Naps suddenly gone - 7 month old

[jennandsophie]

Well, he slept 1hr and 20 mins so not too bad I suppose.  I feel so helpless and don't know where to start to correct this whole mess.

[ENMS]

Jenn - had I read on some other post that you had hired a sleep consultant?

There is nothing worse than getting up at night AND early in the morning. Is your DH helping with some of the NW's or EW's?

[jennandsophie]

We did and she has given us a plan but so far it has not helped.  She recommends shushing but I know that DS has never like that sound too much, even when he was younger.  Now it makes him hysterical.  I am more inclined to think it's either a digestive problem in the early morning or else a routine issue.  I will follow up with the consultant to let her know how it's going.  Don't want to spend the money to have her come here overnight but if it will help, then I will do it.

DH is trying to help with the EWings but it's hard since he has to go to work and I don't want him to be really tired.

[ENMS]

Could it be his reflux? I've wondered, because I give M his PPI first thing in the morning. So technically by the time it's early morning, not sure how effective it is since he's due for his next dose. I've given some thought to moving it over to the evening and seeing if it helps. He's not in pain when he wakes, but he hasn't slept enough, yk so I think it's because something's bothering him. Although now he's teething so that may be it more than the reflux, but I figured I've got nothing to lose by moving the PPI in the evening and seeing if it helps....

I don't recall what meds he's on, and whether he's getting them once or twice a day, and when you give them?

Have you also tried pain meds to see if it helped him go back to sleep? Last night we had one of those longer NW's (it rarely happens to M) and I think if DH had given him Advil it might've helped him go back to sleep faster.

[jennandsophie]

We give the dose before the bedtime feed. We've always given it at this time.  It should be 30 mins prior to the largest meal of the day.  I do think the dose wears off, despite what doctors may say.  You may wish to split the dose in two.

It could be the reflux bothering him, but more likely gas.  His constipation is bad and sleep gets worse if he hasn't had a poop in a few days.  I'm giving him pear juice today and will give him prunes tomorrow morning if nothing yet. 

I have tried some Colic Calm and this other homepathic stuff for gas made by Boiron.  Frankly, it just upset him more as he was chocking and coughing.  I could try it again if we have another long waking like last night. 

I was thinking I need to do something drastic like give him a late catnap and keep him up until a 8pm bedtime for a few nights.  If he is a low sleep needs baby, she shouldn't be going to bed at 6:30pm and since the naps are all so early now as well, I can't really push his bedtime back otherwise without him becoming OT.  Not sure if that is a good strategy or not.  I would have to APOP that catnap, as I know he will freak out.

I did notice the top teeth are showing through today, which would explain why he was so cheerful yesterday.  They seem to really bother him just prior to them appearing and then he's a happy boy again. Need to go back to the baltic amber anklet to see if that helps with sleep.

[ENMS]

Thanks Jenn for the info on the PPI.

The 8PM could be worth a shot! If not, have you considered W2S?

Sorry I've totally been off topic. How were the naps today?

[jennandsophie]

Not too bad.  3hrs 45 mins of A time in the AM.  1h 20min nap.  Very cheerful when he woke and through the whole A time following. 

3hrs 30mins A time in the PM.  2hr nap.  I know this is too much total day sleep for him.  I want to start pushing back his bedtime to at least 7pm again, so I am letting him have this slightly extra amount of nap time. I hope it won't backfire and give me a 4am wake up tomorrow. 

Settled easily for both naps and fell asleep within 10 mins or so.

[ENMS]

So how much A will he have between the second nap and BT?

Fingers crossed for a good night

[*Kara*]

Up until we started the DF, he always had one additional feed during the night.  It used to be between 3-5:30am and now it's earlier, usually 1-4pm.  I do wonder if he is hungry, as he feeds okay during the day, but doesn't stay on more than 10 mins except at bedtime when my supply is low.  I have tried supplementing with formula for that feed and it didn't make any difference to his night waking.

Wondering if he is just in that place where he is really hungry in the night but not quite ready for solids around dinnertime??

PS - 10 mins is a full feed at this age... some babies are really quick and finish a full feed in 5 mins

[jennandsophie]

Kara - I did try solids for dinner for a while and he seemed fine with it, but I wasn't sure if it was interfering with the EWing, so I stopped it.  He would definitely eat if I gave it to him.  I actually realize I haven't been giving him enough solids per meal.  He's had no adverse reactions to anything so far so I think I will up the serving size a bit. I do still wonder if he wakes from hunger around 4-5am, but he just doesn't go back to sleep anymore if I feed him then expect maybe with a few minutes on the breast, so I don't think that's entirely the reason behind the wakings.

Elise - the A time ended up being 3hrs 30mins which is a good time for him. I didn't want to push it any more than that. He settled really well, no crying and fell asleep independently with no soothing required. I had been putting him down some nights with only 3hrs A time last week, as he does rub his eyes around that point.  I have all fingers and toes crossed too that we don't have the NWing tonight.  I need some sleep!

[ENMS]

Good idea for upping the serving a bit. I think it can't hurt really. I think it may be that he wakes from hunger, but that he has slept enough to not be able to put himself back to sleep, kwim? Maybe if that hunger wake happens 1h or 2h later, you'd have better nights?

He settled really well, no crying and fell asleep independently with no soothing required

Isn't that great? Love when that happens.

I had been putting him down some nights with only 3hrs A time last week, as he does rub his eyes around that point

Do you think maybe it's possible that he needs a slightly longer A time before BT? Although 3h is very reasonable, especially if he's had short naps, but maybe with 3h30 it will make a difference? Fingers crossed for you!

[jennandsophie]

Yes, I'm really hoping he just needs that A time increase so I've pushed all of them today to 3hr 30mins.  I know he is actually capable of slightly more, but I don't want to do that until he starts sleeping better at night. 

Well, it's 8pm and everyone in our household is asleep expect me!  Poor DH is now having a pre-bedtime "nap" so he can wake up and do the DF in a few hours.  My DS sure didn't inherit his father's high sleep needs

[ENMS]

My DS sure didn't inherit his father's high sleep needs

that's too bad, wouldn't that have been nice! 

[*Kara*]

Kara - I did try solids for dinner for a while and he seemed fine with it, but I wasn't sure if it was interfering with the EWing, so I stopped it.  He would definitely eat if I gave it to him.  I actually realize I haven't been giving him enough solids per meal.

My general rule was to let DD eat as much as she liked by this age given that it didn't interfere with her milk intake   As long as he has milk then solids an hour later, you should be just fine to go ahead and feed away!

[ENMS]

How was your night Jenn?