restless nights after introducing solids

[Julie C]

Our LO started solids (and by that, I mean about 5-6 tiny spoonfuls of very very watery rice cereal about 1 hour after her first am feed) at 5.5 months.

Before that, she was an awesome sleeper. Went down at 7pm, fed (EBM) at 11pm (sometimes) woke 1x at around 3am to feed again, and went back to sleep until 7 or 8am. She was quick and efficient about it, too!

Now, however, she wakes at around 9pm, feeds for 30 mins, wakes again at 11, feeds for another 30 mins, wakes again at 2 or 3 and again at around 5 am -- always taking forever to eat. This has been happening since the day we introduced solids. She is almost 6 months now.

For 2 days, I stopped the cereal, and it was a bit better (ie, she didn't wake up at 9pm to eat), but it was still a restless night.

THink it could be linked to the cereal? I should also mention that she has suddenly lost all interest in rolling.

[~ Vik ~]

Hi Julie

Are you noticing any other symptoms besides the frequent night wakings?  Gas/constipation/diarrhea/pulling at ears/etc?  Are her naps interrupted too, or just night?  I had a couple thoughts...

Rice cereal can often be difficult for babies to digest.  It's suggested as a first food because it's fortified with iron and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, but can often cause gas and discomfort.  I know my ds woke with awful gas when we were giving him rice cereal regularly.  Once we eliminated it he started doing much better.  Tracy suggested pears as a first food, as they are healthy and easier to digest.

Or could it be teething pain?  Have you tried giving teething gel/camilia/Tylenol before bed?  Sometimes the symptoms of teething precede visible teeth by weeks.  You could try offering some meds, and if she sleeps better than you know that discomfort was the problem.

There is also a growth spurt around 6mo, the frequent night feeds could be her way of getting the extra calories that she needs.  Have you tried increasing her intake during the day?  I'm assuming since you've posted her milk feeds by times that you're bfing?  Here's a link for more information on that:  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0  Is she taking full feeds at night?

I hope something in here is helpful to you!
Vikki

[Julie C]

I am also asking all of these questions... I just don't know the answers!

She IS chewing and drooling a lot, which makes me think teeth...

She seems to calm down with Camillia (but only for about 1 hour). Tylenol/Motrin works for about 3 hours. (Shouldn't it be 4- to 6?) This make me think it's something more than teeth.

She is taking full feeds at night (and then some), which makes me think growth spurt. In the day, however, she barely eats, which makes me think maybe it's not a growth spurt.

She doesn't have any constipation, etc. and her naps are also disrupted. She used to sleep 1.5 hours a nap, now it's only 45 mins.

Just a thought... could she be really really smart, and have figured out that I come running (and feed/hold her) every time she cries???

[luv2swimbikerun]

Hi Julie

Is your lo on a 4 hour EASY? How long are her A times?

Viviana

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Okay this so has nothing to do with feeding, but the 45 min naps jumped out at me...is she maybe ready for a tweak in her A time? and perhaps having a growth spurt too?

Just throwing out ideas  
HTH
Heidi

[~ Vik ~]

I found withmy ds that camilia only worked for a short time too. I would give it and Tylenol at the same time - the camilia would provide quick relief, and by the timeit wears off the Tylenol has kicked in. Tylenol does only last for up to 4 hours, but Motrin should last for 6-8.

What's her behavious like when she feeds during the day? Is she restless? Distracted? Just not interested? I'm wondering how we can get her feeding better during the day... What does a typical feed look like?

Just a thought... could she be really really smart, and have figured out that I come running (and feed/hold her) every time she cries???

It's certainly possible! What other methods have you used to try and settle her at night? Has your dh ever tried? What is her cry like at night? (fussing/mantra/urgent/etc) When she cries do you go immediately, or wait and see if she settles herself?

Re: the 45m naps, what is your EASY like? Maybe a routine tweak is in order? That might help with the nws too.

Sorry for more questions than answers

[Julie C]

Thanks for your help, everyone.

here are some answers for you all...

She is on a 4 hour EASY (all by herself... I barely had to do anything except read her cues). Her A times are about 2 hours, however sometimes she goes 2.5 hours because her naps are around 1.5 hours. (She has a noisy big sister!)

I usually let her moan for about 3 or 4 mins before I go to her. Sometimes she is not even crying at all. One night, it actually sounded like she was playing. I have to tend to her, however, because her sister is the absolute WORST sleeper in the world and she is in the bedroom next to her. (We even have white noise in her room, but she still wakes!) DH has not tried much, because he's the one who deals with the 2 year old when she wakes.

Here is the good news... last night she fussed at 9:30, but put herself back to sleep fairly quickly. She still woke at 10:30 for a full feed, though. And again at 1am, and again at 4:15 -- and again at 6am!!!

Her feeds during the day are good. She's not distracted... but they are waaaay shorter than the night feeds.

Sigh. I'm tired.

[~ Vik ~]

(((hugs))) Being tired is no fun!!

If she's taking full feeds at night, then that really makes me think growth spurt, especially if her day feeds are good.  The length of her night feeds could also be due to the relaxed, dark, cuddly atmosphere.  How do you feed during the day?  I always had the best luck with my ds feeding him immediately upon waking, in a chair in his bedroom, with all the lights still off/music on/curtains closed/etc.  He was so easily distracted that any stimulation at all would be the end of the feed   I would also make myself a "necklace" out of his linking rings with a couple of toys on them for him to fiddle with.  Anything to make staring at my chest a bit more interesting!

Another thought, at about 5.5mo, 2 hours is actually a bit short for A time.  2.25-2.5 hours is more expected; have you tried pushing out her As a bit?  How is she when she does end up going 2.5?  Here's a link with some more A time information for you:  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.msg476652#msg476652  What do you think? 

[Julie C]

Interesting point on growth spurt... last night... without warning, all the craziness stopped! She woke 1x to feed at 12:30 and slept until 7am. WOOT WOOT!!!

She also fed like a maniac today (very long feeds) and had 2 2 hour naps instead of 3 shorter ones. SHe went to bed a little earlier tonight because her last nap ended at 4pm, so we'll see how tonight goes.

We may have hit a new groove???

[~ Vik ~]

Oooohhhh, great night last night!! You must feel like a new woman after all that sleep

my fingers are crossed for you tonight, hope you have a repeat!

[Julie C]

Well, it was no repeat (she woke every 4 hours), but hey, that's OK. It's still better than what it was last week.

Now if I could just get our 2 year old to sleep (she's ALWAYS sick!)

Thanks for all your help!

[~ Vik ~]

At least it's still an improvement!   Your poor DD1 - sending ~~~healthy vibes~~~ her way

Glad I could help!

[Mimi 2]

Moving this over to NWs.