40 minute nap.... Don't know what to do?!?

[lauradj]

Do you have Bio Gaia?  It's a probiotic.  We give that to DS2 because he's on a soy-based formula, due to his possible CMPA, and it works like a charm!

[BobbysMummy]

Hi ladies

Jut thought I would let you know how today has gone...

My DH always does morning feed and this morning had to battle with DS to even get him to put his mouth around the bottle... So he decided to give him one of the Aptamil ready made bottles, of which DS took 3oz.

I then put him down for his morning nap, in the usual manor, expecting the usual 40 mins.... But got an hour and a half!! I couldn't believe it!! So we've kept him on the ready made stuff all day and I must say he seems sooo much happier!! He slept for 2 hours this afternoon! He hasn't done a poo yet though. So will see how that goes!

We're at the doctors in half an hour, so will see what he says but he isn't very clued up with kids. So I am going to ask to see a specialist for a second opinion anyway. I think they will put us on a cows milk intolerant milk.

What do you think this suggests, if he seems better on the ready made milk?

Will start an easy tomorrow now that he's done so well today! He's 4 months this week, so think a 3.5/4 hour feeding routine with a 2 hour awake time... What do you all think?

Thank you again for your reassurance and support

[lauradj]

Wonderful news!!!  Do you mean the formula is pre-mixed?  Whatever works, no need to be fussy! 
With regards to A times, it's up to you.  I'd probably start with a 3.5hr EASY, to see how he does, and then push to the full 4 hrs if he's doing well.  If you do the 3.5 hr EASY, his A time will be 1hr 30/45ish.  If you decide to go with the 4hr EASY straight off, just remember to give it a solid week for him to get used to the new routine. 

[weaver]

Lots of milk in there!  Mysterious! but great that it works

[Mslmk11]

Our DS is only 6 weeks, but I think he has reflux too, and he's mostly doing 45 minute naps during the day. I'm trying to pay more attention to what he's doing before, to see if it's too much activity and he's over stimulated. I know the BW books say the short naps can be either from being OT, or OS, so that may be something to consider. She also says that if he's eating small amounts, he may not have the energy needed for a full A, so maybe when you are putting him down, he's expended too much energy since he didn't eat that much at 7:30.

I'm new to the forum, but recently reread the BW books to refresh myself, and just from what I'm doing with my LO. Sometimes I notice that he'll sleep through, or at least will allow me to help him transition if he does wake up.

Good luck! We share your frustrations!

[weaver]

Hi Mslmk11, welcome to BW and congrats on your little boy! 

Do you know we have a dedicated Colic and Reflux board?  I'm attaching the link below with some more information.  Hope that helps.  And if you want to start your own thread, on any of the boards, please do it's the best way of getting an answer if you have a specific question (or even just a generalised niggle).

Colic, Reflux, & Crying

Reflux 101 - General reflux information

[BobbysMummy]

Hi all

I've been away for a few weeks trying to get my lo sorted with medication etc, it's been a nightmare. He's still on only gaviscon and lactalose, but we are seeing a specialist in a few weeks so hopefully they will be more useful! In all fairness I think his reflux is improving slightly!

So, I was wondering if I could pick all your brains to try and find an EASY that is suitable for my lo? He's still 40 min napping, with maybe the odd hour nap here and there. He still naps for longer in my arms if I let him... But he's getting pretty big and I really can't be doing this every afternoon like I am at the moment 😪 he's 18 weeks now.

So this is roughly what our days/night looks like at the moment:

Awake - 6-6.30am
E - 6.30 (only takes between 1-3oz, even when he has gone the night without a feed)
S - 7.45 (if woke at 6)
Awake - 8.25
E - 9.30 (trying to do 3.5 hour feeds but this one is usually earlier as he doesn't feed well at first feed)
S - 10.30
Awake - 11.10
E - 1.00
S - 2ish (usually has 1.30 mins in my arms)
E - 4.30
A
Bed time routine starts 6pm
E - 6.30
S - 7.00
E - between 2-5 (has gone through a couple of times)

What do you think?

[deb]

I think it's worth a try!

Questions: will he tummy sleep? Some reflux babies are more comfortable that way - of course you as a parent have to be comfortable with it too, but by now he's likely strong enough to easily move his head.

Also, is he getting plenty of tummy time? That actually seemed to help wear mine out when she was small (although in retrospect I didn't give DD1 nearly enough)

Is he still on the ready-made milk?

[BobbysMummy]

Hi Deb

In all honesty I've never tried him tummy sleeping, i could maybe try for his first nap tomorrow. He had a very strong neck now and can easily move his head so I wouldn't feel too bad about it... I will be watching the monitor.

He maybe isn't having enough tummy time in the day, he has maybe 5 mins in between every nap. Do you think he isn't tired enough that's why he is only sleeping 40mins still?

We're still on the ready made milk yes, I know this sounds awful but I kind of gave up with my doctor... He just didn't seem like he wanted to know. Plus lo seemed to get a bit better so I thought I can hang on maybe another 2 weeks like this until we see the specialist. Lo doesn't seem too unhappy anymore.

[deb]

Hard to say if he's "tired enough," but tummy time is good stuff AND it wore out mine (as does swimming, FWIW), so I thought I'd throw it out there as a possibility. Takes a lot of work to activate and control those muscles!

[BobbysMummy]

Do you think his EASASE kind of routine looks ok at the moment? I would love to try and get him to have a longer nap, he has been so tired today!!!

[deb]

It's a lot more consistent than anything I got out of DD2 for the first two years of her life. It was a good thing #1 prepared me for "Fake It Till You Make It!" LOL

[BobbysMummy]

He's been taking a few 1.5 hour naps for his first nap of the day the last few days, but still 40 mins for all other naps. I don't know if his first nap is longer because he has started waking earlier at 5.30am 😩😩😩 so I don't know if that's actually a nap or extension of his night sleep?! It is after a 2hour A time! Laura has suggested increasing his A time in the day to 2.5 hours to maybe increase nap lengths and stop the early wake... I think it's possible for all A times but not his first! By 2hrs A time for his first A he is really cranky and ready for bed. Any thoughts?

[deb]

You can always try expanding the 2nd A time by a few minutes at a time and see what happens.