Hi,
My DD has just gotten over the flu and hopefully her 6 month growth spurt, which lasted about 3-4 days. Whislt ill I fed her every 2-3 hours during the day. and twice at night when she woke (she is EBF). Now I am suffering the consequences of my actions. She falls asleep independantly for naps and nighttime, we have a winddown ritul and bathtime routine. Her naps are about 1 1/2 - 2 hours each.
here's todays routine: (usually change and adapt to wake up times)
5am wake & bf 20mins - straight back to sleep (treat it as a nightwaking - no play just feed)
7am wake & play with dad
E - 8am bf 20mins
A
S - 9 - 11:00 (mostly 2 hours sometimes 1 1/2 hours)
E - 11:50 bf 30 min
A
S - 13:05 - 14:45
A
E - 16:16 bf 30 min
18:30 Bathtime routine
E - 18:50 bf 25 min
S - 19:30
She has basically moved herself to a 4 hour routine, no real effort on my part. She has hit developemental milestones: rolling front to back and vice versa. and can almost sit un-aided. I think she is teething, still has snotty nose, gums red, I am sure I can see teeth under gums - really enjoys biting her teething rings and fingers, her stools which are normally about 3-4 good ones a day, have now for the past 2 days been about 1-2 good ones or much less than before, she has recently had nightwakings too. Her awake times are usually 2 hours.
I wanted to start solids at 6 months but due to her flu (which I hope is over) and snotty nose (which may be due to teething) I have waited so as not to create further problems - reactions to introducing food types etc.
My Questions
1. How do I eliminate the 5am wake & feed? I have been thinking of w2s but havent tried with this waking yet as I dont do df and thought she may really be hungry as her feed is 20min (I do usually cluster feed - but 4 hour easy has kinda changed this)
2. I seem to be feeding at least an hour after she is awake - how do I get the feeds to coincide with her wake from sleep? - as I seem to feed sometimes too close to her sleep
3. She has been having nightwakings but erratic ones - possibly growth spurt related - and I treated them as such - am I correct in doing this - feeding?
4. Due to her getting more aware of her surroundings I now have to feed her lying down on a bed in a dark room - she drinks more this way and is much more relaxed - although her nose does get stuffy - if I hold her whilst sitting she tends to bite and pull. Not very pleasant as her gums are getting stronger? Any suggestions?
5. Due to her flu and increased feeding my breasts are fuller (in the am) where before I would double side feed, now in the morning I only need to single side feed - if she still hungry I do offer the other side even if it is for another 10 minutes or so, could this cause problems???
6. And finally the night wakings or early monring wakings should I say, which are erratic (sometimes 2, 4, 4:30 am) except for the 5am wake and feed, which she has always done
7. Is she ready for 3 - 2 naps or do I shorten the second nap to 1 hour and make a catnap between 16:00-17:00 - which we used to have, but the past 2 days these have been lost??? cant seem to get her tired enough for this nap but yet come bathtime and she is very tired, no crying just fussy
I have Tracys first 2 books (only got them recently and love them) Just need some advice from the ladies as I feel I am not quite sure where to start and how to even out our easy, or whether she is teething or not, just really confused at the moment. I guess I cant really complain - she falls asleep independantly and moved herself to 4 hour easy - its just the kinks that need ironing out, I feel I am all over the show - sometimes feeds are closer, sometimes she would nap longer - but I try to not let her nap longer than 2 hours during the day. If you need more info let me know I would be happy if I have left something out.
Please some guidance/suggestions/advice would really be appreciated.
Robyn
