6 month old night wakings few potential issues would love some ideas

[Mumofs]

Hi there
My 6 month old used to have a prop and several sleep issues, we went through some sleep training which took about 3 weeks (shh pat and a time tweaks) then this last week everything slotted into place
Now a nw has appeared at 2.45, it could be because of:
Teething, he is chewing everything dribbling an doing this weird blowing all the time
Solids, he is on 3 small meals a day & has been for the last 2 weeks
Distraction/not hungry enough for milk, he generally refuses his milk & only has 3 oz (used to have 7/8) if we come back to it 1/2 hr or an hour later he will finish the lot

When he woke in the night, he was crying and blowing so I gave him meds & had hand on back till he was asleep. He then woke up early at 6.15 rather than 6.55.

My questions are, what to do if it's teething obviously meds but should I stay with him when he is used to sleeping on his own?

If its the solids and milk issue, is this something I should ride? Yesterday he had about 25 oz plus 3 small meals but the milk was split each feed. If I didn't split the feed he would have had more like 16 oz

Any advice???

[becj86]

Solids, he is on 3 small meals a day & has been for the last 2 weeks

Have you just started solids? Usually at this age, one small solids meal would be offered, building to three meals in a couple of months' time. Are you offering water with the solids? He may be uncomfortable with solids moving through his system.

what to do if it's teething obviously meds but should I stay with him when he is used to sleeping on his own?

Stay with him til the meds kick in, a little extra TLC is ok but you may need to watch how much extra you're doing since you're recently out of sleep training. I'd comfort him if he wants it or leave if he's ok - let him guide you.

This age is a classic for routine changes too - its around the time the catnap gets dropped. What's your EASY look like at the moment? Early wakings can be related to being UT at BT. It could well be discomfort, but worth checking the routine too

It is important to make sure the milk intake doesn't decrease when you introduce solids - milk is essential nutritionally at this age and solids is for tasting and fun. I'm not sure from what you've written if milk has decreased with solids or if its distraction-related. BFing mums wear chunky necklaces to entertain LO while feeding - you could try something similar. Another thing you can do to make the feeds a bit easier is to feed him while he's still drowsy waking up from his naps.

[Mumofs]

Thank you so much, I did wonder if I was going too quick with the solids he just seems to enjoy it and doesn't turn away, I started 3 weeks ago & each meal is only 1 small portion at each meal. His poo has changed its more solid and perhaps a little dry, I've been offering water but he doesn't take much. He is on average doing 2 poos a day
Perhaps I'll cut back on the meals and only give 2 then & offer more water.

I guess That would sort the milk issue out as well

Yesterday was
Wake 6.55
E 7.05
A 7.15
E solids 8.15
S 8.55-10.03
E 11.00
A 11.15
E solids 12.15 & rest of milk
S 12.40-2
E 3
S 4.35-5.15
E solids 5.35
E 6.30
S 7.25 (bed at 7)
E 10.30
Woke at 2.45
Woke at 6.15-usually wakes at 6.55
E 7.08
E 8.10
S 8.40-10.13
E 11.00
E 12.15
S 12.48-1.30
E 3
S 3.34

Thanks x

[Mumofs]

Re the milk intake he did have similar sort of Amt but he had it in split feeds as he wasn't interested, not sure if it's because of the solids or the disinterest

[becj86]

His poo has changed its more solid and perhaps a little dry, I've been offering water but he doesn't take much. He is on average doing 2 poos a day

It will change and get thicker with solids, but if dry or difficult to pass, extra water is great to fix it before it becomes an issue. Offering water in a sippy/straw cup now will get him used to it and he'll start to take more water once he gets the hang of it

I think the milk intake will probably be your best guide as to whether you've cut back the solids enough. A tablespoon or two is about the amount of solids you'd offer in a 'meal' at this age and it should be only just thicker than his milk, so quite runny still while he's getting used to it - not only getting used to swallowing it, etc. but his gut needs to get used to having solids go through too.

I think it may be time to extend your A times a bit as your naps have shortened to around 1hr-1hr20. This together with the early waking would indicate its time to up the A times and drop the catnap. I can walk you through it here or you can post over on the http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=41.0 to get some tips there.
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=84884.0

[Mumofs]

That's fantastic advice thank you so much. I think I'm doing too much solids so I will cut back.

Yesterday he only had two naps of 40 mins in the pm so was very ot at bed time Then Last night he woke a lot again he also woke at 6 but was trying to go back to sleep till 7.

If you could help that would be great, I'm not sure how to get back on track now he is waking early?

[becj86]

Well, you have to push the first A time out - this discourages the earlier waking (not technically an EW, as an EW is waking after 10hrs sleep or less) and lengthens the first nap (you may have to resettle an OT short nap for a few days initially though).

Here's a sample routine to work towards:
7 - awake & E
8 - solids + water
10 - nap
11:30 - awake & E
2:30 - nap
4 - awake & E
Bedtime routine including BT milk
Asleep in bed by 7
One NF is pretty normal still around this age too.

I know the feeds are a little further apart than 4hr - see how he goes, most babies are ok with this but some need feeds closer together. He should be ok but if not, there are some routines out there that fit the A times with feeds exactly 4hr apart but they involve not feeding immediately upon wakeup in the morning.

With the waking at 6am, I'd just start the day at 6, push the A time by extending with a quiet activity like singing or walking around the garden and aim for bedtime of 6pm. As he gets more into the swing of things, you'll be able to gradually move wakeup to a more pleasant hour (or he might do a long night...) but I'd try to get the routine on track first so he's not getting any more OT.

[Mumofs]

Ok great info thank you. Today we had 3 30 min naps in the whole day, even though I kept trying for a sleep it wouldn't happen. I tried to resettle too but he was having none of it. So i put him to bed at 6.30.

He doesn't resettle when he wakes early I used to be able to extend naps but since he has got older no chance-he just fights me rolling around in the cot, but I'll try and go back to when I used to pat him.

If he wakes at 6 what sort of a time am I aiming for 3 hours? He is only just 6 months, should I do it in 15 mins, where do I start with the a time 2.30?

Thanks again

[becj86]

I'd start at 2.5hr and increase by 10-15mins every fews days - give him some time to get used to it. Once you're getting good length naps again, leave it at that A time.