4mo night waking, should I stop weaning?

[doobyden]

Zack is 18 wks and goes to bed between 7-8pm. He has mostly slept thru (til 7-8am) since he was 10 wks, not needing a feed. About 3-4 weeks ago, he became really unsettled: screaming for lots of the day (instead of crying) and waking at night screaming too. Milk was the only thing that would settle him. He was teething around the time but didn't seem in pain at all. I tried everything I could think of until introducing solids was the last thing to do. My Health Visitor agreed (only 14wks at the time) and giving him baby porridge made him more content thru the day.

He had real problems with trapped wind from about 4wo til the Dr gave us Colief drops (lactase enzyme). He stopped waking in the night with pain and discomfort, but with the cereal, this started again. He would be asleep but writhing his lower body and moaning until he passed wind, sometimes several times a night and getting upset. I moved on to veg purées in case it was an intolerance to the porridge but it's the same. I'm wondering about going back to just milk feeds but will speak to the Dr as this could be medical. Do you have any advice?

Also, recently I have noticed that he will wake around 4am but not in discomfort or pain, just be wide awake cooing to himself. I can settle him back to sleep quite easily but he is awake again an hour or so later. I am putting him in with me at this point which I need to stop before it becomes a habit! I have heard of 'sleep regression' at 4 months and think this might be the case, maybe triggered by waking with trapped wind for a few weeks, maybe not. I need to know how to help him go back to sleep and stay asleep!

Other info-
*His cot is right next to me with the side off so I am very aware of him stirring.
*His prop is a musical seahorse which I place next to him while dropping off as it gives him something to hold- otherwise he scratches at his face and disturbs himself.
*His daily routine can be different everyday as he is very nosy he struggles to sleep when we are out through the day. Naps can vary from 20 mins to 2-3 hrs. He naps around 10am, 1/2pm and 5/6pm when we are at home.
* A time he plays with Daddy and has a cuddle/winding, about 30-45 mins. I take him up to the dark room, put his sleeping bag on whilst talking softly to him and put him on his side with the seahorse. I stay with him til he's kept his eyes shut for about 30 secs.

[doobyden]

Hi Jane and thanks for replying 

I loved Tracy's TV programme and bought the 'Secrets of the BW' when I was pg. I found it to be more of a troubleshooter than something I needed to use as Zack fell into a good routine at around 10wks. However, now I need the support but I'm too tired and stressed to read the book again! And it's not a book you can dip in and out of iykwim, it's too wordy.

His seahorse has a glowing tummy and plays ocean sounds and soft music. I suppose it's a toy, so therefore a lovie too?

I tried to follow EASY as much as I could but things have been all over the place recently- he has been like this for over a month and has had an operation in that time too. Plus I am often out with him in the pram and can't give him the right conditions to sleep. Sometimes when he is nappng in the day I am unsure if I should wake him up for his next feed and risk him not getting enough milk before bedtime. So EASY has kinda gone out the window  Also, when is too late for a nap if he goes to bed at 7.30pm at the moment? Argh, I'm so confused!

For example though, a typical day can be like this...

Wake at 7.30am- feed.
Play/ winding til 8.30am
School run, falls asleep in pram about 9.45am, wakes 10.15am
10.30am- feed
Play til 12pm
Sleep 12-2.30 (missed 1.30pm feed)
2.30pm- feed
3pm School run
Plays with big bro/ singing til about 5pm then he gets REALLY tired and can easily sleep til 6.30pm when I wake him up to feed him and get ready for bed. Sometimes bath.

Other days, we are out pretty much all day and he may or may not have a nap in the afternoon.

[doobyden]

Thanks Jane 

If I can get these naps in most days is that enough? The days I'm out all day I'll try to get him to nap for a couple of hours. What wakes him up when he's asleep in the pram is when I stop! But I could put him in the cot when he wakes up to finish the sleep.

Do I wake him up for food? Especially the 5pm CN, if he's still asleep at 6.30?

[doobyden]

Thanks for all your advice. I have managed to get him having more effective naps through the day but he is still waking at night, sometimes 10 or more times. The Dr thinks it is due to him teething as this affects their gut and his is partic sensitive. I will just have to ride it out until this tooth appears and see if improves. I will be reading the board in the meantime to learn more about what helps babies sleep through. Thanks again Jane 

XxX