Help - how do I stop bf 7 1/2 mth old waking two or three times a night???

[MelissaM]

DD is now 7 1/2 mths. She is bf and was previously sleeping through from 7 to 7 (until just before solids introduced at 6 mths). When solids introduced started sleeping through again after a few days, then started waking early hours and filling her nappy. She then settled back to sleeping through for a couple more weeks and now is back to waking two or three times (sometimes more) every night.

Last night she had a full bf at 2.15am then woke again at 5am. Changed her very wet nappy and gave her a v small bf. Then woke again at 6.30!!!!! I am exhausted (really feel for those who's lo's have never slept through).

Her daytime naps have been all over the place recently and she has gone back to refusing to go to sleep unless nursed, although the last couple of days she has been sleeping better during the day.

Anyone got any suggestions on what I can do? do I need to increase her solids or milk feeds during the day. Felt so desperate yesterday dh bought formula incase I needed it as back up. Really don't want to introduce ff right now, but not sure what else to do.

[shrinkingsagpuss]

Ive been one of those smug posters who had a DC who always slept at all the right times, and I maintained it was about getting the day time sleeps right, and letting LO learn to self settle..... now I can have the smile wiped off my face - DD who is 6 months wakes sometimes once for food, sometimes up to 3 times for various things - I too am exhausted and it is driving me mad. All I can say is, have the courage of your convictions and trust yourself to NOT feed her back to sleep. I don't know what the solution is, as I'm now looking for it too!! Little devils aren't they? I think it is something to do with coming to an age where there are more aware of the effects they have on their environement - "oh good, I can get mum to feed me... yummy"

[MelissaM]

Thanks shrinkingsaqpuss - glad to hear I am not the only one. DD used to settle herself to sleep fine and can still do it - I've just heard her wake up and then give a little cry. Gave her a couple of minutes before checking on her and she is fast asleep again. Just wish she would do this at night too!

[shrinkingsagpuss]

oh yes, I know that one well! We are just building DD's new bedroom, and OI am going to work on the nights once she is her own room. Last night she woke at 9.30pm (wind), 12 (food), 2.30 (wind again...????) and 4 (nappy) then 6.30. I had to get up and dressed for the builders, its too scary to have them see me in my PJ's AGAIN!

[MelissaM]

gosh, and I thought I had a bad night! How are you coping with builders in too?
Most of the week I haven't managed to get dressed until dd has gone down for her morning nap - or I have given up and left her playing in her cot. Can't even do that anymore until we lower the base (again) as today she pulled herself up to standing using the sofa! She also rolled from her back to her front for the first time. Guess she is learning loads at the moment so that might not help with all the sleeping!
Definitely think dd was hungry yesterday though, as I never felt like i had much milk. Am feeling much fuller today though and daytime naps have been better (although lunchtime nap was 1/2 hr short due to drilling next door so I started her bedtime routine early. She fell asleep at 6.30 - didn't even wake when dh came home (and normally she starts jumping about when she hears his car!) Dreamfed her again at 8 ish when she stirred, so am hopeful tonight will be better.

[shrinkingsagpuss]

How was your night mellissam? DD drained a 6oz cup of FF before having her usual 5 inutes frantic slurp of mummy milk (she is the only B/f baby I know who only ever feeds for 5 minutes and one side nly) and she slept through til 4, which was bliss. Feels like a full nights sleep!! I gave her her tea at nearer 4.45 last night, with a tiny drink of water, so by 6.45 she was desperate for milk. Seems to have worked here!! (famous last words)

[Miaou]

Melissa, re the fresh nappy thing, ds2 (7 months on Monday) gets a clean nappy when he wakes late evening (11pm-ish) which sees him through the night (doesn't help if he poos obviously, but he can go through on one nappy from that time).

Also, are you sharing a room with her? I find ds2 sleeps fine if I'm not in the room but wakes regularly when I am there. Not that I have the option of putting him anywhere else atm

[MelissaM]

Sorry -dh hogging pc all w'end!

Friday night wasn't very good - up three times again! But sat was much better - stirred about 11, but just whinged so left her, the woke properly at 3. changed her nappy then gave her a quick drink, winded her and put her back to bed awake. she then didn't stir until 6:50.
Unfortunately lest night was awful again, but that was due dd coming down with a really bad cold and not being ablt tto breath properly - poor thing.
shrinking - i wish dd onl;y fed for 5 mins usually - i think she is the slowest feeder ever!
Miaou - dd sleeps in her own room as dh evicted her on christmas eve for singing at 2 in the morning 4 the 3rd day running. i think we were waking her getting up for the loo. might try changing her nappy when we go to bed and see if this gets her through.

[shrinkingsagpuss]

How mych sleep does she have in the day? i am trying to cut DD down so she is more tired at night. Last night she woke at 10 and screamed for an hour - I picked her up in this time and each time she snuggled in as if to say "lovely snuggle Mummy". She was so exhausted she slept til4, then til 6.45. BLISS!!

[MelissaM]

It depends. Usually between 2 1/4 & 3 hrs, although sometimes only 2hrs - she is then usually overtired at bedtime and falls asleep feeding, or is really difficult to settle.
Apparently between 6mths & a yr (i think) babies still need 14 to 15 hrs a day, so don't cut back on the daytime naps too much as if they don't get enough in the day it makes it worse at night (although I can't get my head round why).
Last night was a really good night, despite DD being ill. She fed fairly well after her bath (although I was worried she hadn't had enough bm) then settled in her cot just after 7. I think I had to go up to her once because she coughed so much she got upset. She did stir a few times before we went to bed, and woke when I moved her as she was lying sideways, but didn't cry - she just shut her eyes and went back to sleep. She then woke at 6am with a wet nappy, then snoozed and played in her cot until nearly 7.

Your DD must have been shattered! Any ideas why she was screaming? Do you think she is teething?
I just love the way they snuggle into you when they are tired. Unfortunately dh & I confused this with the foraging when dd was tiny which I think is why we have a bf/sleep association going on. Thankfully not as bad as some babies though!

Heres to a good night tonight too. I hope DD continues with the sleeping well once she is better. I don't really want to have to dose her up with calpol every night