Hello wise BWs,
I posted yesterday on the Night Wakings board, but have yet to hear a response, so I'll continue to grasp at straws!
In trying to sort out my 8mo DS's NW issues (every couple of hours for the last couple of weeks), I'm wondering if food is the problem. He's EBF, began solids at 6mos, and is now getting them 3 times/day, usually within an hour of a BF. He's roughly on 4hr EASY, is a fabulous napper, and goes down easily when first put to bed at night. But the last couple of weeks he will only settle from NWs with a boob, and sometimes he's genuinely hungry (will hoover back both sides) and other times he's not, wants the comfort. He has a voracious appetite for solids, and I generally feed him until satiated. I'm now wondering if this is a mistake? Could he be replacing milk with solids (even though they come after), and wanting to compensate with lots of booby time at night? I have no interest in weaning (except at night!) - I'm not sure how much milk he's getting during the day, as he's easily distracted while nursing. I'm trying my best to hold the routine, but with the recent frequent night feeds, he's not as hungry in the morning, but eats lots of solids later...so goes the vicious cycle. Prior to a few weeks ago, he'd been sleeping well (well, since 5 1/2 mos or so), waking only once a night, nursing both sides then going straight back to sleep. He fell apart a month ago when we were away for a couple of weeks during which time he had a stomach bug, cut a tooth, and I'm pretty sure he had a growth spurt, plus a cold when we got home...but he's healthy now it's been too long a stretch of unsettled nights...I may have created a monster when he was sick....I'm so confused about the causes and what to do...HELP! Did I mention when he wakes at night he's screaming? He's never had reflux or any digestive issues, and so far the foods he's eating are quite benign...oh, and while he had the cold I tried leaving out the solids and nursing every 3 hours instead of 4, made no difference at night.
Sorry if this is discombobulated...I'm soooo tired....
Any feedback is very much appreciated by this newbie!
Andrea
