Help with log I've kept

[mrsmynub]

Someone please look at the log I have kept and tell me what I am doing wrong.  My ds has gone 3-5 hours in the day without napping, and you can see the erratic schedule at night.  Keep in mind, he is teething.  Please help.  THanks!

Baby Log

Day 1

Dreamfeed   11PM       4oz
Wake      1:30AM    2oz
Wake      6:45AM
Feed      7:15AM    6oz
Nap       8:45AM
Wake      9:45AM
Feed      11AM       5oz plus Avocado
Nap      11:45AM
(Woke at    12:25PM but put back to sleep)
Wake      1:45PM
Feed      3:20PM    6oz
Feed      5PM       4oz
Nap      5:15PM
Wake      5:45PM
Feed      7PM      6 ½ oz
Sleep      7:30PM

Day 2

Dreamfeed    11PM      2 ½ oz
Wake      1:30AM
Wake      3:30AM   2oz
Wake      6:15AM
Feed      8AM      5oz
Nap      8:20AM
Wake      10:30AM
Feed      12PM      5oz + Avocado
Nap      1:30PM
Wake      2PM
Feed      3:30PM   7oz
Nap      4:30PM
Wake      5:40PM
Feed      7PM      7oz
Sleep      8PM
Wake/Feed   10:30PM   2oz

Day 3

No dreamfeed
Wake      1AM
Wake/feed   3:30AM   4oz
Wake      5:30AM
Wake      6:20AM
Feed      8:30AM   4 ½ oz
Nap      8:45AM
Wake      10:45AM
Feed      12:30PM   7 oz + Avocado
Nap      1:30PM
Wake      2:40PM
Feed      4:15PM   5oz
Nap      4:45PM
Wake      5:45PM
Feed      6:15PM   2oz
Sleep      8PM


Day 4

Wouldn’t take dreamfeed
Wake /feed   1AM          3oz
Wake       4:30AM
Feed      6:15AM      5oz
Nap      6:15AM
Wake      8:45AM
Feed      10AM         7oz
Nap      11AM
Wake      12:50PM
Feed      1:50PM      7oz
Feed      4:30PM      4oz

[clare076]

OK, bear in mind I am definately no expert, and are having some small issues myself at the moment, but I will give you my opinion.

Firstly,Is this a new problem you are having, or has this been the schedule for a while?

 I would say LO does not need that feed at 1.00/1.30am looks more like a habit wake then a hunger wake, a 4 month old should be able to go longer than 2.5 hours without a feed, unless having a growth spurt. Try wake to sleep at that wake up for a few days to break the habit.

How long has LO been having solids for? Is it possible the solids are upsetting his tummy? I know when I tried solids with my DD we had some horrendous nights, once I stopped them we went back to normal.

I would also say the frequent night wakings could be due to frequent short naps during the day. You really need to work on getting DS to have  2 good sleeps (1.5 to 2 hours) and one short catnap (40mins) late afternoon.

Feeding seems to be very erratic. I am not sure what is happening late afternoons, are you trying to cluster feed? I would probably stop this now also and concentrate on the dreamfeed instead.

Sorry if I have not been any help, I am only going on my experience with my darling LO.  Hopefully someone with extra knowledge can help more

Clare

[mrsmynub]

This schedule has come about in the two weeks - while he's been teething.  I think you're right about waking to sleep, which I will start tonight.  His stomach hasn't been bothering him.  He has been on solids for almost a month and has tolerated everything well.  He doesn't really have short naps.  I mean, he usually does a 1-2 hour one in the morning and then again in the afternoon with the cartnap close to dinner.  He himself has been cluster feeding as he is hungry.  So, I'm not sure how to stop that as he will scream that he is hungry.

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

Okay I think we will see a big difference when we get rid of the night wakenings. Here are a few thoughts/ ideas. Gage was a chronic night owl (sometimes still is) so I have played around with many ideas.


1. What does your lo do when he wakes? Are you sure he is fully awake? Gage will often make noises that sound like he is awake but he is not. Or he will wake briefly and put himself back to sleep within 5 or so minutes. If this is the case with your lo then you may be reinforcing his wakeing by getting him up.

