 10-11pm, 2-3am, 4-5am.
On a bad night (like yesterday): she nursed at 11pm, 12:50am, 2am, 5:30am + paci around 3:40am + there was one more night waking but she fell asleep on her own (so I'm not sure what time it was). 

Our pediatrician recommended sleep training before 9 months. My DH and I are thinking about it, but we're not sure how to accomplish it with all those night wakings. Do we feed her at 10-11pm and then use PU/PD for the rest of the night till 7am? I know that she can go 5 hours without a feed (she did it 2 months ago), but I'm afraid that she will be genuinely hungry and we will torture her.
I asked the same question to our Pediatrician and she told us that currently she is supposed to be getting enough milk during the day. Therefore night feedings are just for comfort.


Our second problem is naps and awake time before the first nap. As you can see from the previous EASY we used to have 2 hours of A time in the morning. But she started consistently dropping her catnap in the evening (45 minutes between 5-6pm).
Now I'm trying to extend the first A time, but even 2 hours and 30 minutes is a lot for her. She starts showing all the sleep signs before 9am.
For example her EASY today:

WU/E - 6:50am
A (2.5 hours)
S - 9:20-10:10 (she woke up in 35mins, but I was able to extend it for extra 15mins).
A - 10:10-10:40am

E 10:40am
A (30 min before E and 2:35 after E - total of 3.05 hours)
S 1:15 - 2:55pm (1h and 40 min: she woke up in 45 mins, but I was able to extend it right away another 55 min nap)

E 3pm
A 2 hours 45 min ----- I tried to put her to sleep from 5pm till 6pm, but she really didn't want to go to sleep.
E 5:45 pm (I tried to nurse her to sleep)
A 1 hour 15 min

Pre-BT routine: 7pm
E: 7:20 (nurse to sleep)
BT: 7:30pm

My plan is to extend her A time till 3hours in 15 minutes increments: 3 days of 2h 30min, 3 days of 2h 45min and then 3 hour A time.  However by looking at this schedule (All about the 3-2 transition- 5/6 months) I'm afraid to move to 4.5 hour EASY (because our increased night waking started when we moved to 4 hour EASY). Just in case we will end up doing it, should I implement the top-offs before her naps? Or will the solid feeding take care of it?

Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #20 on: October 27, 2015, 22:38:56 pm »
Yes as A times get longer she will likely need a second feed in each A time. I'd definitely push the A times like you plan to.

Have you started solids now? When do you give them?

I'm not sure on what your paed is basing the opinion that NFs are not needed by this age. Official advice from the world health org is to feed as often as baby wants at night. All babies are different and many do need night feeds until at least 1yo. I understand you need to get some sleep though so I would look at cutting the feeds down to a more manageable number.

Can you remind me how LO goes to sleep for naps? I'd probably make sure that is independently and then use the same method to resettle without feeding if LO wakes within 3hrs of the last NF. I wouldn't go straight for all night as your LO is used to eating often.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #21 on: October 28, 2015, 14:30:47 pm »
We started solids several weeks ago (we were able to introduce pumpkin and oatmeal), but then DD got sick and we decided to postpone. As of 3 days ago we re-started solids again (I usually give it to her around noon). However she doesn't show interest in food anymore.  :-( Most of the times she is not even getting a spoon of food.

She used to go to sleep only with a pacifier. Currently she needs pacifier + someone holding her arms and not letting her turn. Sometimes only a pacifier is enough, sometimes even this combo doesn't work. I thought that pu/pd might help with independent sleeping.

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2015, 20:24:02 pm »
Have you considered Baby Led Weaning if she isn't interested in the spoon?

It isn't really possible to do PUPD with a paci (unless baby can replug her own paci). Here's a link with more info on why. Or are you happy to wean the paci?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2015, 06:37:16 am »
I was actually planning on BLW, but I didn't find the support at home. So we decided to go with purees.
But recently since she didn't like the purees, we gave her half of banana to "play" with. She did "play" with it, but then she started gagging, so we finished our experiment.
We still don't have a highchair (she doesn't sit on her own well enough). But we will be getting it soon. So I might experiment more with BLW later.

