DF- Formula v BF & how much?

[JudyM]

Hi,

Just a quick update in case anyone has any suggestions... yesterday was the best day ever in terms of day naps.  He slept 1h50m both morning and afternoon with no wakings at 45 mins, and had a 40 min catnap.  All A times were below 2 hours, and the last A time was 1h20m.  BUT... he woke up at 3am and wouldn't go back to sleep for nearly 2 hours!!!  When he wakes in the night I usually can re-settle him back to sleep without getting him out of the cot, either by flipping him on to his side, or holding his hand!  Last night, nothing seemed to work.  He fell asleep three times but every time, just as I started to get back into bed (about 15mins after he'd gone back to sleep), he woke up!  In the end my husband got up, flipped him on his side and he went to sleep (typical).  I'm starting to think the dummy's a problem as it falling out seemed to wake him up... Also, think the 3am waking may be habitual as he usually wakes between 2.30 and 3.30 every night.  Could wake 2 sleep help?  Not sure how I'd do this as he's in our room.  I'm so tired!!  I know he's not waking from hunger as he can get back to sleep without a feed.  Aaargh!

Thanks

[Bryony]

Hi there!  Well done on the great naps!  What was he doing when he woke up (happy and chatting?  or cross?)   And how do you usually get him back to sleep?

You could try W2S if it's the same time every night - it doesn't make any difference being in the same room - just go over to him at 2am and prod him or nudge him a bit until he stirs. It can work really well if it's a habit in relation to waking at the same stage every night. 

With the dummy - it's really common for it to become a problem around 4 months of age - if he can't get to sleep wihtout it then yes you might want to ditch it - check out the props board for how!

xx

[JudyM]

Ah thanks Bryony!  Usually when he wakes he's not massively cross, just a bit whingey if that makes sense... not exactly screaming but not chattering happily either.  To get him back to sleep I usually just try to calm him by holding hands, my hand on his chest etc., but more often than not I have to flip him onto his side which seems to knock him out.  I'm slightly worried about this in relation to SIDS so I usually try and stay awake for 30 mins once he's asleep on his side so that I can flip him on to his back.  This sometimes wakes him, and sometimes I'm just so tired I leave him on his side 

The thing about being in the same room and doing wake 2 sleep is that if I set an alarm it'll probably wake him up!!  Will see how we get on tonight.  Naps were pretty good today, though the afternoon one was 1h30m.  He woke up really grumpy from his catnap so I fed him and topped him up before bed rather than a big feed just before bed.  Will see how we go tonight.  Fingers crossed as I'm shattered!!

Thanks again for your help x

[Bryony]

Fingers crossed for tonight xxx

The thing about being in the same room and doing wake 2 sleep is that if I set an alarm it'll probably wake him up!! 

Ah-ha, I see!  Do you have a mobile phone with a vibrate function that you can set as an alarm?  Or that you can turn the volume down low and stuff it into your pillow?  My alarm clock has a crescendo function on it so it starts really quietly.   Or you may find that just the alarm going off distrurbs him enough to do the job??

xx