Author Topic: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night  (Read 3450 times)

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Offline fairypk

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11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« on: April 28, 2013, 10:54:31 am »
Hi,

I do a DF b/w 10 and 11 every night. My LO goes to bed by 830/9. But he always wakes up around 4/5ish and I usually get up and give him a pacifier and then stirs again at 6. Today I give him milk at 6 but he had only 2 oz and then woke up at 815 or so. My question is (he is now 5.5 kgs) how long can he go at nnight without a feed and should i feed him when he stirs at 4/5 or what I should do?

DH and I have to be up at 7 on weekdays anyway.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Offline jessmum46

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2013, 11:37:11 am »
Night feeds are nothing to do with body weight - and all LOs are different ;)  I would completely expect a LO of this age to need one or two night feeds in addition to the dream feed.  Is he having 3 hourly feeds in the day yet?  I know on your other thread he was often having some quite long daytime stretches without feeding.....getting into a good daytime pattern will definitely help.  However, given how young he is, if he wakes at night and it has been longer than 3-3.5h (ie the length of time he should be doing between feeds in the day) then I would feed him straight away and get you both back to sleep.  If he wakes sooner than that you can use shh pat to resettle him.  Some babies do sleep through for long stretches early on, but they are the exception rather than the rule, and you should expect that LO may well need night feeds in addition to the dream feed for several more weeks/months yet. 

Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2013, 06:41:08 am »
Hi,

Thanks for your help. He woke up a little before 5 today and I made 3 oz (instead of the usual 4 oz) and he had about 2.5 oz so I'm not complaining. He went back to sleep and woke up around 730 or so because he likes to poop then and he had another 2 oz or so.

I am trying to get him to have his full feeds during the day but its a bit of a struggle until his bathtime.

What do you suggest I do to help him have full feeds?

Also, our naps are inconsistent and it takes us ages to soothe him and put him to sleep despite looking at cues etc so one long nap followed by 2 short naps seems to work better for us.

Offline jessmum46

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2013, 09:14:52 am »
Have you posted on the bottle feeding forum about which bottles/teats you're using?  Sometimes he might need a faster or slower flow teat to be able to feed more effectively, but I'm afraid I bf so no experience with bottles.  Another thing to consider if he's taking a long time to feed would be something like a tongue tie - I don't know if anyone's checked him for that?  Some babies do like to feed little and often which might be a sign of reflux - anything ring a bell? Reflux 101 - General reflux information

Otherwise, the best way of encouraging full feeds is to make sure they are spaced an appropriate time apart so that he is hungry enough to take a good feed.  Avoiding feeding when he is really tired/sleepy (so falls asleep) can also help as he is awake enough to feed properly :)

With the naps - if it's working for you, then that's fine :)  Just make sure he gets enough feeds in the day z(typically 5 daytime feeds and a dream feed, +/- NFs) so he's not missing out on calories by being asleep.

Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2013, 05:09:57 am »
Hi Katherine thanks for your help. He does have approximately 5 feeds during the day including the DF and has approximately 22-24 oz per day, which for his weight and age are fine. I may consider moving to level 2 teats in another 10 days when he is exactly 3 months. He doesn't drag all his feeds.

So for the last 2 nights ive been giving him 3 oz at 5 am, which he has been having but this morning started stirring from around 6am so had to give him pacifier. In fact he had his DF of 4 oz at 1030 and he started stirring from 1215 am and then at 130 am.

Don't mind getting up for feeds except he stirs so much that drives me crazy! Not sure how to prevent the stirring

Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2013, 05:15:31 am »
Also didn't realize had made 2 similar posts! Clearly going a little crazy. Plus started going to work twice a week so was EXHAUSTED yesterday could barely stay awake to even watch my favorite show (CSI) I like to watch TV when I do the DF

We sleep anywhere b/w 1030-11 usually when DF is complete and its ok if DS wakes up at 5 but he stirs like crazy at night and we have to be up at 7 am so really not getting a good stretch of sleep. If he was stirring because he wanted to eat that would be okay but he just moves like crazy. Very difficult to function from 7am-1030pm with 5 hours sleep

Offline jessmum46

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2013, 11:10:44 am »
Some LOs are just noisy sleepers!  I know it's hard though - unfortunately being a mum seems to put you on 'hyper alert' for any noise so the days of a long restful night are over for a while..... ::). Obviously the SIDS recommendations are for LO to be in your room until the age of 6 months, but (just thinking off the top of my head) could you use some soft ear plugs to quieten a little of the shuffling/stirring noise?  But obviously would still be able to hear if LO needed you?  Other than that, take turns with DH sleeping in a different room?  And make sure you nap in the day when LO does?

