8 month old waking every 30mins from 12am

[lula21]

Hi everyone!

I have been lurking on the boards for a long time and finally need all your help an expertise.  I am not new to BW my 6 yr old DD took to EASY and was sleeping thru from 6 weeks old.  

However my spirited DS has had numerous problems from day 1 and has NEVER sttn.  He was quite unwell from around 2 weeks, he would never suspected a Milk allergy and reflux as he eventually refused all feeds and has severe eczema, after many trips to the GP (who told me he wasn't there to teach me how to feed my baby) I demanded to be referred and tested and DS did indeed have high milk and egg allergies.  He was prescribed many formulas and finally seem to settled on neocate and prescribed omeprazole for reflux. He also takes biogiai probiotics as he would still wake with wind.

We thought finally he would start sleeping better, but we were wrong, I suspect that when he was poorly we did go into him a lot only using shh/pat but it was many many times a night he is not a big cryer just moans but if left for a while will turn into a major cry. He has always been jumpy and will thrash around the cot when awake and me or DH will have to hold him in cot until he calms. We have never used any major ap (that I am aware of) he has no dummy, he has been in own room since 6 weeks (same as DD did) doesn't have night feeds (have tried to give him bottle to see if its hunger waking him he has no interest), dropped DF at 7 months as was only taking few ounces.

He will sleep quite well in the evening then anywhere around 12 and 2 the NW's start and I am running out of things to try.

Have started PU/PD to get him back to sleep not much success so far but early days, he is not always crying seems to be moaning in sleep but will not settle self if left and I feel maybe PU/PD is wrong tactic for this.

EASY Schedule

5-6am wake up

6.30    bottle 8 0z
8.00    solids
9.30    nap
11.00  will rarely have bottle couple of 0z's if does
12.00  solids
2.00    nap
3.00    (have to wake at 3 to pick up DS from school)
4.30    solids
6.00    bath routine
6.45    bottle 8 oz's and bed

Sorry for the ramble, hope it makes sense and hope someone can offer there words of wisdom thanks in advance for reading.

[mmom]

Many (((HUGS))).  it sounds like you have had a rough start.

You are right, I wouldn't do PU/PD for moaning.  It sounds like he is trying to settle.  My LO does this when he is uncomfortable.  Any chance your LO is teething?  Did you introduce a new food?   Has he been healthy lately?

[lula21]

Thanks for reply.

It seems like he has been teething forever so yes could possibly be the reason, i give him meds if he is showing signs in the day. 

Moaning seems to have always been his noise of choice ha ha.

We are still learning what foods affect him or not as haven't had all the tests and do suspect there may be more allergies, you have highlighted what I had been thinking, it's nice to have someone look at your situation from afar as it gets so confusing with all the different issues.

How long would you leave LO to settle themselves before going in.

[lula21]

I am having a problem getting him to sleep too.  It has taken me an hour to get him down for a nap this morning he will thrash about and moan, fall asleep and within minutes he jumps and is awake again I will place my hands on him until he is calm, an it all starts again any advice?

Before his nap I put him in his grobag with his blankie and hold him for 5 mins and then put him in his cot, he has lullabies on for 10 mins, any advice on helping to wind him down, he always seems jumpy and falls asleep through exhaustion rather than relaxation.

I feel if I could get him to relax more he would have a better quality of sleep and less NW's.   

[mmom]

About the moaning, I wouldn't go in at all until it becomes a real cry. 

It really sounds like your LO is bothered by something.   The jolting awake, seems like pain is getting to him.  What kind of A did you try this morning?

[lula21]

I did 3 hours which then turned into 4 by the time he fell asleep.

You are probably right on the teething, I hesitate to say it because it seems we have been saying that since 4 months without a sign of a tooth, (I've been checking every morning without fail ha ha ).

He is very bright and happy when awake it only seems to start when he is trying to sleep.

[lula21]

Thanks mmom for the advice 

 

[mmom]

You are welcome.  Let us know how you get on...

[lula21]

Hi

DS slept from 7 woke at 11 only took a few minutes to settle, then woke at 2.45 and took me until 4.15 to settle him back, he settles to sleep even snores then as soon as I go to leave he jumps awake it doesn't matter how long I am in there.

I just wanted to ask he has started to babble a lot during the day, and this is what he was doing in his NW's I left him to see if he would resettle but he became too awake, do you think this is the same as a new skill he has learnt and he wants to practice it.

I don't want to become a prop for him, it seems he settles when he knows I'm in there and cries when I go, I did WI/WO last night which is why it took so long is there a better tactic for this?   

[mmom]

What was your EASY like yesterday?  Can you post it in EAS format?

Your LO is hitting the age where SA is possible.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=65193.0

WI/WO is really for toddlers.  You are pretty much sticking to PU/PD, except at this age, you are really just laying them down and walking away.  You do go back when they start crying again and repeat.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=208990.0

If they are chatting for a while during the night, a routine tweak is normally needed.  Often that signals a need for increase in A time.

[lula21]

Ok I have been trying to adjust routine as he seems to get OT quite quickly because of all the NW's. This is what happened yesterday.

wake 6
E      7 bottle and solids
A     
S      9.30 - 10.30

E      11.30 solids
A     
S      2.30- 4

E      5.30 solids
A      bath and bottle
S      7.15
 
Although he has his bottle just before bed he does not fall asleep with it, I can't remember what the advice is on this.

[mmom]

Your EASY looks fine.  I am almost thinking that if you are still having NWs, you are dealing with habit, pain, or SA.

Are you still feeding at all of those NWs?  How many did you have last night?

[lula21]

No, he has no night feeds, have tried to see if hunger but he is not interested.

Last night there was only 2 NW's which happens occasionally then reverts to lots again. This is whats frustrating we know he can do it but can't seem to find a pattern to it. Keeping fingers crossed for tonight.

I'm not sure on the SA he seems quite happy when I pop into another room in the day, will cry when getting tired and I leave though.

If it is habit is there a way that I can help break it. Appreciate your advice
 

[mmom]

Unfortunately, the only way to break habit is to just do PU/PD at every waking.  The tough part about this is if he is teething or waking out of discomfort, you are not going to get anywhere.  What do you think?  Do you think it is discomfort?

[lula21]

I think it all started from discomfort as we were having to rub his tummy a lot from the allergies.  I now feel most of it is from habit.

The only issue is he never really cries just moans, but if left to resettle he can't do it and will just become wide awake instead.

Yet I put him in his cot awake and let him fall asleep by himself.

I was thinking as we are going over everything he has a musical seahorse that he listens to when falling asleep and on some NW's we put it on to get him back to sleep, is it possible that this has become a prop?