8mnth old DS2 waking in night more than ever....can you help?????

[robin3]

DS2 has never slept through consistently from the 1030pm top-up feed.

I've been waiting really until he was well established on solids as I'm pretty sure this was when DS1 started to sleep through. Anyway, things are getting worse!

He's having enough formula each day (around 20oz) and three meals a day which he gobbles up willingly. Good combination of protein, carbohydrate and fruit/veg.

The last few weeks he's been waking for his 10.30pm feed, then again at 2ish and again at 4-5 ish! Each time downing 6oz milk. After his dinner he's not that keen on having his last bottle before bed so last night we fed him dinner a little earlier and then he had his bottle at 6.30pm but woke again at 10.30pm then 12.30am then 4.30am!!!!

I have no idea what's going on....so tired I can't see the wood for the trees really. He settles fine at bed time after his bath, and re-settles quickly after each nightime feed.

Am I being unrealistic and should I just keep feeding him through the night?
What are the alternatives? Bear in mind we have a 3 year old who can hear him crying so not keep to leave DS2 to cry for longer than it takes to get a bottle ready. Will he simply grow out of this? He's so active during the day maybe he just needs loads and loads of milk and solids???

All thoughts welcomed.

[bigcar]

Any chance ds is teething? My dd3 has woken consistently at night with each shiny new tooth! Just a thought

[robin3]

Pretty sure he's not...no red cheeks, no dribbling, not tearful etc.

[bigcar]

Sorry, really dont dont know what to suggest, have you tried upping his solids to see if that has any effect, may be hes just hungry?

[detoxdiva]

8 months was the time my dd started waking at night again - often twice and as dh was away, I just took her into bed with me. She wasn't having anything to drink at night after her 6.30pm milk so she wasn't hungry, but she just went through this completely unsettled time.

After a month or so I went down the cc route - appreciate it has it's critics on here. but it worked within the week for us, and dd now sleeps through all night.

I've read a lot on here about other mums who have had otherwise good sleeping babies go through this waking phase at about this age - don't know why though.

I hope someone comes along with more advice for you, I remember how exhausting it was. Good Luck.

[mears]

What time is his bedtime feed normally? 6.30pm seems kind of early. I would give him his dinner about 5.30 - 6pm. Bath him an hour later then bottle and bed. I wouldn't wake him for another feed and see what happens.

[robin3]

Thanks everyone...

Don't think he could take any more solids...we keep going breakfast, lunch and dinner until he stops opening his mouth. Usually having a typical baby bowl breakfast (unless he's stuffed from all the nightime milk), another baby bowl of puree at lunch followed by half a bowl of pudding and the same at dinner.

He does have his dinner at 5 (with water) and then his last bottle before bedtime at 6.30pm.

My doula called to see how we were and she has suggested changing formula for Aptimel 2. Maybe that will help and bizzarely I hadn't thought of that! The thing is if he was just waking and having a couple of oz per feed I'd say he's not hungry but last night he drank 9oz and 10.30pm, 7oz at 12.30am and 4oz at 4.30am and would have drunk more if I'd let him.

I suspect that this is all bottom wind related...sometimes he has fearful wind and it really wakes him up! All those fruit/veg/lentils etc.

Really really hoping to avoid CC. I'm such a wimp I know.

[mears]

Maybe just keep Aptimal 2 for bedtime - second stage milk can cause constpation.