Author Topic: 6 month old night wakings learned or hungry? (Read 2363 times)

teddy13 · « **on:** March 16, 2013, 19:20:46 pm »

Hello,
My son is 6 months old, eating solids once a day and I sometimes supplement with formula at night about 4 oz a day. He wakes usually about 4 hours after he goes to bed at 6:00pm and then he is up about 2.5 hrs later for the rest of the night. Its really gruelling and I am not sure how to curb these wakings. Ideally I wouldn't mind if he woke at 10pm, and then at 6am for the day. I have tried the dreamfeeds for two weeks and have had no success. Can anyone else help me? His schedule is as follows:
6-7am wake, change diaper, breastfeed
8-9am nap for 45 mins
9-10am eat rice cereal
11:30-12:30 nap for 40 mins and then try to put him back to sleep if I succeed he will sleep 90 mins in total
2pm breastfeed
4:30 pm nap for 40 mins
5:10 bottle mix with formula
6:10 bath
6:30 breastfeed and bedtime
10:00 wakes for feeding if I don't manage to dreamfeed
and then he is up for the rest of the night every 2.5 hours

Thanks so much please help me I am sooooooo sleep deprived

Shiv52 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2013, 20:18:31 pm »

I think your wakings are more down to routine. But wonder is the formula causing discomfort? Or have you been using it a long time?

So from a routine at 6 months babies are usually on 2.5 hours a time and are in their way to fading the catnap and being on two longer naps. Are the short naps normal? And what A time do you think he needs?

Fiver · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2013, 22:27:13 pm »

I might be missing something here, but is he not having a breastfeed (or any milk) between 6/7am and 2pm? $:-\$
There's also a growth spurt at 6m, so NWs would most likely happen then too.

teddy13 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2013, 17:51:03 pm »

Hi Ladies...
Last night was a lot better. The formula that I am supplementing with I have already been using for just over a month he is doing well on it. I don't use it very often but the past few nights I have been using it more. I have not noticed any discomfort or change in his stools since I mostly bf. He is eating btw 6-7 and at 2pm. Today he was up from about 6 and then he napped at around 8am. I tried to keep him awake but he was so OT. I battle with his overtiredness and it always shortens his A time. Usually he is up for around 2.5 to three hours max. But if he doesn't sleep well which I am trying to extend his naps but without any luck the rest of the day his A time is decreased. He also seems to be teething. Tonight I chose to put him to nap and to bed without nursing him and he was able to fall asleep on his own both times. I am hoping that this is the beginning of great things to come. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks for the help and I welcome any other suggestions.
xxxx

Fiver · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2013, 18:54:29 pm »

At 6m, he should probably be having some milk (BF or FF) at around 10/11 also, depending on when his first feed falls. A gap of 7-8 hours between milk feeds for a 6mo is just too big, so I would suggest that some of the short naps may be down to hunger. The rice cereal you are offering at 9/10 really isn't anywhere near as high in nutritional value as a BF (or FF) would be. By all means offer the solids, but bear in mind that milk is the most important aspect of nutrition during the first year.

teddy13 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2013, 20:04:21 pm »

Hi,
Thanks so much for all the help. The past few nights have been better. He is eating a lot more of his solids and he is sleeping longer stretches in the beginning of the night. At the moment he has been asleep for about three hours and he will sleep about another two. I am contemplating trying to dreamfeed him at my bedtime with formula any suggestions?
Thanks

Fiver · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2013, 11:52:03 am »

You could offer a DF if you felt you wanted to, but bear in mind that adding in formula may not have any impact on how long LO continues to sleep overnight.

teddy13 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2013, 19:13:39 pm »

Hi thanks so much,
Last night I added a DF and he woke up a couple of hours later anyways. I would like to know the ways in which I can wean him from comfort nursing at night. His first wake up without a DF is usually between 12-1 am and then he will wake up again about 4 hours later. On the second wake up he will nurse for a minute or two and then fall asleep. He seems to not be as hungry as the first feed. Ideally I would like to wean him from the second waking so that I can get a little more sleep. What is the best way to do this? I have tried giving him a paci but he screams and I wait to go in but he doesn't self soothe or settle. Any recommendations are welcomed. Each night I go to bed I cross my fingers that tonight is the night he will sleep all the way through. Wishful thinking I know but I am wishing! Lol

Fiver · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2013, 19:21:46 pm »

That's probably about where we were with DD at 6m. The feeds do gradually get later until they fade away.