Sorry, the link didn't show up. But I think I read somewhere that paci and PUPD don't work together. I'm ready to wean it out (if needed). I'm not a big fan of paci, but it really helped us a lot at the first few months.
I also heard read that around 7-8 months babies start replugging the paci by themselves. If we decide to sleep train with PUPD, then we will be doing it either over the Thanksgiving (late November) or in the second half of December. So by that time DD will be around 7-8 month old and she might be able to replug.

I don't want to rush with PUPD while we have problems with naps. By the way we have a little progress with naps:
1) first awake time - 3hours, then 50 minutes of sleep. (I put her down at 2h 45min and it took 15 minutes for her to actually fall asleep)
2) second awake time - 2h 40mins, then 1h 10min of sleep. (I put her down and she fell asleep right away without holding her, but she took her paci).
3) a huge 4 hour awake time before bedtime.

Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #24 on: November 01, 2015, 14:03:43 pm »
If you do want to keep the soother you could start now teaching your lo to repkug. We made a sort of game out of it on the floor by laying a bunch around for practice and guiding their hand to pick it up. For DD3 we also got the glow in the dark kind, much easier to spot at night!

Gagging is actually pretty normal as they learn to move the food around in their mouths (well it was for my kids anyways) and is not the same as choking. But if she isn't able to sit on her own she may not be quite ready yet.
Heidi




Offline *Ali*

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #25 on: November 02, 2015, 11:30:12 am »
As PP said gagging is normal. Babies' gag reflexes are much further forward in their mouths than an adult's so they gag well before we would and before they are close to choking. It is how they learn to move food back to the front of their mouths. I know it can be scary the first time though. Banana is quite a difficult texture too as it gets stuck to the roof of the mouth easily. I'd maybe try something like cooked pear or Apple perhaps.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #26 on: November 06, 2015, 06:54:55 am »
MasynSpencerElliotte and Ali, thank you for your suggestions!

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #27 on: November 09, 2015, 00:33:22 am »
Ok, It's been a week of 3 hour A time and no success.

She falls asleep easy: I put her down, she starts crying, I give her pacifier and she will fall asleep in 2 minutes. But then she sleeps 25-35 minutes!!!  I'm trying to be there before she wakes up to hold her or even replug the paci, but it doesn't help. She wakes up in a second, rolls to her tummy and is quite happy with herself.  I try to settle her for 10 minutes, but it feels like a waste of time (because she is happy and active) and I end up feeding her.

Do I increase A time even more? But it so hard hard to keep her awake for 3 hours (especially in the morning), I don't think she would be able to do a longer A time. I try to make sure that she spends her A time as active as possible (Since she sleeps only 30 minutes, I end up working during her A time, and therefore my FIL is usually with her during A time).

Last Sunday was the only "good nap" day: first nap - one hour, second nap - 2 hours (I was there both times to extend it by holding her arms). There were some naps with 45 minutes, but most of them are in the 25-35 minute range.

Our EASY schedule:
WU/E 7 am
A 3 hours with cereal around 9am (she doesn't take much: just 3-4 spoons)
S 10-10:30

E 11am
A 3 hours with Fruits/Veggie around noon (she doesn't take much: just 3-4 spoons)
S 2-2:30

E 3pm
A 2 hours
S - I will try to put her for the third nap between 5 and 6 pm, but the third nap rarely happens
E 5:30-6 (if she falls asleep, then 6pm feed time; if she doesn't fall asleep, then I try to nurse her to sleep at 5:30)
A 6-7pm

Bedtime routine at 7pm
E - 7:15pm
BT - before 7:30.

