Possible feeding problem, need help

[fitfamily]

This may not be the right forum.  I just don't know where to post.
My LO just turned 1yr.  Has reflux, mspi and still has a bit of immature gut. He wasn't able to start foods until 8m because of reations..even rice.  The problem is that about 2 wks ago he started waking early anywhere from 430a to his normal wake up...600a.  He rarely goes back to sleep.  I tried going in once and he's already down on the mattress.  I don't think it's a return to sleep issue.  His 3 bf times are 6, 3p (after nap), bedtime at 630p.  He gets 6oz. of rice milk in a cup at 10a.  He slept thru until his normal time on the 2 consecutive days that I added a bf back in at 10a (i had mastitis 6 days ago).  Those 2 days I stopped feeding him his Goat Yogurt and rice milk.  I added the 10a rice milk back in 2 days later on Tuesday and the following day he woke late because he was sick and had a temp. Thursday he woke at 545 and today, Friday he woke at 450a slowly and has done a soft cry off and on until 6a.   It's like he's tired, or hungry, but won't sleep.  If I thought he was in pain I would go in.  It's not that.  There are so many things that could be causing these early wakings.  I am leaning toward a feeding issue.  Is 6oz of rice milk enough?  Sometimes he only wants 4 oz.  Other times he protests when he's drained the cup.  However, he can be easily re-directed.  He has reflux and I am afraid to give him more liquid for fear he would spit it up.  I do give him snacks.  Today, I am planning to add a dose of omega 3's (fish oil) to give him more fat.  That causes him to belch so i do it on and off.   Any thoughts from an outsider would be appreciated.  I'm running this through my brain so many times that i can't think clearly.  Oh, his naps usually total 1.5 hrs.  I know it's on the low side.  I've tried everything to increase the time.  However, he's always been a short napper and is smiley and cheery on that amount of sleep.  The smiley and cheery attitude does fade when he wakes early.  It seems that he has a hard time and is fussy those days.
Feel free to move this to another board. 

Thanks,
Ashley

[Samuel's mum]

Ashley - I wish I had a magic answer for you. You are dealing with a lot. Do you have any specialist help for his diet? I'm wondering whether you could be referred to a nutritionalist/ dietician perhaps through your doctor.

3 bfs and 6oz of rice milk may not be enough depending on his solids intake. He might be waking through hunger (which might fit with him sleeping later on the days he got more calories in).
How much solid food does he now eat in a day? What kind of things does he eat? Anything with a high fat content e.g. avocado?

[em_here]

Hi there, Abbi only has 9oz of milk a day and a good amount of solids, she is also mspi, and we were referred to a dietician for supplements and diet planning, they are ace, I would ask about it.

She also had reflux, and the poor milk feeding is down to that. 

My heart goes out to you, its horrible having feeding issues but with the correct help and support you will get there 

[fitfamily]

Thanks for you replies.  I have seriously considered a nutritionist.  I am a personal trainer and have always tried to stay educated on nutrition/diet.  No avocado because he used to react.  This is an obvious food to try again.  I must say that he nursed less than vigorous this am and turned his nose up at rice bread with sunflower butter.  He usually will eat corn puffs.  He only ate about 10.  I think he may just still be feeling congested.  Here is his diet more or less.

6a    bf
730   rice bread with 1T of sunflower butter and a few pear slices
10a     6oz rice milk with 1/2 of gluten free banana bar
1230p  3/4 cup of mixed ground lamb, squash, rice and prunes
300p   bf 
515p   3/4 cup of mixed grnd turkey, swt potato, rice, spinach, apple/apricot sauce   + 1/2 of a pear

water throughout the day.

Honestly, I feel like I am force feeding him sometimes but I know he needs the calories. 

[Freya'sMum]

Working within the health service, I would say that anyone, especially babies, who has special dietary requirements should see a dietician/nutritionalist - it makes absolutely no sense to struggle on alone trying to work out what he can/can't have, and trying to help him to grow and develop healthily, when there are specialists out there with all this info at their finger-tips!

Go get your little fella and you the support you need - it's hard enough with babies without special needs, don't feel you have to do it alone!

Ax