growth spurt at 11.5 months???

[CJF]

hi
i was wondering if lo's have growth spurts at 11.5 months.  my little guy will be 1 in a few weeks (april 20th) and this last week his nights have been all hit or miss....waking alot. well, the last 2 nights he has been waking about 11:00-ish and just screaming.   so the night before last i tried a bottle cuz nothing else was settling his down and he drank it.  then last night the same thing....he just screamed so i gave him another bottle and he drank the whole thing.  and both nights he slept the rest of the night after the bottle.  at first i i thought  maybe an ear infection or he isn't feeling well (but no cold symptoms), but he took the bottle just fine and drank the whole thing.  so this got me thinking that maybe he is going through a growth spurt??  during the day he gets 2 8 oz bottles (he finishes most of the bottles, most of the time) and 1 9 oz at bedtime...and 3 meals of solids.  his solid intake hasn't been the greatest, but i have seen it worse and he slept just fine.  i have been trying to feed him more solids (especially yesterday---cuz i didn't want another night waking) and he just didn't want to eat more than usual.  so do you think this is a growth spurt?  and how do i get more solids into him during the day so he doesn't wake up hungry at night?
thanks for your input ladies!!!
btw--wasn't sure where i should post this---night wakings? solids? here?  please move if needed.

[* Paula *]

Hi Carolyn,

I am not sure whether it could be a growth spurt or not. 

My DS went through a similar thing just before he turned 1 and we found it it to be teething.  He was cutting his 1 year molars and was in a lot of pain.  Do you think your lo is taking the bottle to soothe his gums?  This could also be the reason that he has not been eating as much solids during the day.  Have you tried teething gel when he wakes in the middle of the night?

Also have you tried offering water when he wakes?  Could he be thirsty?

Paula

[CJF]

hmmm...haven't thaught about him just being thirsty.  i will have to try just water next time and some teething gel.  you can see 4 little teeth on the top trying to peek through so that may be hurting him.  (so far he only has 2 on the bottom)
thanks

[Deb_in_oz]

my Olivia was born at 41w 3 days and always started her growth spurts when she woudl have been "due" them so approximately 2 weeks before expected for the 3mo, 6 mo, 1yr and even at 18mo and 2yrs.  she would have a mini GS at that point and then a second one at the actual date of 6mo etc

if you are trying to get more solids in daytime and he is too full at the time (small tummies remember) add in extra meals rather than larger ones, so little and often to get through the GS (if you don't already do morning or afetrnoon tea you can add small meals then of fruit or grains...) or some people offer porridge/oatmeal with dinner since it is a filling and slow release food.  HTH