She falls asleep through EVERY bottle!

[Sicilian Mom]

I'm so frustrated!  My DD is 3.5 mos and she falls asleep through every bottle!  She takes so long to finish - up to an hour and 15 mins for 5 oz (every 3 hours)!  This could be related to her 1/2 hr naps that she takes and is still tired when she wakes up but that is for another board.  But she even falls asleep on her very first bottle after she wakes up in the morning!  She sleeps through the night and is wide awake in the morning until she gets the bottle in her mouth! Does anyone else have this problem?

[LŠuren]

Hi

Have you tried increasing the teat flow you are using?

Lauren

[carmkaylasmom]

i don't know about bottles, how about playing with her toes and tickling her?

[Sicilian Mom]

I have actually tried a bigger nipple yesterday but you would never know it.  She still fell asleep even though she was eating I had to keep waking her up and it took an hour for her to finish.  I have tried everything - cool washcloth, clothes off, tickling - she still falls back asleep.  Nothing keeps her awake.  I tried making her bottles cooler but that didn't work either.  Is she just not getting enough sleep?

Thanks for the suggestions though...

[LŠuren]

Can u post your routine for me and include amounts of formula she gets.

[Sicilian Mom]

Sure.  We have a loose EASY schedule.

8am-8:40 - 5oz
10am - nap
10:30 - awake
11am - 5oz
1pm - nap
1:30 - awake
2pm - 5oz
4pm - nap
4:30 - awake
5pm - 5-5 1/2 oz
7pm - nap
7:30 - awake
8pm - 5oz
between 8:30 - 9pm put down for bed
10:30 dreamfeed 2oz.
then sleeps through the night until about 7 or 8 am

I wish she would take longer naps because she wakes crabby and still tired.

Thanks again! 

[LŠuren]

Do you think the problem may be she is actually too tired for her bottles because her 'E' times are cutting into her sleep times

How long can she stay awake from from nap to nap ? it is difficult to tell fro the routine.
Does she also fall asleep at her first bottle? What time is her wake up?  Have you also thought about bringing her bedtime nearer to 7.30/8pm?

[Sicilian Mom]

Lauren,

Thanks so much for the help.  It could be that her E times are cutting into S times but she wakes up at the end of the bottle and thats when she has her A time.  She does fall asleep on her first bottle.  She usually can go 2-2 1/2 hrs between naps.  I would love to bring her bedtime early but not sure how to switch her routine.  Also afraid she will wake up around 4-5am ready for the day.

What do you suggest?

I was reading in another post that your DS wasn't eating very well.  Has he gotten better?  I hope so. 

[LŠuren]

Ami

Thanks for asking, things (drinking milk) are slightly better this afternoon, but still a battle for naps/bedtimes.

What time do you want to start your day? And I can post a 3hr routine that may help.

Lauren

[Sicilian Mom]

The start of the day somewhat depends on DD but usually around 8am.

Thanks.  Glad to hear things are a little better!

[LŠuren]

Ami
Here is a 3hr EASY starting at 8am, 2/2.5hr awake time between naps is a long time for a 3.5month old, do you think her short naps are due to being overtired before you put her down for a nap?  Have you done the get to know your baby quiz? https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=52283.0

E: 8:00
A: 8:30 - winddown would be part of your 'A' time
S: 9:30
E: 11:00
A: 11:30 - winddown would be part of your 'A' time
S: 12:30 
E: 14:00
A: 14:30 - winddown would be part of your 'A' time
S: 15:00 
E: 17:00
S: 17:30 - catnap (30 to 45mins)
E & A - 19:30 feed and bath or bath and feed or feed, bath and feed
S20:00
DF:between 22:00 & 23:00

To achieve an earlier bedtime you would need to start your day earlier and adjust your EASY routine accordingly. To get in track I suggest you wake her at 8am every morning if she is sleeping and start your day. If she wakes at 7am and you cannot get her back to sleep, just start the day at 7am and move EASY 1 hour backwards so her feed times would be 7/10/1/4/7/DF

HTH's

[gabriels mum]

Hi Ami

I can TOTALLY understand what you are going through!  My DS is 7.5months old, and until quite recently he was asleep through EVERY feed!  It would take me 1.15 hrs out of every 3 to get a mere 2-4ounces in, and I would literally have to squeeze the bottle into his mouth!

I cannot say I have the answer, as DS is the most terrible feeder, and is on approx 11ounces/day and is now not gaining weight!  But each feed does get quicker!


HOWEVER it really helped increasing the teat flow, as he continued to immediately fall asleep, but it took less time to get a feed in, as when he sucked, more went in!

Now, I wonder if he did not get enough S time!?  We are also on a very loose EASY routine, but he sleeps very well at night, so prob does not get this in the day?! (hence the falling asleep on the bottle thing!)

I wonder - was your DD jaundiced at birth? Did this last a long time? Did you breast feed for a time?  I ask because my DS was yes to these, and I wonder if he learnt to feed while asleep?

I would really recommend upping the teat flow, and also rubbing your DD under the chin and on the cheeks until she sucks no more.

Sorry you are going through this - I can REALLY understand!

Please let us know how you are getting on.

Gabriels Mum

[Sicilian Mom]

Cal's Mum -

Just a couple of questions. 

My DD can take up to an hour to eat.  How does that adjust the routine?

Also, she does not nap well.  Only about 1/2 hr to 45 mins.  I know that topic is for another board but an suggestions?

This is probably such a typical first-time mom question but how do I work in running errands and things that I have to do outside of my home.  To make matters even harder - I'm a single mom.

Again, thanks for taking the time to help me with this!   

Gabriels Mum -
Thanks for the support.  It's nice to have someone who understands how frustrating this can be.  My DD is soooo overtired I think but she fights sleep all the time.  She wasn't jaundice at birth and I only breastfeed her for about a month.  I have just upped her to a bigger nipple but that doesn't seem to change things.  Let me know if you find anything else that helps!  Thanks again! 

[LŠuren]

Ami

1. My DD can take up to an hour to eat.  How does that adjust the routine?

2. Also, she does not nap well.  Only about 1/2 hr to 45 mins.  I know that topic is for another board but an suggestions?

3. This is probably such a typical first-time mom question but how do I work in running errands and things that I have to do outside of my home. 

1. You would just have a shorter 'A' time, still put her down for wind down and sleep at the same times.

2. I still have 30mn naps here sometimes, so I am the LAST person to ask. If you post your routine, etc in the relevant sleep forum the excellent ladies there will help you further.

3. Here are some links for further ready on going out and about on EASy;
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=59094.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=52122.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=57592.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=48769.0


HTH's
Lauren