6 month old - erratic nightwakings

[alioubba]

We just started solids about 2 weeks ago and it is definitely worse since then...but it's bad since she was 4 months.  I try to offer them earlier in the day so they don't upset her sleep.  She doesn't seem upset in the night, she smiles when I come in...fusses loudly if I leave.  She does fart quite a bit though, so maybe the gas wakes her up?  She is only eating about 1 tbsp of rice cereal right now.  Also, I give her probiotics.

[Erin M]

I might drop the rice cereal in favor of some veggies - sweet potatoes, carrots, etc or fruit (pears) or even some chicken.  They're actually much easier for Los to digest.  If you're worried about calories, you could try bfing her along with the solids to see if it helps - or bm in a cup if she'll take it.  There are a few moms on here who have had tenor with solids and have offered feeds before naps.  Its not exactly EASY, but if she needs the calories it's worth a shot. 

Many BF babies needs night feeds - my ds is 8 months and up until a month or so ago we had the df and a nf most nights (still do on occasion) so it wouldn't be all that unusual for her to be eating twice.  There is also a 6 month growth spurt which may have explained your patch of extreme grumpiness a few days back.

I'd look at her feeding behaviors - if she's eating well, your feeds are probably fine for now but if she's just getting a few sucks and going back to sleep, she probably doesn't need the feed.  The awake and not crying during the day reminds me of not enough a time during the day so you're doing well to extend it.  I find ours sometimes jumps when I don't expect it.

[Bex09]

Totally agree with Erin and especially dropping the rice for some fruits or veggies. It does sound like your DD is getting some discomfort, maybe from gas, and that is waking her. Rice can be hard for some LO's to digest until they are older.

Also if she is having happy NW and you leave her to it, does she eventually cry? I would try to wait until she actually cries before you go to her and see if she can start to settle herself. Again agree with Erin here that happy NW are usually UT so adding a little bit of extra A in the day could be the way to go. Hard with the short naps though I know. Maybe just keep trying for the first A time and see if you can get that first nap longer.

[alioubba]

Yes, I have heard that about rice cereal, she doesn't seem constipated (yet) but she is gassy (not in pain just farts alot)  She isn't too excited about food and I was giving rice cereal because it was the only consistent thing she likes!  We started with sweet potato, then tried pears (she spit them up), butternut squash, then banana (which I think constipated her a bit). I skipped the rice cereal today and did the sweet potato again, so we'll see how that goes.  I am trying to give it earlier in the day in hopes it won't disrupt her sleep.  I am nervous to try anything new as it might make things worse!

So as far as the nightwaking goes. She doesn't cry, just fusses very loudly.  She kinds of sounds like a dark barking or a very loud bird!  It's hard to ignore which is why I usually go in.  So I don't know if that counts as a happy nightwaking?  When I go in, she smiles and is happy to see me, but when I leave the loud fussing starts again.  Last night she woke at 12am, 2am and 5am.  I feed her at 12am and when she woke at 2am I tried to get her back to sleep without eating...but after 40 minutes of her being very loud. I gave up and fed her, I think she took in a half decent amount.

Her A times have increased dramatically in the past week but it doesn't seem to be helping.  I think I recall seeing somewhere that the first A time of the day should be the shortest?  I really struggle with how long the first A time should be as she starts showing tired signs really early.  Today I kept her up 2 hours and 15 minutes and then ended up with a 30 minute nap, Yesterday she was up 2 hours 5 minutes and had a 40 minute nap.  I guess it can all depend on the previous nights sleep.  So frustrating!    Thanks for your help ladies - I really appreciate it.

[Erin M]

Don't worry about the solids.  It's perfectly ok for her to not take much at this stage.  My dd2 refused them completely until somewhere around 8 months and she's actually a pretty decent eater.  It's frustrating, but really until age 1 they should get most of their calories from breast milk/formula so it's ok if she's just taking a few spoonfuls.  Sometimes I think these babies know what's best for their little tummies!  Bananas can be tough, it's best to only give them at this stage of the game if they are very ripe. 

If she's increasing her A times, you might be in the midst of some changes that are throwing her off.  Unless you're worried about her waking someone else up, I might let her fuss and only go in if she's actually crying.  I've got two others sleeping in the next room from my ds, so I worry about letting him be noisy for too long.  She might be trying to settle herself back to sleep.  If she cries, definitely go in and help her out, but otherwise see how she does.

Babies are different, some babies like short A times first thing in the morning, some babies like long A times.  If she's up during the night, her first A time might be shorter because she's tired.  My babies have always done their longest A time before bed, but that's not true for every baby!