Author Topic: 6 month old: previously excellent sleeper now WIDE AWAKE for hours...  (Read 1072 times)

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Offline Cazaline13

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Hi,

my baby is just over 6 months and had previously been an excellent sleeper: 7-7 for months! He dropped the dream feed himself and always seemed fed and content going to his bed. We think this was due to the great night time routine we established very early on.

2 weeks ago I went down to my parents house for 3 nights where he woke up a few times in the night- I BF him for conveniance and comfort, I did this for all 3 nights and since then its been chaos  :-[

We got home and he began waking  at 4am every morning looking for food or so it seemed. I reluctantly continued BF because it was the only thing to sooth him.

3 nights ago I swore to break the cycle and stopped feeding him, the first night went ok, lots of lifting from the crib to settle but I knew he wasnt hungary (we established the dream feed again to ensure it wasnt hunger). second night he slept until 5.30am, I fed him and put him back down again, slept until 6.30am. I thought last night would be the end of it but he woke at 1.30am screaming, then at 3.30am and stayed awake until 5.30am, I ended up giving him Calpol (teething?) and BF him to sleep and he slept until 7.45am

Last night he seemed very aware of me in the room and would twist his entire body to look for me, shouting rather then crying.

the daytime is as follows and can vary sometimes, very curious to hear what I should be doing!

E 6.am BF
6.30am-7am porridge with natural yog and fruit
A 7am-8.30am
S 8.30-9.30
E 11am Lunch: chicken and veg
A 11.30am-12.30am
S 12.30-1.30
E 2.30 7oz formula
A 3-5
E 5pm dinner

6pm bed time routine begins,
6.45 7oz bottle then bed

we did have a bottle after lunch or sometimes before but he has started to refuse it. We had also been baby led weaning with good success but became quite paranoid that he wasnt getting the calories thus the night waking thus the intro of purees again and dream feed  :-\

He has also changed so much in the last 3 weeks, hes so active and observant, majorly stimulation.

Thank you so so sooooo much in advance xxx

Offline becj86

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Re: 6 month old: previously excellent sleeper now WIDE AWAKE for hours...
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2013, 11:26:53 am »
Does he really stay awake from 1:30 til bedtime? If so, that's likely your issue... OT.

Offline clazzat

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Re: 6 month old: previously excellent sleeper now WIDE AWAKE for hours...
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2013, 13:00:34 pm »
Are you still doing the dream feed? We had a similar problem with my dd1 and I think with hindsight that it was because we continued the dream feed after she was too old for it and it was disrupting her sleep cycles and causing her to wake in the night.

Offline Cazaline13

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Re: 6 month old: previously excellent sleeper now WIDE AWAKE for hours...
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2013, 20:08:12 pm »
Sometimes he cat naps in the afternoon, usually around 4 for 30mins. The dream feed is only established the last 4 nights. I know it's ridiculous to regress and may cause more problems long term but my partner is happy to do it!

He slept through until 6am this morning!! Delighted.

Offline clazzat

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Re: 6 month old: previously excellent sleeper now WIDE AWAKE for hours...
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2013, 21:06:35 pm »
Fingers crossed that it was just a blip and he is over it!

Offline Charjanemom

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Re: 6 month old: previously excellent sleeper now WIDE AWAKE for hours...
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2013, 12:14:24 pm »
We went through a couple phases at that age where we brought back the dream feed for a few days then tookit away again and it worked well.