reverse cycling or accidental parenting?

[bethann]

All of the sudden 7 mo old dd is eating all throughout the night and not much at all during the day while I'm at work (like 3 oz. per feed - and only two feeds). As soon as she see's me she whimpers to nurse.  So I nurse her.  She even slowed down on her solid intake in the last couple of days.  She was eating a good meal of rice and veggies at 6:30- but now she'll take 2 bites and then no more.  She'll nurse at 7:30, and then DF at 11:00 and then wake 3-4 times in the middle of the night!!  It was only once a night, and I would feed her because she just wouldn't go back to sleep- and if she did manage to fall asleep, she would just wake again a half hour later, so I would just nurse her.  But I'm wondering if I did the right thing, because I think she realized that I'm there at night and can nurse her and she's "taking advantage" of this all night buffet.  It's been getting progressively worse- from 1 middle of the night feed to 2, then 3- now 4!  And then she won't eat her 11:00 bottle and barely takes her 3:00!  Where should I begin to fix this?  I'm guessing it's gonna take some pu/pd at night- am I right?  Any help would really be appreciated. 

thanks so much!

bethann

[Dairy Queen]

Hi there,

We went through the same thing when my son was about 8 months old.  He would take 1 feed in the middle of the night (around 3am) and then it suddenly became 2, 3 and sometimes 4.  Deep down, I knew he wasn't drinking much because I would breastfeed for about 5 minutes, and then he'd calmly fall asleep.  However, I felt guilty about refusing to give him milk (plus... it was by far the easiest way to get him back to sleep at night) 

Finally, my husband and I opted for PU-PD, and it was tough for the first 3-4 days, and then our DS realized that he wasn't getting any more milk at night.  Nights got much better, as did his daytime meals.  Two weeks later, he would take a meal at 5:30pm, I would then breastfeed 7:00pm and he'd sleep 11 hours, straight.

So... assuming she's not teething, or in pain, or going through a growth spurt... I would give PU-PD a try.  Just make sure to be consistent (and try to get your hubby to help out, it can be hard on you if you're doing it alone)

What does your daughter's routine look like?

[binxyboo]

We went through this when lo was around 6 months . And I was a SAHM but he was just too distracted to feed well during the day. We cosleep so that made it easier at nights, but it was frustrating at times as I was literally on duty all day and all night. I went with the flow and he eventually grew out of it. You will have to decide what is best for you and your family.

[jbepko]

We hit a real rough patch around 9 months, and I straightened it out with fixing naps and PU/PD- it was a brutal 2 weeks- but he is such a great sleeper now!

[bethann]

Yes- It is definitely more of a sleep problem than a feeding problem.  (probably should be on a different board now- but anyway...)  She was up a million and a half times last night.  I didn't feed her until 6:40. But it was a rough night.  As soon as she would finally drift off, she would wake again a 1/2 hour later.  But she's with me today at work (no sitter!), so I'm nursing her and making sure she's got a good intake so she won't feel so hungry tonight.  Hopefully this all resolves soon- sleepless nights are hard!

thanks though!

-beth

[binxyboo]

Hope things will be better tonight!

[Petunia]

It sounds to me like you're doing the right thing.  Good luck 

[bethann]

Last night, she slept through till 6- which I then fed her cause she was up and hungry.  She ate all her normal meals today- even some solids before bed, so I think she's all back on track, or at least on her way- now just to drop the DF!  Thanks though!  -It was fast- just one night of pu/pd and she was all better!

-bethann