The other possibility is that it's more of a routine issue. Could that be the case? If so, it might be worth a post on the E.A.S.Y. Forum

Rachelss · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2013, 19:44:51 pm »

Just a quick one to say that you are not alone on this one...v similar challenges here at the moment with my 5.5 mo! We're on a 4hr EASY (approx) with a v small amount of solids after milk twice a day. Night sleep was going along nicely but has headed hugely downhill due to teething and starting to sit unaided. From memory with my older two, some of this is a phase which does pass....eventually!

I agree with Fiver re the extra daytime milk feed. I've also been trying to settle my little one at nighttime without feeding, unless I can see that he is genuinely hungry.

Hope this helps

Shiv52 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2013, 20:06:33 pm »

One thing that struck me is that you mention he is taking a lot of solids. at this age you need to be sure milk intake isn't decreasing. Milk be it formula or BM has many more calories per oz than solid food so if milk intake decreases you will get more NWs for milk as they aren't taking as many calories in during the day.

As Amanda says your LO needs to have a feed at 10/11am as well in terms of getting enough milk feeds in.

General rule at night is they should be able to go as long as they do in the day and at 6 months you'd expect them to ideally go 4-5 hours. So what you describe is normal. No DF and a wake at 12/1 and then 4 hours later is normal for 6 months. Even for a FF baby. Some just need NFs longer. So you may be best doing a DF at 11 and the NF should fall about 3/4 and that will get you to morning. You could make that NF a bottle so your DH could do it every other night so you can get some sleep.

If he wakes before the 4 hours I would resettle back to sleep without a feed. And the trick is to keep going and not give in after a half hour and feed. If you are going to feed, feed right away other wise commit to resettling to sleep.

teddy13 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2013, 10:18:39 am »

Thank you girls so so so much this thread is so supportive. I remember with my daughter it helped so much. I guess having the strength to commit to two is harder. For the past two night he has been waking 2.5 hours after falling to sleep at around 9:30-:945pm. He is not hungry. I tested this by offering him a bottlefeed which would have been his DF but he refused, he fell back to sleep almost instantly in my arms. The next night I didn't pick him up I soothed him while he was whining in his crib and again he fell back to sleep. He then wakes about 2.5 -3.0 hours later for a feed. I usually BF at this point, (its easier and faster than mixing a bottle) after this feed he goes right back to bed and is awake three hours later, he poops and we are up at 7am I let him play alone from around 6:30 when he is up and googling and laughing.

I think the solids are taking up too much room and the decrease in breastfeeding is also a cuase for the frequent night feeds. I have made a change today after I fed him his fruit at 10:30 I offerend him breastmilk and he drank he was really hungry. He had a 30 min morning nap on the way to taking my DD to school from 9:15-9:45 and then he is napping now again from 11:45am. He soothes himself to sleep for naps and when he goes to bed at night. I no longer rock, soothe, or feed to sleep. How can I get him to nap longer and to sleep longer stretches at night? Should I post on the EASY Forum?

teddy13 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2013, 11:20:42 am »

HI as I was writing to you...
My son is still napping from 11:45 am and its now 1:20pm!!!!!! I can't believe it I am soooo sooo happy. Too bad I may have to wake him if he doesn't wake himself so that we can go and pick up my daugther. What is the rule on napping, how long is too long?
thanks
xxxx

teddy13 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:35:23 am »

Hi I have added more milk into his day. He seems to be calmer and only woke twice last night. He also had an early morning waking at around 5:45 he talked to himself until 6:30am and then slept until 7:30 where we started our day. I have since then BF twice and he ate his fruit. He is now soothing himself in his bed and is ready for another nap. I extended his A time this morning as suggested on the EASY FORUM but I am not sure if it is working. How do we catch up on sleep that is lost due to a wierd morning like this one today?

Rachelss · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:55:05 am »

About your "how long is too long" for a nap, I think the general BW advice is to wake them after about 2 hours and certainly by 2.5 hours, otherwise it may start to interfere with their night-time sleep.

teddy13 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2013, 16:31:58 pm »

HI I just got back from visiting my very sick uncle in ICU he is not doing well at all.