Offline Erin M

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2013, 17:24:52 pm »
Also didn't realize had made 2 similar posts! Clearly going a little crazy.
That's ok.  :)

Could you shift the df a little earlier to get yourself a longer stretch of sleep at night?

Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2013, 05:07:10 am »
Thank you all for your help!

We had a much better day and night yesterday. He woke up a little earlier from his afternoon nap and napped in my arms for a bit then (we had gone to someones house for lunch)

Then the short catnap he takes around 645 he fell asleep quickly for 30 mins and i just kept him on me so I got a power nap. Luckily he fell asleep at night with no fuss by 815/820 pm usually it takes me an hour or so. Kept the routine the same so fingers crossed!

Did the DF at 1015 and he finished it within 15-20 minutes. Stirred only once at nnight at around 3ish then woke up on dot at 5 and gave him 3 oz then settled him in bed with a pacifier because his eyes seemed to be open! LOL and slept till 820! Woohoo so excited we made it 12 hours!

Thanks for your help, today is another day another challenge!

Offline Erin M

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2013, 01:37:51 am »
Awesome!

Offline tfuentes00

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2013, 03:04:48 am »
Maybe he needs more during the day.  My dd is 8 weeks and takes 5oz every 3 hrs.   Just a thought???
Tina



Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2013, 09:42:44 am »
The last 2 days I make him 3 oz at 5 am and he has only 2 oz then wakes up around 8ish and I like to give him 3 oz at that time.

He has a total of 22-24 oz in a day which the paed said is fine.

Offline tfuentes00

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2013, 13:25:34 pm »
Not trying to say your ped is wrong, please don't think that,  I've read several places to take weight in pounds, which would be 12.2 lbs and multiply by 2.5 which is 30 oz.  If he's not taking his feeds maybe the hole in the nipple needs to be bigger.  Maybe he's getting tired of sucking too hard.
Tina



Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2013, 06:36:04 am »
Perhaps! Going to try on level 2 teats today or tomorrow! Wish me luck!

This morning we woke up at 5 and had 2 oz then at 830 had 3 oz played until 1030ish then took a short nap of 20-25 mins woke up at 1110 had 3 oz now playing will try *fingers crossed* for another nap before massage and bath time!

Naps are our biggest challenge! We cry cry cry and finally if I get him to nap he wakes up when I put him down.

Offline jessmum46

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2013, 17:42:29 pm »
It sounds like he's very OT when you try for a nap honey - he can probably only manage 1h15-20 A time really at his age.  I'd try a bit earlier for your naps and you might have more success.

Offline tfuentes00

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #15 on: May 06, 2013, 21:18:50 pm »
After rereading your post again it sounds very similar to my lo,  we are finally getting on a good routine, and shes starting to do better with naps, she does wake around 3 or 4 but she doesnt have a df and bedtime is about 830.  I have noticed for her naps I have to time them and not go by signs, if I go by signs its too late and she fights more.  I give her about 1 hr or 1 hr 15 min max.  Anything over that and I struggle to get her down.   That's the thing I found has helped us.  Hopefully it'll get better soon for you.  Maybe once you get him to take full feeds it'll help with his sleeping.
Tina



Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #16 on: May 07, 2013, 07:23:24 am »
Yesterday and today I got him down for his morning nap around 9/930. Today I swaddled him and gave him pacifier in the hope he will sleep longer but was up within 30-40 minutes max and wanted to play. I reswaddled him put him in car seat and gave him pacifier so he looked around for quite a bit and I think managed to dose off too.

I try and catch him on the 1st or 2nd yawn but even then doesnt help

Offline jessmum46

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #17 on: May 07, 2013, 10:48:08 am »
Often by the time you see yawns it's already too late.  I would keep at least one eye on the clock and start winding down for a nap aiming to have LO asleep by about 1h15 even if you haven't seen any tired signs by that point :)

