When to stop cluster feed and swap for solid meal? + new NWs

[babymunkey]

Hi

I just need some advice on 2 tweakes to our routine for a 6 month lo.

1. whether to drop our existing cluster feed and if to replace it with a "teatime" solids meal.
2. the last 3 nights we've had a NW at exactly 2.30 - he settles really quickly if I go in and turn on the white noise, but escalates if I leave him. We've never had any NWs for anything other than feeds or nappy changes before.

Our perfect routine days look something like this.....

(he still regularly wakes between 5 and 6 and has a full BF, but goes back to sleep easily til 7, or some mornings he'll make it through til after 6 before he wakes so then we get up and I just adjust our routine accordingly - he's more likely then to take a catnap, or I put him down at 6 instead.)

6.30/7.00     Awake
7.15/7.30     3/4 oz formula or BF if not had it at 5am.
8.30            Breakfast - solids
9.00            Sleep
10.30/11.00  Awake
11.00           Milk - 4/5/6 oz formula
12.00           Lunch - solids
12.30/13.00   Sleep
14.30/15.00   Awake and 4/5/6 oz formula
Sometimes will take a catnap, mostly refuses so awake through til bedtime
17.30           BF - both sides, or bottle if I'm feeling empty (we're winding down BF)
Bath and bedtime routine
18.00           5/6/7 oz formula
18.30           sleep
22.00           DF


The last 3 or 4 days he hasn't taken much at the pre bath and bedtime meal, and then doesn't seem that keen on the bottle before bed. So I was thinking I should drop the 1 before, add in 3rd solids meal (or swap for lunch - does he need 3 meals a day yet?) and then offer just the bottle before bed?

And on the NW - if it happens again at the same time tonight, I'm going to try holding out and leaving him to see if he'll settle on his won. If that doesn't work, then I thought I'd moe on to trying W2S. But was wondering if anyone can spot anything in our routine that could be causing this? Last few nights he hasn't taken much at DF (3 or 4 oz) so was wondering if it was time to wind that down? Or is it a bit early - I'm nervous about being caught out by the 6 month GS

Sorry if this is a bit all over the place - probably should have been 2 separate posts

H

[meltown]

when did you start solids?  was it about the same time the night wakings started?  it is possible it could be a hunger thing and it is possible it is a solid foods thing.  a lot of babies will wake at night with the intro of solids. 

the other thing is it could be the Dream feed.  about this age thy start to not need the dream feed because of solid foods so it could be weaned. 

[babymunkey]

Hi Mel

Thanks for the input - typically aftr I posted last night, he woofed down a massive DF and that was the last I heard of him til 5.30!

Will keep an eye out and come back to you if it returns, but still struggling with our afternoon routine and wondering how to fit in "dinner". I was trying to avoid doing a lunchtime solds meal til last as its our only oppurtunity to get out of the house. So was quite keen to do dinner. But he doesn't always take a catnap, and those nights we scrape through to an early bedtime just about without getting in an OT mess. Bo like last night and tonight, I tried for a catnap about 5 (he woke up from his lunchtime nap at 2.30 both days) but he wasn't having it. So then I thought I'd fill the time before bedtime with a solids meal, but he's too tired at that point I think to do something that "new" as part of A time at that time of day.

So thinking out loud, maybe lunchtime is better and then we go out in the pm.......he rarely sleeps in the car, so if he's had rubbish naps, I try to make sure we're home for a catnap.....just don't know which is the best way round to work it

Any suggestions on a new routine we could try in the pm?

H

[meltown]

what time is the cat nap.  you could probably do it 30 min after milk feed and just do a small one.  then do the cat nap.  you may aso want to try stetching out A tim so your LO will start taking 2 naps.

[babymunkey]

Mel - quick update. I think you're right and our best bet is to try and make sure where possible we stretch A times so ds doesn't need a catnap. Last few days thats worked, so he's been up from his 2nd nap about 3/3.30, milk straight away, then solids about 5, then bedtime bottle about 6.45. As he's now consistently getting up around 7 and mostly getting in good naps, I've let his bedtime slip to 7 from 6.30, so that makes life easier.

thanks for the input!

H
 

[meltown]

glad it is working for you!  hope it continues.