2. He doesnt seem all that hungry during his night feeds or dream feeds. I was feeding Gage every time he woke so his tummy got used to being "topped off" and as a result would wake when it was getting lower. When he started eating more and on a consitent schedule suring the day this went away.

3. Although your A time seems reasonable for his age ( 4 mths right?), could your lo need a small increase? Gage woke at all hours because he was not cumulatively tired enough to sleep through. How is los during A time? When does he start to get tired? He should be awake for about 2 hrs. Does this timing feel right? The days where he is up for 3 hrs is probably too long. The more consistent you are with the amounts of time the more a "time"schedule with start to emerge.

4. If your lo is not taking in enough he will wake to be get food at night (I know... obviously). If you think he is genuinly hungry then you need to bump up his formula intake by getting a larger nipple, giving him a 5-10 min break in between, feeding watered down formula at night, and/or gradually reduce the amount over time. We struggled with this as well. He was not eating as much during the day because he was having a feast at night. So to gradually get him back on track I fed him a whole real bottle before 3am and after that is was watered down (2 scoops per 6 oz of water). I also cluster fed before bed.

5. How often are you feeding solids and how much? Could this before bed be keeping him awake?

6. As far as teething goes what are doing for pain? I dont know where you live, but here in the US we have teething tablets that everyone raves about. If you need more info on this let me know. Are these wakenings just start with the teething or has it been going on for sometime now? If it is teeth then you may just have to ride it out.

Just some thoughts. I willl keep thinking and will post if I come up with something else. 

HTH
Alice

[mrsmynub]

1.  When he wakes - say at the 1am time that I logged, he is still very sleepy, but almost rousing.  I would go in, and gently put him back to sleep.  Last night, I woke to sleep, and he then woke at 2am WIDE AWAKE and didn't go back down until 3:30AM.

2.  I think that I will be doing without the dreamfeed as well as middle of the night feeds, because I realize that it isn't helping.

3.  My lo has at least 2 hours of A time.  In fact, the problem for me has been reading his new cues as to when he is tired.  I think finally today, I realized that he rubs his eyes and starts to whine a bit.  Then I can hold him for a minute or two while rubbing his back, and then put him in his crib and he falls asleep on his own. At least, that's what I'm hoping as it worked for both of his naps so far today.

4. I don't really know how to "make" him eat.  I do no feed him solids, however, past 2PM.

5.  I only give my ds Tylenol when he is really in pain.  I will be taking him to the dr and will ask about the teething tablets then.

Thanks for your help!

Just not sure what to do about the wake to sleep now.  Do I still do it again tonight at 12pm?

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

you know I have never tried wake to sleep as I was too afraid. You could keep trying it for another couple of nights and see if it works. Sometimes new things take a little while. Also, are you just waking him a little or is he fully waking up? I think with wake to sleep you should only rouse him a touch, but you could go to the night or general sleep forum for more info.

If your lo is not fully awake I would try not to interfere until he needs you. I dont wait for a full cry, but I do wait until I hear a "come in here" yell for several minutes. Gage woke last night 2 times and I thought he was awake, but he wasnt. I heard him and laid there listening and praying for him to go back to sleep and he did. They are tricky little people

Looking back at your log, I think your lo 's last nap may be too long. I would just keep this no more than 45 min, that way he is tired enough for the night. I would also make sure he has a full A time before bed, but dont be afraid to put him to bed early until he adjusts.Try that to see if that helps.

[mrsmynub]

You're right - I was feeding to sleep, but now that has changed.  He doesn't feed to sleep anymore....he stopped that himself.

[mrsmynub]

He goes in drowsy and goes to sleep on his own.  It's just the middle of the night thing I can't figure out.  He won't put himself back to sleep in the middle of the night. I bring him in his room, shush/pat while holding him and then as soon as his eyes get heavy, then I put him down.

[mrsmynub]

So should I forget the "wake to sleep" tonight?

[mrsmynub]

I noticed that he was waking at 1 or 1:30 for a few nights.  I didn't read anything about diluting the bottle.  I guess I could try that.  He won't drink water, so I think in the middle of the night that would be worse.