Why as dream sleeper turned into a nightmare

[krisfred6]

 
Hi, my 4 month old LO started STTN about 3 and half months.  He did it for about a week.  Prior to this he used to sleep really well, only waking once (about 4am) for a feed and then going back to sleep.  Over the last couple of weeks he has been waking nearly every hour from about 2am.  He doesn't always cry during this time, but he calls out, grunts, cries, moves around in his cot.  He has been able to put himself back to sleep by sucking on his fingers.  Some nights I feed him (he only takes one side) and other nights I go in and resettle. I don't go in straight away and listen to see if he will only resettle.  I go in when his cries become more than a mantra cry.  About 3 weeks ago I started introducing Farex (cereal) to my LO as he was showing all the signs that he was ready.  Now I don't know if this is interfering with his sleeping and if I should stop for awhile until he is a little older.  Please help me get my my dream sleeper back!

[mamatolevi]

Do you think he might be teething?

[krisfred6]

It is a possibility, he chews everything and dripples so much I have to change his bibs 3 times a day, but he has been doing this for the past 2 months and I can't feel anything.  But it is definately a possiblity. I also forgot to mention that I am currently in the process of changing my LO from a 3-hour EASY routine to a 4-hour routine.

[mamatolevi]

I'm working on the same thing. Today was day 1, and it went really well. I guess we'll see how the night goes? He had one less feed today, so I hope that giving him more at each feed will be enough to get him through the night. He has been a good sleeper, like your LO (he is totally adorable, btw).
Has your LO's poop schedule changed at all since you introduced the cereal? Could it be gas or constipation that's keeping him up?

[We Three]

That's what I was thinking too...his tummy might be upset from the cereal?  Did your ped recommend starting cereal 3 weeks ago?  I didn't bf, so forgive me if I'm wrong...just trying to troubleshoot for you...but bf babies I thought didn't start ceral til 6 months?  Could it be a little soon for him? 

[~ Vik ~]

Definitely agree that it would be worth stopping the cereal.  If he was a great sleeper, and the only thing that has changed is the solids introduction, then I would stop for a week or so and see if that makes a difference.  Recommendations for solids vary from country to country (and even doctor to doctor ) but the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding whenever possible until 6mo of age.  Some babies are ready for solids sooner (and there is a list of the signs here http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=36922.0) but in general it's best to wait if you can.

Cereals in general are also difficult to digest (not sure what type of cereal Farex is?).  Rice cereal is recommended as a first food because of its low potential for allergic reactions, but it is very tough on the digestive system, causing gas and constipation in many babies.  My ds got horrible, horrible gas from it when he was younger. Other cereals can be tough too.  If your lo is showing all the signs of readiness for solids you could always try offering pears.  Tracy recommended them as a first food because they are mild flavoured, easy to digest, and also have a low potential for allergic reaction.

Could you post your EASY?  Just in case anything jumps out that might impact your nights.  Keep in mind too that there is a big growth spurt at 4mo (not sure your ds' exact age?) which might be changing your feeding routine.  Teething could be a factor too, like pp suggested, have you tried meds or orajel?

[krisfred6]

I just said to my DH that I will drop the cereal until LO is a little older and then see what happens and everyone else thought the same thing .  Our Easy routine at the moment is:

E 7.00
A 7.20-8.45
S 8.45-10.20

E 10.20
A 10.20-12.05
S 12.05-1.40

E 1.40
A 1.40-3.20
S 3.20-5.00

E 5.00
A 5.00-6.30
Bath and wind down

7.00-7.30 Top up and bed
DF 10.30
I know that there is a long time between his last sleep and bed, but I think that is because I am in the middle of move to a 4-hour easy and the cat nap is dropped for a little while (following the routine in the book.

I am also not sure how to give him more food if he is hungry as I am BF.  Thanks everyone for your assistance. 

[We Three]

I'm happy to hear that you'll be stopping the cereal...maybe it was just too much on his belly! My dd had major issues with rice cereal  (she was 5 months old) to the point that if God ever blesses us with another lo, I would not even offer it.      But that's just me! 

[krisfred6]

What a night  - Lo woke up every 2 hours from when I put him to bed.  Sometimes it was even every hour.  I am really concerned as even as a newborn he could sleep longer than this.  This is what my night looked like:
7.30 - Bed
8.30 - Woke - resettled quickly
10.22 - Woke - DH gave DF
12.12 - Woke - Resettled
2.15 - Woke - Resettled
4.00 - Woke - Feed - one side went back to sleep
5.12 - Woke - Self settled
6.30- Woke
7.00 - Feed

All through the day yesterday after feeds he looked like he was still looking for feed (pulling at my shirt) Sucking on everything.  Please help me with this as it is driving me crazy.
Just a little info about our little family.  We live in a very small community (200 people) in a very remote area 2000km from our family.  This is my first child and my mum died about 9 years ago.  The nearest dr and hospital is about 150km.  My husband and a I have been trying to do this on our own (and we have been doing great) but this has really stumped me and is upsetting all of us.  Please Help!

[mamat]

I dont know if this will make you feel better, but my LO, almost 5 months, was waking up every 2 hours for about a 2 week period. I think we are finally over the hump and she is back to sleeping a little better (crossing fingers). It may just be that gs that others are talking about.  Hopefully you get it sorted out soon.

Are you in Canada?

[krisfred6]

Mamat, thanks for the little inspiration that this is only a phase.  No, I am in Australia.

[mamat]

when you said you are in a little community so far away from others, that reminded me of areas around here.

As far as over the hump, not so much. We were up every hour after 1am last night. Not such a good night. I am thinking though, that it is a result of not enough calories throughout the day yesterday. I am going to try to get more into her today to see if it makes a difference in her sleep tonight.

[krisfred6]

I'm sorry that you didn't have a better night last night.  We didn't really either.  I also thought that it might have been calories, but I feed him all day yesterday (before and after each sleep and then every hour from 5pm until bed).  My LO also woke up every hour.  I even gave him a feed at 2am (has been sleeping through the night) but he didn't really seem to take it.  I am also at my wits end.  I have gotten to the point where I hate bedtime because I know I am going to be up again soon and I sleeping really poorly because I just lay there waiting for him to wake up again!  Good luck with increasing your cals today.  I hope that this is the answer for you.

Re: my location.  I live in Far North Queensland which is very close to the tip of Australia.  I was sent up here to do my teaching job, and now I can't get my husband to move back - he loves his job as a Park Ranger.  Sometimes I get really frustrated with the isolation as I have no options for support apart from the internet.  Will think of you during the day and hope you have a great night.

[mamatolevi]

Maybe it's developmental? My LO is just over 4 months, and he has been an amazing sleeper, until this past week. He is waking every night, for an hour to two hours, just cooing and laughing in his crib. He's not hungry, and if I go in to give him his paci he just smiles at me like he wants to play. It's cute but exhausting. I'm told that his STTN was a phase, so hopefully this is too!!!

[mamat]

My lo also will do that occasionally where she will wake up and just talk to herself. When she does this, she will put herself back to sleep on her own which is nice.

Sounds like you live in a beautiful, peaceful place! The things we do for jobs hey? I am also a teacher but in a not so remote area!
I always felt so sorry for people that had babies that didnt sleep well and now here we are, those moms who dont sleep! My lo's habit is to nurse back to sleep so I believe a lot of her problem (if its not the calories) may be related to teaching her to settle back down with out laying down to nurse. As much as I love all of the moments together, I dont much enjoy them 4 times a night!

Good luck tonight!