What is this? Starts to self soothe, quiet for 10 sec, the crying again. Repeats

[J+M]

This can go on for 90 min.

Starts crying, then grunts or whimpers, then sighs and is quiet and starts to fall asleep.  About 10 seconds up to 5 min of silence, then it starts all over again.  Not enough crying for me to feel like I should interrupt because it's always on the verge of winding down.  Never full crying or screaming either.  Whenever he does go to sleep for good (15 min to 90 min later) he will wake 1-2 hours layer and this just repeats.

What is this?  I used to feed but I was nursing all night long so I cut out 3 of the 5 night wakings and just nurse midnight and 4am.  It's been almost 3 weeks and the night waking are still repeating each night anyway, so I don't think it's a habit anymore because he's not getting anything out of them from me anymore.

I had his reflux meds increased and it helped for 2 nights and then things went back to 5 wakings a night.

Could it still be reflux?  What the heck? Shouldn't day feeds have increased to compensate already?  What is he doing with the in and out on the verge os self soothing for so long and so often?  I read the FAQ and if it were those things wouldn't the crying stay and escalate?  Why go in and put of sleep?

I tried swaddling again, new diapers, nursing( 3 weeks ago), a quick pat/shhh, extending day naps with some success, and doing nothing.  The results are the same night after night.

I don't get it. What should I be doing?

[J+M]

Sorry about all the typos. I'm so tired!

[ZacsMumme]

I wonder if the reflux meds are not quite the right dose, it could be slight discomfort casing him to stir or moan/cry in hs seep or wake up. How is he during the day?

What meds and dose is he on for the reflux?

(hugs)

[J+M]

Zantac...(Ranitidine) in the morning and at night. 1.5ml each...AND a nightly 10mg of Nexium.

Days are mostly bad.  We've been stuck with short naps since the 4 month growth spurt threw us off.  I have repeatedly gone in to shhhh him...and he will go back and have a second sleep cycle, but it's been weeks of this and only 2 days ago did he finally go back to making the transition himself and every nap was long (like it used to be before 4 months).  But then we had my daughters school in the morning the next day which caused us to run around and he wasn't able to duplicate it, of course.  A time is 2 hours when we're home but I have no solid EASY to post because at least 3 days a week we're out of the house and he sleeps on and off all over the place with short naps and short A times alike (I wear him in a carrier and he drifts in and out as he likes). because I think he is OT I try to get him to sleep at 7p instead of 8p like I used to.  He gets up around 7:30a usually but lately it's 7 and then 6:45 and today 6:30.  But he's up crying all night long so how can he not be OT and what do I do about it? I'm already doing everything there is!  Dark room, sound machine, more day calories, not nursing to sleep, no prop to sleep, extending day naps with my help, earlier bedtime, medicine adjustment.  I'm going crazy here and it's not for lack of trying.

[ZacsMumme]

(hugs) Hun, it des sound like the reflux s bothering him. I found 4-5 months really hard reflux wise

I am going to see if I can get some more eyes on your post so bear with me.

[J+M]

Thank you so much.  I really appreciate it.  I think you must be right.

I have a follow-up appt in 4 days with his Doctor.  It's Friday so if I even call I probably can't get in until just before his appointment anyway, and likely not even with his Doctor.  So I'm trying to do what I can to get by and wait for the appointment with the right person since we have to live with the decision they make for at least 2 weeks to really give it time to work before they will make another change.

[*Liz*]

Sounds like reflux to me as well.

2 things I can think of - changing the PPI around so that it can be given twice a day instead of just once. A lot of LOs just metabolise the drugs faster than adults so the dose doesn't remain effective for long enough.

Also have you considered food intolerances?? Mainly cows milk protein intolerance? He may be reacting to the dairy in your diet that is crossing over into the breast milk.

[J+M]

Liz, I have not thought of that. I can easily cut out milk and give it a try.  I was vegan a few years ago so I know I can exchange dairy out for other things for a bit and see if it helps.

Another rough night but today had been a little better.

[ZacsMumme]

Oh yes...I forgot about that. When we switched to splitting Zacs losec into 2 doses his reflux improved a lot!