1. After his 1:30 (ish) feed we play for a bit and often he wants to fall asleep which is great. However I get him into his cot he wakes within 20 minutes screaming for a feed. I've tried giving him more but he won't take it at 1:30 (we introduced a formula feed here as I am trying to wean him off BF in the day). He will take about 6oz but then literally will not settle after this 20 minute cat nap without more milk. Which I give him either from a fresh bottle or from the breast for ease which makes the original bottle completely redundant. Should I reduce the A time here so he goes to bed full? He writhes around like a maniac too making everything that little bit more miserable.
Sorry, not really sure what's happening here. You could either post your full day EASY and I'll look at the times, see if anything stands out or you might prefer to post about his feeding on the BF board? I am pretty sure there are people who have mix fed on the BF board too.
2. He is not a fan of his cot. Never has been and our 'accidental parenting' did not help this as I or my DH just used to cradle him for his naps and pick him right up if he cried. He's only 12 weeks so still early for PUPD but any suggestions on how to settling him IN his cot? As soon as his bum hits the mattress he's awake and crying.... I've tried shush pat and have picked him up when he is actually crying - which is every time. I think he only mantra cries in the night when he wakes up at old feed times.
PUPD is really a last resort method so we always recommend shush/pat or adapted anyway, regardless of age.
If your LO is more used to rocking you could put a firm hand on him in the cot and do a rocking motion with your hand.
If you are picking up and putting him upright or kind of up to your shoulder you could instead begin to hold him horizontally so that he becomes accustomed to being soothed by you in that position which means when you put him down there are fewer changes in positioning.
You can also put down from this position and keep very firm hands on him in the cot as though you are still holding him - or even continue to hold but right down by the mattress, not the most comfortable position for you but it can help LO get the right view for the seven miles stare, the nodding, and then not be freaked out when they wake with that view point mid nap or in the night.
You can adapt and find things which work for you to help sooth him on the cot but really it is mostly a case of keep doing shush/pat (or adapted) and he will get it. The more consistent you are the easier he will understand and accept that he neds to nap in his cot.
You can play in his room and pop him in the cot in A time and play peek-a-boo, this can help with becoming more familiar with the environment and also the idea that you can go out of sight and return.
Certainly continue to pick up and sooth in arms if and when needed then back down into the cot to continue to sooth there.
