7 month old night wakings

[Haydensmom]

Hoping I can share my problem and get a little help.  I'm not sure if I should post this here or in Eat- but it is a sleep problem.

My 7 month old son was breastfed until about 1 month ago.  At about 4 months I started giving him formula at night as he started to use me as a sleep prop.  This helped and we were down to only a DF and a 4-5am feed.  This was perfect for us.  Well my spirited son decided to stop BFing- he absolutely refused to.   So we switched to bottles.  He's refusing this now too.  He eats solids great but only takes about 12oz during the day.  BUT- he takes bottles great at night and seems to be making up for his daytime lack of formula at night.  He takes about 4oz at bedtime- occasionally another 4oz 30-60mins after bedtime- 10:30 DF(4oz), and he's been waking at 12 for a bottle, but I've been just resettling him and not letting him have one- but he wakes at 2-3am and screams his head off until I cave and give him a bottle.  But instead of taking his normal 4oz (the stinker NEVER takes more) he's been taking only 2-3oz.  He's getting way too old for all this night waking.  This week has been really bad too, he's been averaging 4-5 night wakes.  I refuse to give him a bottle before 2 so if he wants one before I'm constantly resettling him- it works but he's up in 45-60mins again.  He also has a consistent 5am wake, but he resettles and sleeps for another hour to hour and a half.  I would try PU/PD at his 2-3am wake- but my spirited baby HATES it.  He gets really mad and wakes up even more.  I need a solution to these night wakes.  I long for just one night of sleep.  If I could get some suggestions I would really appreciate it.  I'll post my routine as well if that helps.

6:00-6:30 wake
(I start offering bottle upon wake, but he won't take it until 7:30-8:00- and even thats a battle)
8:30 breakfast (cereal & fruit)
9:00 nap (usually 1 1/2-2hrs)
(again fight to give him bottle- usually won't take)
12:30-1:00 lunch (fruit & yogurt, tofu)
2:00 nap (usually 1hr)
3:00 bottle- he's pretty good about taking this one
5:30 dinner (lentil soup- veggies- fruit)
7:00 bath, massage
7:30 bottle
8:00 bedtime

I should add that the last few weeks he's been bad about his afternoon naps- and has been in need of a 4:30 catnap usually for about 30-40mins.  He doesn't take a catnap on good nap days though.

[meenaljain]

I hear you
Wish you good luck as I am also going through the same problem of night wakings.

[Colin Macs Mom]

I must admit I'm a bit stumped about the possiblities here, but I have some thoughts....

Does your DS have reflux, or any other physical thing going on? Taking 4 oz or less is pretty unusual for a 7 mo, that's definitely a snacking indicator. That in turn makes me think that maybe he's ready to drop a bottle - my DS dropped one about 7.5 mo. BUT, if he's only getting about 12 oz during the day then that can't possibly be it. At 7 mo he needs to be getting more than 12 oz in a day. Have you tried mixing formula or BM in with his solids?

I think the wakings are most likely related to the eating, but here's another question - has he always needed less sleep than the average lo? 2 - 2.5 hrs during the day and 10 hours at night is quite a bit less than normal.

[Haydensmom]

No reflux or anything like that.  I was thinking maybe he was having a problem with lactose intolerance (I do and most of my family too) so I am starting him on lactose free formula tonight.  You would think its snacking- only taking 4 oz- but no matter what I do to try and get him to take more he won't- from making him wait longer- cutting down on solids- skipping solids- Nothing. I do mix formula with his solids- but still its not enough for what he should be getting.

Sleep has always been a challenge for us. He was doing the 30 min nap thing for awhile- but we've finally conquered that.  I've tried to move his bedtime to 7- but with every 15 mins that I move it up- he wakes up earlier- and is super grumpy in the morning.  And then he wants a nap within  1 1/2 hrs of waking in the morning.  I guess I could start trying for earlier bedtime again.  And maybe I could do something to conquer the early wakings.  I've heard that a shorter am nap might help that.  But I still don't even know how to start fixing our nights.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Ah, so a possible lactose intolerance... let me know how the new formula goes. I wonder if he will take a normal feeding if that's been the problem? Truthfully, I wouldn't try too hard on fixing the nights until you get the eating straightened out. Those two issues are surely related, at least in part.

[meenaljain]

My husband is Lactose intolerant too and my son is a big Gassy boy(if thats a word). I think I should also try lactose free solution for him for a while and see if it changes anything, because we have tried reflux medicine for a month and hasnt had any difference. Since he is breastfed only, I will try to remove all milk and soy products from my diet It will be a real challenge but its all worth it if he can sleep better.

Good luck to you as well, let me know if it did make a difference, probably that will motivate me.