Do I need to tweak our routine?

[Tecike]

V is 6.5 mo with non-medicated reflux (it's not medicated here, but I'm doing everything to ease him - luckily it's not so bad recently...). We've been having rough nights for the past month or so, and after ruling out reflux, teething and GS I just wonder if it is our routine that needs tweaking... So, here goes:

WU between 6.30 - 7.00 am
E - 7.00 (BF)
A - solids (fruit) 8.45
S - 9.30 - 10.15 (sometimes 11.00)
E - 11.00
A - solids if had a short nap at 12.00 / after long nap 12.30
S- after short nap 12.30ish / after long nap 13.30 (if I have errands, then he'll nap 30 mins in stroller/ if at home, it's 1.5 hr)
E - 15.00ish (or earlier on short nap days)
A-
S- on 2 short nap days he'll have a long nap 14.30 - 16.00 / if he had at least one long am nap, it's a CN at 17.00ish for 30 mins
E - on short nap days 17.30ish / on long nap days he can last until 18.45
A - including bathtime and BT
S- 19- 19.30

Now this might be confusing, but we usually get either a short nap day (with 2 short and one long nap) or a long nap day (with 2 long and one short nap - and if I have errands to run, the short nap might be the 2nd nap of the day). He usually lasts around 2.5 hr A times, but before BT can be up for 3-3.5 hrs easily. The first A time might be a struggle if he wakes early (between 6-6.30 am), I can't push him more than 2 hrs, when I try he whines all the time and eventually falls asleep in my arms. Nights are the real bother for me - he still has 2 (sometimes even 3) NFs and seems hungry at each one. I would say it's GS, but he's been having 2 NFs since 3 mo!!!! And it's not decreasing...  The NWs have somewhat decreased - as opposed to 6-7 due to reflux, he has 2 or 3, where he doesn't cry, just starts fussing (and moving around his crib, trying to crawl...) I know it's developmental, but with 2 NFs and 2-3 NWs it means that he doesn't get a stretch of proper sleep, he's up every 2 hrs or so...  I used to rush to him (due to reflux, he had to be picked up a lot), but now I try to wait for him resettle, which he sometimes does, but sometimes he can be up for more than an hour with occasional few minutes of sleep in the meantime...And we end up FTS...

Just wondering if a routine tweak might help with NWs???
Please, feel free to ask for some more details...or move to NW if that's more appropriate!

TIA

[MommyMoulton]

Teckie- Not sure if this helps, E is non-medicated mild reflux... 2 hours a time seems low, as E is at 3 hours almost steadily... I recently discovered 2 things about E and his reflux. Alot of the time when he "fusses" while playing its becasue he has to burp... but sometimes it will take upwards of 10min of rubbing/bouncing on my knee to get that burp out. Luckily the longer he fusses the easier the burp comes out.

2nd thing is that bordem is a big thing for E now too. Used to love the jolly jumper and would be entertained easily for hours.. now he wants to move around more, tummy time i know shocker given he hated tummy time before.

3rd thing... SA no so much stranger danger... but more of... where is everyone? Often I just go down to his level and play with him, without picking him up... this seems to work well.

If I were you I wouldnt try jumping th a times up too fast, maybe 15min every morning a time for 2-3 days, then the next 3 days anohter 15min for morning time and 15min for afternoon time. See how that works out. As for the NFs... Hes BF right? I cant remember. does he take a paci? maybe hes comfort nursing at night because he got used to it from the reflux phase. maybe if he takes a bottle try giving the bottle at night instead of the boob? Im just tossing out a few ideas. May be totally off.. but that would be my suggestions.

Ta Ta
MommyMoulton

[Tecike]

Thanks, MM!

I am trying to keep A times up, which no problem in the afternoon, as O is home and V gets entertained by him... It's the first A time that is shorter... he seems tired so quickly. And sure enough we had 45 min naps after both 2 hr and 2.5 hr A times...nevertheless, am trying to keep him up for at least 2.5/ 2.75 hrs. He just gets so whiny in the end... 

Yeah, burps are the same here, though during the day they come up easily (and he spits up a lot during tummy time), it's nights when I have to keep him up for a longer time to get those burps out!  That's why I should reduce NFs, but he really seems hungry and I'm at a loss as to what to do about them...    If he would comfort nursing, he wouldn't empty the breast, would he? But yes, feeding often and less might be a habit from reflux phase...

Boredom is also here, and I have to be so creative to find things that are entertaining for him... For a few days now he seems to be bored with all his toys, so I have to find new acticites for him...and he LIKES me playing with him, but seems to even get bored with me...he seems all happy when O or DH come home in the afternoon! And A time is surely longer then!

So, I will try to go closer to 3 hrs in the next few days...
He's not taking the bottle, but will occasionally take the paci, so might try to skip a NF with the paci... FX that it goes well!

[MommyMoulton]

FX for you too!

[katie80]

Hey Tecike, not sure I can give any EASY advice, as we pretty much have the same one.   The only thing that popped in my head is maybe he's getting his calories at night rather than the day.   I think you mentioned he was a distracted nurser at one point?  Have you tried just feeding one side at the NFs and then see if you can stop it eventually?  Trying the paci first is probably a better idea, though.  Hope you find soemthing that works!

[Tecike]

Katie - V only feeds one side at each BF! My supply is so good, I offered both sides only at GS...
Well, tried paci for NWs, it worked for a while, but he was up an hr later, so fed him...twice last night..

Think I'll post on BF boards for advice...

Thanks ladies!

[katie80]

Do you ever offer both sides in the night?  G was a one-sided feeder until about 3 mo, but then started taking two (of course, he's quite big).  But, if V is waking and generally hungry at least two times a night, I'd try feeding from both and see if he doesn't go longer on a bigger feed.  Will be interested to hear what the BF post comes up with.  (((Hugs)))

ETA - I just checked out your post.  I didn't remember that you don't DF, so I don't think having two NFs is all that uncommon at this age.  However, I would still try to offer both sides just to see if it stretches him out a bit.

[Tecike]

Thanks, Katie!
Will try tonight and see how it goes!
On the BF post, I got the answer that it's still OK to have 2 NFs if he can last as long as during the day, and he does last 4 hrs generally. So I'll try both sides and see how it works (FX that he doesn't fall asleep while nursing!:) )...

[katie80]

Good luck!  Let us know how it goes.