Really tricky NWs and I can't figure out why!

[LouiseV]

Hi
I have another post on here as my LO just moved successfully to one long nap a day after months of short napping and many NWs. He hasn't consolidated that nap partly due to teething but it's usually 2 hours from 11.30-1.30. He is awake at 6.30 and bed at 6.30.

SO... I night weaned him (and we have gone down to bottles and mostly solids during day at the same time) and he just has one BF before bed

He was going to sleep independently and sleeping until 5.30 when I'd feed him but is now all over the place

I'm hoping someone might have some insight into his NWs which started when he was sick and he is now teething.... But it's been a month!

He seems to be writhing. No amount of paracetamol or pupd works. He is soooooo unsettled. Even if k feed him he is awake again in minutes. I let him sleep next to me and feed to settle which used to be great to get us through teething but he just isn't sleeping and writhes, throws his head back, seems to be straining and screams and screams. Feeding calms him then when hea off he starts up again

We were doing this from 12 until 4 last night. Then he jut seemed really awake and I had to work hard to convince him to sleep!

Just wondering about the way he is awake. Is this normal? No reflux or any other things going on. Normal poos etc.

I'm a bit beside myself haha.

[LouiseV]

I should add he just turned 1 :-)

[Khalam's Mama]

I am going to follow along for some ideas!!!

It does sound like discomfort though. Pain meds dont help wind pains. Have you tried anything for wind or a food diary to see if anything is upsetting him?

[ZacsMumme]

HUGS - I agree with KM sounds like discomfort, or developmental madness
There is a huge developmental leap at ~12 months. I know these don't cause 'pain'. However, if your LO is sensitive to these  like mine was you can get long fussy NW. We get them for about 3-4 nights during WW. Not at every one but we did get them at the 12 month one and included in this was what seemed to be restless legs! Is your LO close to or started walking?
http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php/about-the-wonder-weeks/your-babys-10-leaps/mental-leap-8

Also I was thinking it could be teeth? The moving molars can cause a lot of pain, even if you cant 'see' them coming. I felt awful when Z was miserable for a few weeks, and I was not noticing any molar movement, all of a sudden I felt the tooth already cutting through! (oooops!)

The only other thing I can think of right now is maybe something he is eating as KM also mentions. It could even just be too much of something ATM, for us when Z wet through an apricot phase he ate too many and we had NW for a few days (as I continued to give them to him ) till I figured out too many gave him sore tum and rashy butt

[LouiseV]

thanks you guys - I haven't tried anything diet wise, he has just started formula though and cows milk and started walking in the last two weeks......

I can deal with NW if I can re-settle him, because I think you are right - it is probably teeth / developmental etc etc, its just that nothing puts him back to sleep and settles him! After he has done his initial stretch (either 2 hours or up to 6 tops) he is pretty much up and down or wide awake for hours on end from there....

Are there non-dairy formulas? Does he still need milk? He eats well but doesn't eat QUITE enough yet to drop bottles completely. I could go back to breastfeeding I suppose?

I pretty much am anyway considering he fed ALL night long last night (sore boobs today!)

[ZacsMumme]

I nev fully introduced formula, Z gets 1 bottle a day now and 1 BF before bed. The reason I be er fully switched is that I noticed he got a sore Tum from too much. I would certainly try gradually transitioning him rather than all at once. Maybe just 1 bottle in the morning then Bf and see if you notice any discomfort during the day, then try swapping the next feed. KWIM?

You could try a soy formula??

[LouiseV]

THanks for that - I introduced it pretty slowly - just 1 small bottle at morning tea initially and then afternoon tea time too with BF morning and night, and I've now also started gradually introducing cows milk to it.....

He had a pretty dairy free day today but was worse than ever even with a good nap (2 hours) so I just don't know what to expect tonight!!

My local pharmacist gave us some chamomile stuff for his tummy as he said not to go blaming things on teething (?) but I just dont know what else it would be....and he's definitely cutting at the moment.....

...the fun continues...!

[hniles]

My LO was teething a few weeks ago (she is almost 5 months) and was doing the same actions indicating pain as you mentioned. We tried pain medication as it worked in the past when she had teething pain, but it didn't seem to work. What worked was Gripe Water. Helps with sour stomach due to swallowing all that drool. It made my LO much more comfortable, neutralized the stomach acid etc. Of course, you wouldn't want to give your LO this all the time so if it's a one-off, it may work. Otherwise, as others have suggested, maybe it's a dietary thing...

[ZacsMumme]

Well if he is cutting I would totally blame it on teething lol
You could introduce some probiotics? These helped my LO a ton, we started at 12 months and it made a ton of difference to his gut and digestion. I swear it stopped our sore tummy NW
As hniles mentioned we also use gripe water, still! It works a treat when teething, or when Z has wind or hiccups.

Hugs x

[LouiseV]

thanks you guys!

Right, tonight he's getting gripe water, probiotics and an early tea as I think some time to digest is probably needed too :-)

Last night he was up 8-10 (after a 6.30 BT) and then EVERY HALF HOUR

Kill me now

Hehe xx

[Khalam's Mama]

Did you give pain meds Louise. I tried some gripe water but it made no difference. I hope you have more luck.

[LouiseV]

Im really desperate this just isn't working

He was awake from 10.15 (6.30bt) last night and struggled to settle all night

He would cuddle into me and sob and sob
Pain meds, dairy free..... I'd feed and he settle down but toss and turn and never go back off to sleep
When he did he'd be awake again within the hour

He could self settle! This is soooo bizarre and he's not getting any sleep no matter what I do. I'm pulling out all the stops but it's not working.

Last night he didn't really seem in pain just really really unable to settle to sleep even with help/ feeds


He wakes up happy and is great all day long. I'm beside myself I don't think I have had more than 3 broken hours per night for weeks now

Any thoughts at all are so appreciated. Sorry you guys

[ZacsMumme]

so many hugs hun
I wold take him to the Dr first just to rule out anything - ear infections can be a funny one as can strep
How is his nap going?

[LouiseV]

OK, I'll take him back - I had his ears checked etc and they thought teething....but then again, that seems to always be the go to!

His nap is actually going really well considering his nap history! Most days he is down for 2 hours - sometimes only 1.5 and sometimes 3)
If He's not tired enough or slightly OT he wakes after an hour but generally resettles himself or some bum patting does the trick.
Amazing really.

Last time I talked to the GP (on the phone, they couldnt see me but wanted me to come in today which I could do - I will go though) they said that if I have tried everything else and it seems like he WANTS to sleep but can't I should have a think about using phenergan for 2-3 nights to see if it helps his brain re-set a bit as he's obviously not able to get back to sleep in the night despite wanting to.

I'm really unsure, I'm not totally against it - and I dont want to do it for me as such as I think I can continue to get by - but I feel like I'm too tired to make a decision about it on my own right now! If they were just night-wakes I'd get over it, but they seem like ore than that - its so wierd that he cant go back to sleep and for once in his long, complex sleep history he actually wants to!!!!!

argh. more thinking to do

[LouiseV]

I'm also wondering if it's appropriate to do wi/wo with this kind of night wake??