Why does he wake up crying? Almost 9mo several NW-learnt hunger?

[N_Mom_S]

Hi! I'd really appreciate any thoughts anyone has about my LO's night wakings! He's past the growth spurt but his NW seem to be getting worse and worse Last night he woke up 5 times. He's almost 9mo and as you can imagine we're quite tired and can't figure out what to do! When he's very tired he goes down independently, but if he cries we usually lay our hand on his back and he goes to sleep. In any case, we're always in the room when he falls asleep, and we sleep in the same room. I should also mention that we've had some hot nights and that may be affecting his sleep.

Here are his past few days, in case anyone can spot anything!

WU 8:05
E 8:50, 11:30
A 3H40
S 11:45-1:55 (2H10)
E 2:00, 4:00
A 3H50
S 5:45-6:10 (25M)
E 8:10
A 3H05
BT 9:15

NW 10:50 (hand), E 1:20, 4:20 (water, rock), E 5:20


WU 9:00
E 9:10, 12:30
A 3H35
S 12:35-2:45 (2H10)
E 3:30
A 3H35
S 6:20-6:55 (35M)
E 8:40
A 2H35
BT  9:30

NW 00:30 (water), E 1:30, E 5:20


WU 8:30
E 9:10, 12:00
A 3H35
S 12:05-2:35 (2H30)
E 3:10
A 3H20
S 5:55-6:30 (35M)
E 6:35, 8:40
A 2H50
BT 9:20

NW 11:50 (hand), 00:30 (water, arms), E 2:15, E 4:15, 6:40 arms


WU 7:45
E 8:55, 11:30
A 4H35 (happy! )
S 12:20-2:30 (2H10)
E 3:10
A 3H10
S 5:40-6:15 (35M)
E 6:20, 8:50
A 3H15
BT 9:30

NW 00:00 (water, arms, it didn't work so I fed him at 00:30), E 4:00


WU 7:30
E 8:30, 11:45
A 4H50 
S 12:20-2:30 (2H10)
E 3:00
A 3H15
S 5:45-6:15 (30M)
E 6:35, 8:35
A 3H30
BT 9:45

NW 00:40 (hand), E 1:20, 4:15 (water, arms), E 6:30, EW (happy) 7:15, we left him in the crib and he started crying at around 7:45 and then he fell asleep again, until 9:30am.


I'd really really like to wean him at night, I don't know if that would help or not. He used to nurse 4 times a day and I increased it to 6, without much impact on his NW, so I'm doing 5 now. At some point we had only 1 NW, but that only lasted for 3 or 4 days All those E's are breastfeeding, with 3 solid meals a day.


My husband suggested feeding him twice at specific times instead of waiting for him to wake up and associate the breast with comfort, does that sound OK? For example at 11:30 and (hopefully) 4am. That is, if it's not a routine or OT issue.


Thanks in advance!!! 

[N_Mom_S]

I forgot to mention that he only wakes up crying the first part of the night, the other wakings are quite more relaxed.

[lolsyb1982]

Hi your routine looks good and is almost the same as my DD's who is the same age.

Your last A could be a touch too long after the cn and could be causing the midnight waking as he's OT.
There is a sleep regression which occurs around the 9 month mark so if it's not routine it could well be developmental. Have you tried medicating in case it's teeth?
There is a GS around the 9 month mark too so could be hunger. Has he always had a couple of NF? Does he take full feeds?

[N_Mom_S]

Hi! Thanks for your reply!

I'll try an earlier BT, although we usually follow his cues and try not to put him down too early either, but I was wondering the same thing.
I didn't know about the sleep regression at this age! He's been teething lately but it's past, and the wakings continue. He's also past the GS, he usually has them a bit early. He had one NF at some point for some days but in general it's usually been 2, and he always takes a full feed in the first one and usually in the second one too, but not always.

[N_Mom_S]

Last night I dreamfed at 11:30 and he woke up at 3:15 and I fed him, but then he woke up early (7:05am, anything before 8am is early for him) probably due to hunger.

[lolsyb1982]

This post is now locked and help is continued on the nap thread if anyone is following

8mo - can I start to get ready for 2 to 1 transition?

Thanks