is this an S problem or an E problem? Help!

[karendbrooks]

My DS turned 3 months today (YAY) and has been consistently having NWs.  We have lengthened naps and been vigilant about not letting him get OT, but still having issue.  He wakes at 1:30pm, 3 hours after the dreamfeed, but I (I feel like an awful mommy) was thinking, there's no way he can be hungry - this is supposed to last us until 4!  I feed him at 3:30, but then he is up and down from 4-7 wake up time.

Our routine...
7:30 wake
7:45 E
8-8:50 A (10 minute wind down for nap)
9ish S (naps average 1h15m to 1h40m

11 E
11:30 A
12:30 S

1:45 E
2:00 A
3:15 S

4:45 E
5:00 A
5:30 S

6:20 A
7:00 E
bath book massage
7:30 Bed

DF at 10:30, awake at 1, 2 and 3.  Eats well, all 4 oz, then awake 4,5,6 & 7.  ugh.  I get 3 good hours of sleep from 10:30 -1:30

I was breastfeeding exclusively, but 3 weeks ago we discovered that I wasnt making enough, so we have been supplementing and I have been pumping, as he now no longer wants me.  He was getting 4 oz each feed, so I am thinking to bump him to 5. 

HELP!!

[anna*]

It's totally, totally normal for him to still need a feed between dreamfeed and morning. If you were to just feed at the 1.30-2am waking do you think he would settle back to sleep? Might optimise sleep for all of you? Does he have a dummy/paci to sleep?

[karendbrooks]

Yes, he has a pacifier, and I think he's an addict. I do give him a feed between the dreamfeed and morning; he eats at 3 or 4.  Should I try giving it to him at one instead of stretching him to 3?  Maybe all of the holding him off is what is making him stay awake all night.  And by all night, I am not exagerating.  He is off and on from 1-3, I feed him, and then he's off and on until 7.  I am so tired, I feel like my eyes are bleeding. 

The pacifier calms him at each interval, but then he's up 30 minutes after calming.  Over and over and over we go.  I think it's the pacifier, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

[anna*]

I guess you could try feeding at 1 and see if that settles him for a while. If he is waking hourly for his pacifier, then you've got a couple of options - either keep replugging until he's old enough to replace it himself, or wean it.

[karendbrooks]

I want to wean, but I was waiting to see if food was the issue. How do I start weaning? Guess I should visit the props board. 

[anna*]

There's loads of good info on the props board - you can do a gradual process or go cold turkey. Personally I have always been a cold turkey kinda gal. My LO was a little older (4 months) but it was 2 rough nights, an easier 3rd and then we were done. By the 2nd night he was sleeping better without the paci.

[karendbrooks]

Thanks Anna.  I'm going to post and see if there are any volunteers out there that want to help this process   Just kidding. 
karen

[anna*]

LOL (((hugs))) You will get loads of support. Honestly I was terrified but it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I always find things easier to cope with if I have a plan, you know?

[karendbrooks]

Yeah, I agree. having a plan works.  Going to try starting Thursday.  Tracy's books suggest starting new things on Thursdays.  I know that's for working moms, so they have a weekend to recover, and I'm not working, but I need him to nap today so I can catch up on some sleep so I'm ready to take this on Thursday morning.  I am a wimp.