My now 7 months old DS slept well - 5-9 hours at a time - from approx 6 weeks until 4-5 months. At around 4 months, he consistently had 2 NW (I always BF him when he would wake), and now it is 2-4 NW (only 2 is a really good night!). He has been in his crib for naps and night since 10 days, has a very solid bedtime routine, settles easily for naps and during the night, is only up long enough to eat and is back to sleep immediately. I am worried this has become a habitual pattern, rather than a need for feeding. He BFs frequently during the day and has 3 meals of solids - sometimes a snack or 2 as well.
I am VERY NEW at EASY as I found this forum trying to find help! So this is APPROXIMATE. He is in daycare 1 day (sometimes 2) a week, so that throws this off a bit, too.
Up at 630-730
E: 700 BF + solids - fruit & cereal
A: 730 to 930 sitting, jumper, snuggle
S: BF then down at 930 (or earlier if up earlier) to 1030 - usually a 45 to 90 minute nap
E: 1100 BF and Veggie or fruit
A: 1130 to 1300 or 1330
S: BF @ 1300- then nap to 1430 usually 60-90 minutes
A: BF then A of 1430 to 1700
E & S: BF then 1700 CN of 20-30 minutes
E: 1800 BF then veggie and or fruit with sometimes cereal
S: 1900 - bath, book, bottle AND BF then bed by 1930 to 1945 - asleep within 5 minutes of PD. A little thumb-sucking - no paci or lovie.
His typical schedule is up for 2 hours then down for a nap - I am thinking I need to extend his A time. Also, he BF every 2-3 hours all day. At night, he is up by 1030 to 1045, again at 1230 to 130, then at 345 to 445 or so (these times aren't set in stone, just approximates).
I have tried DF to no avail - he is up 2-3 hours after that. We have also tried an earlier bedtime (as early as 645, to 700-715), with no difference.
Here are my considerations:
1) try to start supplementing with formula - maybe a bottle at bedtime? May have to ease into this - tried once the other night and he was rather gassy and fussy with his first NW.
2) try to NOT feed prior to a certain time - I am thinking midnight. If he wakes up prior to that, try PU/PD or a dummy feed.
3) try to start feeding less at a time, choosing 1 feeding to start this with. Maybe only feed on one side for the first feeding, and go from there.
4) as I said above, extend A time - I think this is a need, anyway, with his age. Also, cut out the late CN as well.
I am just hoping to find something to tweak as his sleeping should be improving with age and solids, rather than regressing!!! More than 2-3 hours of sleep at a time would be such a treat! Luckily, he is a quick eater and settles, so I am only up for 15-20 minutes, but would rather do this once a night instead of 3 or more! Have I created a bad habit??? I am hoping the breast hasn't become his paci during the night....I suppose if this is what I have done, then PU/PD may be our answer. Sheesh........
