11.5mos long NWings between 3-5

[~inbalance~]

Ok, I give.  I need some new eyes because I'm tired and I don't know what to do about F atm.  We have been trying to wean NFs and are down to the last one, but these long periods of unsettledness are breaking me.   

So I'm pretty sure we've got some teething going on here, so that is one thing.  Basically F wakes every night between 3-3:30, and he doesn't go back to sleep for 1-1.5hrs.  He is not crying when he wakes, just kinda moaning.  I leave him, and it just continues off and on for ages until he ends up crying or I finally can't take it anymore.  I go in, give a little cuddle.  There is no crying, he is quiet and still, but wide awake it seems.  I put him back and he is fine.  Then 5mins later it starts all over again.  We'll go through this for over an hour before I give in and feed him.

The thing is, sometimes feeding him works, sometimes it doesn't.  I do think he is hungry, but I don't think he needs to eat.  He's just used to that one feed.  But it's like I can't get out of it, I try and by 4:30 or 5 I'm just so tired that I feed him.

He is usually rolling around and moaning, which is what makes me think it's teeth or discomfort.  I haven't been medicating at the beginning of the night because he hasn't needed it.  He goes to bed fine and sleeps solidly until 3/3:30.  But when he wakes and I do medicate, it doesn't make a difference.  He will still be up for another hour.

We are on one nap now, so sometimes I think it is OT related.  But he seems to be getting enough sleep as once he finally goes back to sleep he sleeps in until 7:30 or even 8 sometimes.  And sometimes his one nap is 1.5hrs, but other times it is 2.5hrs and I wake him.  It doesn't seem to make a difference how long his nap is.  So I don't always think he is OT.  When he is awake at night, it's like he is UT.  He just can't get to sleep.  Which again is making me think discomfort.

Here is our routine, give or take
7:30 wake up
1 nap for 1.5-2.5hrs
7:30 bed (earlier if his nap was shorter)

Anyone have any ideas for me?  I must admit I am stumped as to what to do. 

[~inbalance~]

Thanks Jane.  Last night was better, he didn't wake until 4:30.  I think it is partly out of habit that he has been waking, and then because of teeth that he doesn't go back to sleep.  Since I hadn't been feeding him until about 4:30, he seems to have moved his 'hungry' time back to that time, if that makes sense.  Which is ok, means we're getting there.

I should try offering water and see if that works.

I've never tried a meds DF, it kinda scares me!  How do you do it?

I don't know about W2S because if he is waking out of discomfort he will just wake after the next cycle, no?  Maybe I'm just too chicken to try that too. 

But yeah, last night only 1 NWing at 4:30, I fed him right away instead of trying to resettle, and he slept until 7.  So that is an improvement at least.

[newbiemommy]

Hi again, Martina.  Here we are, both back at it!  DD is also having long NW, usually around 2 or 3, also lasting from 1-1.5 hours.  She's not crying, it's like she's trying to go back to sleep and just can't get comfy, so I also think it's probably teething (she is cutting her two upper teeth right now, I can just see them starting to push through).

Let us know how it works with the Meds DF if you try it.

I'm going to start another post because we're continuing to have ongoing multiple NW in the early part of the evening.  I'd love your eyes on it!

Maria

[*Liz*]

Dream meds worked for us through the first year molar phase. If I heard him stirring I would sneak in and medicate before he woke completely iyswim? Sometimes he woke anyway but even then the meds were in earlier.

I really don't think it is UT regardless of what he is doing. Not all kids wake and scream for OT iyswim? Mine just wake and mess about.

[~inbalance~]

Hi Maria, misery loves company eh?    I'll see if I can pop on your thread later. 

Thanks Liz.  Might give the DF meds a go if I can get it together enough before he wakes. 

[ccg01]

Hi Martina,

Have you tried giving the meds right away when you hear him? We are suspecting teething as well here -- although admittedly it is only really based on last night. He woke just before 2 and was moaning and crying. I gave him meds right away (he was looking at me like "where is my milk?!"). For the first time in several nights (maybe two weeks) he slept for more than four hrs after he fell asleep. (has been only sleeping 3 to 3 1/2 hrs after his 2-3ish feeding) And he woke happily chatting to himself, not crying. We do give meds at bedtime when we think he is teething, but do not usually do in the middle of the night. Going to see if it happens again tonight. Hang in there! That is great that he didn't wake til 4:30!!