Hi there
My lo is 9 months & 2 weeks. Has been on EASY for about 2 months. He was breastfed to sleep until then and feeding on & off all night as well as frequently co-sleeping. Got desperate and had a maternity nurse come for 2 nights and help us teach him to fall asleep in his crib alone. There was a lot of crying the first couple of nights even with her reassurance technique ( consisted of going in v. frequently - c. every minute - and using cue words.) After c. 1 week he was sleeping through most nights, occasionally needing just a pat. Now I give him a formula bottle at 7pm and top-up of breast feed as he refuses bottle after c. 3-4ozs. About 1 month ago he got a bad virus with v. high temperature and then 1 week ago turned out that what I thought was a cold was chicken pox. The fever made me worry about de-hydration so I was back to breastfeeding him at nightwaking as he would not take water. I had tried to phase this out, but then he got this chicken pox plus he's teething too.
(poor thing) Anyway I have intermittently been giving Calpol( paracetamol) and teething powders. I worry about drugging him to sleep every night.
He is now waking on average twice after I go to bed (and sometimes twice before) c. 12pm and again at 3 or 4am, then waking early generally at 5am - 5.45. And then falling asleep again at 8.30am. I have been giving Calpol at first waking but not at 2nd. On waking he screams escalating to a desperate pitch unless I pick him up. He is usually v. sleepy and tries to settle in my arms but cannot get comfy and so sets off again. Also screams if I try to put him down. the only thing that quiets him is breast feed. I don't think it's hunger, just comfort. I am worried this is setting up accid. bad parenting habits but am worried about doing PU/PD as he is not better yet. What do you think? Please help.
His usual routine is
wake at c 6.30am
E 7am breastfeed
8am breakfast porridge/cereal/fruit or toast
A play
S c. 9.15-9.30am naps for up to 1.5 hours but since this ill phase can be 2.5 hours
Y recently I have been trying to catch up on sleep as the waking phase is Lasting about 1hr each time
E 11am breastfeed
A play or outing
E 12.30 Lunch - solids
A play
S 2pm
Y marvellous to get the washing up done!!
E 3-3.30pm breastfeed
A outing or play
E 5.30pm supper (solids)
A play, then bath 6.30pm
E c.7pm bottle and breast feed top-up
S c. 7.15pm usually goes down well
Last two nights he has woken at 12.30am -1.30am and again at 2.30-3.30am and eventually I have caved in and breastfed to sleep
He then wakes c. 5am. DH has taken him until 7am when I fed him as normal timings but he has fallen asleep again for a further 2 hours. so I have skipped any later nap until after lunch. Could I be feeding him too much or is he sleeping too long? Any suggestions appreciated.
Rosa