My mom was babysitting. I told her to let Maximo nap at around 4:30 and then give him a bottle when he wakes. She was not able to put him to sleep, he screamed in an OT fit and went to sleep at 5:45pm!@!!!!!!! Now I am petrified about the night time routine. He is asleep he has not bathed, or changed his clothes. He is so fast aSLEEP I don't know if i should wake him or allow him to sleep just the way he is. Also my boobs are killing me and I am in the worst mood possible. What should I do. Please help me. It seems like asking my mom to babysit was the worst idea and it feels like if I don't do things on my own than they get done wrong. I think I am going to loose it if he doesn't sleep well tonight.

teddy13 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2013, 18:39:02 pm »

Thanks. I thought I would be so lucky for him to nap like he did yesterday but no such luck. His whole day was topsy turvy from the start and he went to bed at 5:45pm extrememly OT and he is still asleep. I am hoping that tonight is not going to be aweful. I am about to go to bed myself. I am not even going to attempt a dreamfeed. I am just going to see how long it will be until he wakes. He seems very content and sound asleep. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks.

Rachelss · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2013, 21:56:36 pm »

Having had some very odd days here for the last few weeks, and similar concerns about how to catch up on lost sleep etc, I think my advice would be to take each day as it comes. Maybe you can put aside what has happened and just tell yourself that you will start afresh in the morning.

Believe me, I know what you mean when you say that if you don't do things yourself, they don't get done as you would like....I am lucky enough to have a husband who is at home for a day each week doing all child care (taking 1 to/from school and then looking after 2younger ones) and it drives me crazy that he doesn't take my advice about what works and what doesn't...and then complains when things don't work as they should!! That said, I have to bite my tongue as I am very lucky to be able to share the childcare as we do, as it means that I can keep a meaningful job and work sensible hours. I'm sure your mum didn't mean to disrupt the pattern of the day and she probably doesn't realise the stress it has caused you.

Good luck tonight and tomorrow. I think we're through the worst with my littlest one for the moment, so I'm here if you need any help or ideas.

teddy13 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2013, 09:33:57 am »

Thank you so much!

The night routine was very little affected. It went like this:

Last feed :5:00 pm
Sleeping : 5:45 pm
Wake: 10:30pm fed
Wake 4:30am fed
Wake up for the day at 5:45am

He ate at 7:00 am and had a brief nap in the car from 9:10-9:40am ate at 10am and is now napping for the past half hour. Hopefully he will get a restful nap. Taking each day as it comes is the best advice. Its just so hard sometimes. Thanks again.

teddy13 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2013, 20:06:52 pm »

Girls I have tried DF from the start, it never worked for LO. He is 7 months in a couple of days should I even bother with it now, or rather leave it?

Fiver · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2013, 21:02:22 pm »

I wouldn't bother, personally. Neither of mine had one.

teddy13 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 29, 2013, 16:10:41 pm »

Ok cool.
So I will keep working on the naps, bedtime without a prop, and let's hope that soon this will all work. Right now he wakes around 12-1 at night for the first feed after he goes to bed. He is awake each morning by 5:45 am so I just put him down and it's 6:00pm. I couldn't keep him awake any longer, he woke up from a nap at 3:45pm. He ate his rice cereal with was mixed with 3 scoops of formula and he breastfed for about 5 mins. He was so full he pulled away.

And now he has fallen asleep alone, unaided in his bedroom.
Thanks so much

teddy13 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2013, 18:58:05 pm »

Hi do you have tips for dropping the nightfeeds? My son wakes for a feed about 5-6 hours and then again every two. I have made the mistake of BF him each time he wakes and now he expects this action. How can I break this bad habit? Please let me know so that I am implement it tonight. I need to take a stand and get this child on a good sleep schedule the deprivation is killing me and its making me a bad wife and mother to my first child. I have no patience any longer b/c I am soooooo tired. Please help.

Fiver · « **Reply #23 on:** March 30, 2013, 19:45:23 pm »

It's worth bearing in mind that BF babies will often still need a NF at 6m, and some up to a year or so.

Some people have success with resettling by any means possible, even if it's just for a short time and feeding again at the next waking.

teddy13 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2013, 19:50:14 pm »

I wouldn't mind waking to feed even twice if I knew he was hungry. But he is only hungry at one of the feeds and then he just suckles to comfort nurse and he is back to sleep. So it's hard to not perpetuate a nurse to sleep bad habit. He falls asleep nursing and then freaks when he stirs and Im not there. I need to up his milk intake during the day for sure and settle him into a better nap aschedule but so far no luck. I am trying so hard to read his tired cues but I seem to be messing up and he is constantly OT

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Author Topic: 6 month old night wakings learned or hungry? (Read 2363 times)