Ok I am posting again, thought the 2 days in a row of night waking at 6 months was a growth spurt...maybe it was. But now LO is 7 months and has been waking up 6 out of the last 7 nights, only once a night and its at random times, eg : 4AM, 4:45Am, 2:30, 2:45, etc. No wakings before midnight and I know she is not overtired. She does take the boob if offered, and will nurse like she's hungry. But why all of a sudden at 7 months does she need early AM feeds? I try to offer her the boob every 3-3.5 hours during the day to get more milk in then, but she doesn't always take it or nurses poorly. Here are the things that I think could be the culprit:
* In the past month she has learned how to pull to standing, sit & crawl (whew!)
* Just started on solids at 6 months, but gas doesn't seem to be an issue
* Two bottom teeth coming through the gums
OK so that's a little of what has been going on, and here's her schedule (roughly):
7AM BF/Diaper change etc
8 AM breakfast (cereal & veg or fruit)
9/9:30 Nap (sometimes 1.5 hrs but usually 45 min)
10AM Wake & Activity
11AM BF
12:30/1:30 Nap (depends on her mood & first nap length)
2:00/2:30 Wake & Activity
3PM BF
4:30 Cat Nap
5PM Wake & Activity (nothing too stimulating)
6 PM BF & then Dinner (cereal & veg)
6:30 Bath
7 PM Bed
2:24/4Am Wake for feed
This has been a loose schedule (with in a half hour or so) in the past week. She then wakes anywhere from 2:30Am to 5Am for a feed and then it's back to sleep with no problems. She does wake up crying at these times and she is sitting up and her lovey is sometimes across the crib, but if I give it to her and try to get her back to sleep by patting, she screams louder and will only go back to sleep after a feed. I guess this is normal, but not for me! She hasn't woken regularly like this since 7 weeks old. She self soothes (sucks her thumb) and has her lovey which keeps her company. Ok so here is my question, could it be that she can't find her lovely at night? Should I try a night light? MAybe it's her teeth and then only wants the boob for comfort? MAybe it's learnig to sit and then freaks out because she is sitting up and doesn't know what to do? Although she is pretty good at getting up and down, so not sure about that one. Or could it be separation anxiety? I Am puzzled and tired! I'm not sure how to handle this, but don't want to create a bad habit of night waking. I have also tried cutting back on solids, so that she gets more milk during the day. Right now I feed her about 1-2 TBSP of veg and about 1/4 cup cereal 2x a day (morning and evening). Any advice or insight would be great....maybe I've just been spoiled for so long with a baby who doesn't need a night feed....HELP!
Thanks for reading!
Sarah
Mom to Bella 7 months (Nov 30, 2005)