Mobile and hungrier how to compensate?

[EllenS]

My 7 month lo started pulling up to stand this week (which is a whole other drama with sleeping, but that's for another board) and she never seems to stop moving.  The last several days she's been waking for 2 nightfeeds where she had been taking only 1 for a good while.  Seems logical that she's hungrier with all the activity.

I'm a little worried that her solid intake may be interfering with her bf'ing.  (which is why I posted here instead of in the Solids board), and I think if she would bf more in the day she would go back to sleeping through.

She started solids at 6 mo and is on 2 solid meals a day, breakfast is 1 oz fruit (or new food) with about 1/2 to 1 oz cereal.  Lunch is 2 oz - either 2 veggies or 1 veg 1 fruit.  (We are still introducing a new food every 4 days or so.)  I was feeding her as long as she seemed interested, but when we got to this quantity I stopped increasing it, it seemed like a lot.

I know solids give the feeling of fullness but BM has all those gorgeous calories - do you think if I cut back on her solids she will take more milk and sleep better?  I moved lunch earlier in the day so she's getting only milk during the afternoon, but I haven't seen a difference yet.

I know my mom would say "give her more solids", but i'm hesitant to do that as 4 oz of solids already seems like a lot and she seems less interested in her milkfeeds that come in the next cycle after she's had solids.  Our afternoon tends to get hectic as she will only catnap in the stroller these days, hard to work in a cluster feed.

Sorry so scattered, advice please on getting more calories into this baby while "Mr. Sunshine" is out, instead of "Mr. Moonpenny" (as Tracy would say)! 

[RachelC]

What is your whole daily routine?  (feed and sleep times)

4 oz of food for the whole day does not sound too unreasonable 

How long have the night wakings been going on?

[EllenS]

This round of NW has only been since she's been pulling up and cruising, so a little under a week.

Glad to know the solids does not sound too much.

routine approx:

wake 6:15 - 6:30
bf 7 am
solids 8
nap 9:15 -10:15
bf 11 am
solids 12 pm
nap 1 - 2:30 (if we're lucky, sometimes this one goes haywire)
bf 2:30
out in stroller around 4, sometimes a catnap around 4:30 or 4:45 for 1/2 hour
bf + formula top-up (usually 2-3 oz) 5:45
in bed 6:30 (sometimes plays/stands up till 7)

Used to be she would wake for 1 feed between 1 -3 am, these last few days she's been waking between 10pm and midnight, thought it was OT from dicey naps but then realized she was hungry, taking  a full feed.  Then she wakes again between 3 - 4:30 am, hungry takes a full feed and will usually sleep again until between 6-6:30

Thanks!

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Well, one feed overnight wouldn't be too unusual at this age.  I agree with Rachel that the solids seem fine... Did you ever do a dreamfeed?  Have you tried getting in to do one BEFORE she wakes?  Have you tried other resettling methods for the nightwakings?  I'd be inclined to feed once and try resettling for the other time.

[EllenS]

We have been on one feed for quite a while, so when she goes up to two I figure something's out of whack.  Usually if she is not hungry, my dh settles her better than I do, but for these wakings she just lost her mind when Daddy picked her up and became hysterical, rooting, etc.  (pretty clearly hunger).  Also attacked me like a barracuda, swallowing so hard I could feel it all the way down her body.

However, I think it may have sorted itself out.  She was back to only 1 feed last night, I'll see how she goes tonight.  Maybe it was like a mini growth spurt and she just needed those extra few nights to catch me up on production.

Thanks!