Re: Support for Spirited Babies - part 5

[timmysmommy]

Hi Angela!  I've had, and sometimes still have similar problems with my DS.  I've eliminated dairy and it has really helped his reflux.  I am still trying to create a wind down routine.  I feel like all I'm doing all day is trying to get him to sleep   He was fussy in the mornings for awhile, and now it's the afternoons and evenings when he doesn't want to sleep.  I'm going to keep trying what everyone has already mentioned with the routine, dark room, swaddling etc.  I am going to see how he's doing and talk with his pedi at his two month appointment about meds.  I think putting him down to sleep at just the right time is really key.  It's still hit or miss for me though.  I just wanted to say I know what you are going through!

I was at MIL's house this weekend and she was surprised that DS would go to sleep on his own.  He only had the opportunity once because she kept picking him up- grr.  I talked with DH about how we need to be more adamant about him sleeping on his own, rather than being carried around.  He actually doesn't go to sleep well if carried- and then gets OT.  I need to find a tactful way to say this to my MIL.  It's so much easier with my own mom.  I also have some guilt because we are moving far away from MIL and so I feel bad telling her she can't hold her grandbaby when she doesn't get to see him very often.  At the same time, it's not really fair to him.  He is tired and she won't let him sleep! 

I was wondering about the 3 hr schedule.  He gets up around 7, but then he wants to eat again around 9- which is only 2 hrs.  I've been feeding him, but I was wondering if I should try to stretch it out closer to 10 as is suggested.  He goes for 3 hrs the next two feeds, but then it's time for clustering and we are at 2 hr intervals again.  Also, DS has not been napping in the late afternoon/evening, and then is out at 8:00.  I've tried to DF, but I am having trouble getting him awake!  He has been sleeping until his 2:00 feed though- going 5-6 hrs.  I am wondering if I can get him up for his dream feed, can I try to get him to sleep until 3 or 4?  If he has slept 5-6 hrs the last two nights I feel like he could sleep that long consistently, and that the 2:00 feed is more of a habit for him now.  What do you think?  Is it too early to push it? Oh, and I'm going to work on the PM naps too! 

[angelamk1]

This ended up in the wrong place, not sure why.  Thanks for your reply though.

In reply to you about feeding, i think for your age baby some 2 hr feeds are ok as long as he's having a good feed and then sleeping well.  It's the snack and snooze thing you want to avoid.  You can stretch that out eventually.  Also some babies don't do the dreamfeed well and if you are only having to get up once in the night without it i would leave it.  If you were getting up 3 or more times then i'd keep trying.  May be he is a bit young for the df too.  I think we started it with my lo's at about 6-8 weeks.  Both took it well but i know plenty of babies who just wouldn't and some of those have slept through quite happily early on.  My sil has perfect baby born one week after Jasper and she has slept through every night since 6 weeks old.  Makes me want to cry some days!

I have the same mil who can't stop picking Jasper up!  I finally get him to sleep and then i got to eat my dinner and next thing she's got him up and is chatting away to him.  Makes me cross.

I don't stick to the 3hr schedule all the time cos it depends how the sleeps go, after a few 45 min naps you need to feed earlier.  Then when he does a 3hr nap it's 4 hours so all works out in the end.

Good on you for cutting out dairy - I just can't do it - i love it and want to bf long term so just am not willing to do that.  I know his reflux will get better when we start solids in another couple of months.  The omeprazole (losec) made a huge difference.  I'm also trying an amber necklace so we'll see how that goes.