still night feeding but not hungry during the day

[Sharon P]

We had a harder night last night. Ethan woke at 9pm, I tried to settle he lost it. DH went in and he was quiet in a flash. DH was prancing about jokingly that he had the touch. I showered him in compliments. Then I did the DF and off to bed. Ethan woke at 1am, DH settled in 15 mins or so, then 2am he woke again, so I tried this time as DH was beginning to complain very loudly. Well my presence sent Ethan right off and then neither DH or I could settle him. DH was having more success but then Ethan would start up again. I began to wonder if it was reflux related (recently stopped prescription medicine) or upset tummy so gave a dose of mylanta and he settled in 2 mins, with me doing the settling. So all in all a bit of a tough night, but harder still was DH's impatience with it all. It just seems he's only willing to put in the hard yards for a couple of nights and then the problem should be solved and if it's not well he just can't take it. I didn't even bother to suggest that a bit of a regression is normal, he just didn't want to hear anything.

I am also so confused about what is causing the night wakings. I know that a regression is to be expected but I am wondering if there is a food related component or if the formula is unsettling his tummy. I guess I have to start keeping a record of what he eats and when. I only just discovered that a red ring around his bottom is an allergic reaction. It has happened a couple of times, but doesn't look so bad that I didn't think too much of it. My best guess is that it is apricots or avocado, so I have been giving him apricots for the last few days, nothing severe has happened, but possibly a mild red ring. I was looking out for diahroea, vomiting, swollen lips, rash etc. I have also since heard that increased night wakings can be a symptom of an intollerance, and the timings of Ethans wake ups last night were differently not habitual or hunger related. So I feel a bit overwhelmed bu the possibilities, not to mention tired.

Sharon.

[Sharon P]

I thought I'd pop back and share a quick update.

I realise that this started with questions of fedding and I think we have now gotten rid of the night feeding problem so thanks for you help in directing me towards that. We are still managing the night waking though, but I am pleased to say that a few positive have happened.

Three nights ago I decided that I had to be the one to do the settling as I am leaving with DS tomorrow for a vacation and therefore I was afraid that DS would only respond to DH and not me, unless I jumped in and did the night shift. So, first night was a failure on my part to feel confident resettling. He didn't take his DF well and he was not responding to me settling, so I caved in and feed. I felt very disappointed in myself the next day so I made my mind up (and prepared DH to accept and expect the noise factor midweek) to resettle and not feed no matter what. DS woke around 3.15am and it took 35 mins or so and he finally settled and slept through to 6.20am. I thought that was a good start. The late yesterday I began to wonder if w2s may be helpful, given that 75% of his wakings are around 3.15am. So I set my alarm for 2.30, went in to stir him, as I opended the door I heard him sigh and thought that that was all that was needed and hopped back into bed. Well, DS slepts through to 6.10am, no wakings at all. So, as you can imagine I am super stoked about this and am going to try it again tonight. Lets hoped we are onto a good thing.

Well, that's the update. Hope your well and thanks for oyur support,

Sharon.

[RachelC]

That's great news Sharon!  Do the W2S for 2 more nights, as it is recommended to keep that up for 3 nights to break the habit.

Sounds like you are getting support here, but if at anytime you want me to split this topic and send it over to night wakings, I would be happy to (that way you wouldn't have to retype the whole thing).

[Sylvia.]

thanks for the update, see you soon

[Sharon P]

thanks for the support once again.

rach - your support has been great and you really got me on the right path. lets see how things go, it may not be necessary to bounce me to nightwakings. i'll let you know if i think it could help and please feel free to do it any time you think it may be helpful.

hard to believe it may only take 3 nights to break a habit! if it continues to be successful i'd be too scared to drop it. crazy, i know, but i'll cross that path if and when.

goodnight, and c u soon.

sharon.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Awesome news! Keep up the good work!!

[Sharon P]

OK. I thought I'd update again, as I hate reading other peoples threads and not knowing how things turn out.

Night 2 of w2s was successful, but then DS woke at 5am and I ended up feeding as I needed to get him back to sleep so he would travel interstate OK. Pragmatic decision.

The next night was tough, multiple wakings, at a friends house, think teething was the issue, just relented and feed twice. Didn't bother with w2s as he had woken twice before then already. I  think we had one more night feed the following night and then I decided to bite the bullet again.

Since then no night feeding. So that's four nights in a row. W2s worked for 2 nights, but then we returned home and I thought I would do it for another 3 nights, to be sure. First night he woke as I went down the corridor (damn creaky floors) but I managed to settle with a dummy and some teething gel. Even though I ditched the dummy long ago I felt his cry seemed pain related and couldn't get the gel in any other way. Then last night he woke every 1-1.5 hrs, but just cried out and then self settled within 30 seconds, so i never went in to him. I think this was also teething related.

So, nightwaking issues are still not resolved but night feeding is much better. I just have to remain strong and consistent. Day feeds are generally better. Though even when I don't feed over night his appetite can vary day to day. I guess that is natural.

I am still planning to persist with w2s in the hope that I can get 3 nights in a row. But I think teething is causing unusual wakings, so who knows when I will get the 3 days running. Oh well, wait and see.

Thanks for listening,

Sharon.

[RachelC]

{{{{Hugs}}}} Sharon, it's tough, huh?  At least you've stuck to no feeding!   Have you tried giving pain meds before bed (like Motrin or Tylenol.... don't know where you are) and then sneaking in and giving more when those wear off?  That may help too.

[Sharon P]

I haven't as I thought I'd see how he went. If I had had to get up to him I would have given, but as he was self settling I thought I would disturb him more if I went in. He is pretty grizzling today and tired as well, so I will give paracetamol tonight and see if that helps.

Thanks for the tip. If things get bad I will dose him up in his sleep too. It is difficult though, as I am sure if is teething, but no teeth yet, so I could be dosing him up for a while (which can't be good). He wont let me look in his mouth, but I can't feel teeth, just bumpiness. I think the amount of drool, red checks, intermittent red bottom, moodiness and nightwakings all add up to one thing though.

We're in Australia, so I am not sure what Motrin is. Do you know what the active ingredient is, as it may just come under another name here?

[RachelC]

We're in Australia, so I am not sure what Motrin is. Do you know what the active ingredient is, as it may just come under another name here?

Motrin is Ibuprofen.  And I totally understand about "drugging" them up for the long haul.  We go back and forth with it as some days/nights are better than others.  My dd2 only has 4 teeth at 16.5 months, so we've been at this for some time now 

[Sylvia.]

sharon i have been wondering how you are going, that ethan is cute as, so glad we got to meet, just wanted to say that lucy has been sleep through for weeks and weeks but last week we had a bad patch, heaps of night waking, and then i noticed she had two new teeth, not sure if this is what is going on with ethan just want to share what happened to us, hope tonight is a better night, talk soon