I'm mostly worried about naps now, but just to get a full picture:
She has around 5 night wakings at night. Sometimes I'm able to settle her with the pacifier during some of the those night wakings. But most of the time she doesn't take pacifier. Last night I nursed her to sleep all 5 times.
I also noticed that she does a "mantra cry" between 8-10pm. She settles herself, but I'm worried that I might be reacting too fast during the night wakings. But I'm so tired, that it is easier for me to nurse her.



What should I do to help her with naps:
- Getting rid off pacifier? If so, should I do pu/pd during naps?
- Try some other technique of extending the naps? (which one?) By the way yesterday she fell asleep in the car, and we moved her to crib in 20-25 minutes. She end up sleeping for 1 hour total for that nap.Should I do something similar with her regular naps?
- Increase A time even more?
- Increase solids? (I'm almost forcing those 3-4 spoons into her but she eats them. I'm still waiting till she is able to sit up by herself to try BLW again).
- Wait? (Blame on teething, growth spurt and/or milestones: I noticed a piece of tooth coming out and she just learned how to do a tummy crawl).
- Other?

Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #28 on: November 11, 2015, 07:24:37 am »
Today I had some progress with naps by introducing top-ups before the nap.
Below is her today's EASY:

WU/E 6:35am (BF)
A 3 hours with solids (cereal 2 spoons) at 8:30am and BF top-up at 9am
S: 9:35-10:55 (1h 20 min)

E 11am (BF)
A 3 hours 25 min with Solids (veggie puree 2 spoons) at 12pm and a bottle of BM (70 ml) top-up at 1:20am
S 2:25-3:10 (45 min) (it took her 25 minutes to fall asleep)

E 3:25pm (BF)
A 4 hours with BF top-up at 5:20pm

BT routine start at 7pm
Sleep from 7:20pm


I probably should have had an earlier BT, but DD was not showing any signs of tiredness and I lost track of time.

I will see how the night and tomorrow will go. But are there any problems which might come up with these top-ups?

Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #29 on: November 12, 2015, 04:23:44 am »
We did top ups for ages and they never caused any issues at all. I am sorry but I so far out from the baby stage my advice on routine is not the greatest - plus my youngest was low sleep needs and did not have a normal routine by any standard lol. I would suggest posting in the sleep or easy forum (tbh not sure which suits your queries) but also with and impending tooth and crawling developing it may partially be a case of waiting it out!  As for solids, I would not worry about increasing if she is not interested at this stage milk is the bulk of her nutrition and solids are a complement.
Heidi




Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #30 on: November 12, 2015, 20:08:55 pm »
Thanks you for the reply. I will post somewhere else.

Just a couple of  questions regarding the top-offs:
1) she seems to be fine with top offs during the last two days, but she was waking up in the middle of the night for a cot party around 4am.  I'm not sure if this is a top off issue or just teething issue because I was actually giving her Tylenol around 12am and it says that Tylenol lasts for 4 hours. Just wanted to check.
My friend also said she had these 4am cot parties when she had a long A time in the morning and late naps. She limitted the first A time by 2-2.5 hours and these issue went away.

2) today I gave her top off in the morning and she only fell asleep after 4 hours and 20 minutes of awake time. It felt like this top off recharged her and she couldn't go to sleep (even though she showed the sleepy signs). Moreover she slept only 35 minutes after such a long awake time.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2015, 07:34:51 am by Apple001 »

Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #31 on: November 13, 2015, 14:25:05 pm »
You could do the top up earlier in the A time and see if that works better. Hard to say what the nw was about, though with teething involved I would suspect that first. Some kids do well with a shorter first A time but for some it can lead to ew and a cot party sounds like an undertired wake up which says a tweak might be needed!
Heidi




Offline Apple001

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Re: 5mo: crying after/during sleep
« Reply #32 on: November 13, 2015, 19:14:08 pm »
MasynSpencerElliotte, thank you! I will check out the other boards.