Offline tfuentes00

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #18 on: May 07, 2013, 12:44:11 pm »
If I wait for a yawn its too late and shell fight more to go down, I'd really watch the time and at about 1 hr 10 min after he's been awake, I do after she's started feeding, because she too doesn't always sleep the full time until its time to eat again, so ill start timing when she starts eating, she usually takes 30-40 min to eat so she is only not eating for about20-30 before she goes down again, does that make since?  I'm not sure if that's the way to do it, but I want her to know after she eats she can't go right to sleep.  And if she wakes up before its time for her to eat a lot of times she.wants to go right to sleep.  So for example, she gets up at 4 am and ill feed her 4 oz but I'm going to start decreasing bc I'm hoping she'll start going to 630.  Then at 630 ill wake her to feed her again, this is the start of the day,  then she'll go back down right away until 9-930 then ill feed her at 9-930 and shell stay awake between 10/1030 then ill start her nap routine.  And usually by about 5-10 of bouncing her her eyes are closed and rolling around, I. Will then put her in her crib and stand there for another 10-15 min depends on if she's squirming around, at first I would put my hand on her chest, she is swaddled, and shhh, but now I can just lay her down most of the time after her eyes have closed and they're rolling around. Then sometimes she'll sleep until 12 or after but sometimes shell only sleep until 11301145 and I wait to feed her if she ate at 930 that means she's up for an hour before she even eats then I time from 1230 about 10-15 min after finishing eating so technically she "up" for only 40-50 min, but since she was up so long before I reduce the time she is up after she eats, and the routine goes on until the rest of the day.  This may not be a good way but it is working good for us.  And also if she wakes up early from a nap I try and put her back to sleep if its not too close to the time she'll eat again.  When I go in there I pick her up and start bouncing her, a lot of times she gets her arms out of the swaddle so i reswaddle and bounce,  if I ever have to give her her paci to settle her I might as well forget it, bc all she does is spit it out when she is relaxed and its a constant battle of putting it back in, when this happens I usually bring her downstairs and put her in her swing to hopefully finish her nap, bc she's usually still tired and get fussy if she don't go back to sleep.  Sometimes she olny will get a 30-45 min nap at each nap but my thought is if I am constant then she will soon get on the routine, I know its not suppose to be a schedule , but i figure if i can get her body use to certain times to eat it will eventually stick, kind of like how we usually eat at the same times each day and if not our belly growl.  So I really time everything.  This may be frowned upon but its really what will work for you and everyones tips and tricks will help you get something that will work.  I'm using a combination of several things I've read that I like.  I hope this helps, I couldnt find much about what to do when they wake early other than put back to sleep but sometimes its not worth it bc its so close to time to eat again so I have made that decision myself. ;) hope it'll help and just be constant it'll get better.  Have you tried a different level nipple?
Tina



Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #19 on: May 09, 2013, 06:34:21 am »
Sorry didn't realize I haven't replied to a couple of people.

When he has a NF, when he wakes up (sooner than he should) he isn't hungry but is in a good mood, just pick him up for a bit then I let him play by himself for a bit while i do some stuff. he stirred from 4-445 then again at 6 when i brought him into bed because was too exhausted and then tried staying in bed till 740. DH and I are so tired from his stirring!

I don't mind the NF except he still wakes up early and when he wakes up its not because of hunger! Not sure what to do!

I tried giving 5 oz during DF last night he took 4.5 oz and previous night he took 5 so am trying to up the DF in order to also compensate for not giving the 2 oz at 5am

Offline amayzie

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #20 on: May 19, 2013, 02:16:58 am »
HOw are things going now?
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #21 on: May 19, 2013, 06:05:04 am »
Much better I think now that we have hit the 3 month mark! Give him NF at 5 am he generally has 3-4 oz. I try and extend his wake up time till 8 so that at 830 he has a full feed but sometimes he wakes up earlier.

His stirring has become much better although he sometimes stirs at 3/330.

Do you think the DF may be causing him to stir?

Offline Erin M

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #22 on: May 19, 2013, 19:09:29 pm »
Is he stirring and not waking, or stirring and waking.  The df can sometimes cause some unsettled sleep, but if he's not actually waking I wouldn't mess with it. 

Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #23 on: May 20, 2013, 08:11:03 am »
Just stirring! The first stir will be around 3ish! But as mentioned before babies are noisy sleepers, actually he doesn't stir every night but overall things are better!

Offline Erin M

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #24 on: May 21, 2013, 02:30:42 am »
Sometimes I found with mine that they'd stir for a bunch of nights when it used to be wakings -- and then the stirring went away too.  They really are very noisy sleepers!  Glad to hear that things are overall better!

Offline fairypk

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #25 on: May 24, 2013, 03:05:35 am »
Back to EW at 6am and then playing in cot. Yesterday managed to extend to 8 am but today couldn't its not 8 am and he is already yawning :S

Offline katie80

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Re: 11 weeks - DF and still waking up at night
« Reply #26 on: May 25, 2013, 03:31:28 am »
Locking this thread, so as to keep all advice in one place. Please continue to follow along and offer support here: 10 week old trying to do EASY but bored of milk