Sleep regression or hungry baby?

[Cuddles21]

Hi everyone,

My little boy was getting into a really good routine with sleep. He's fully weaned now and has breakfast at 10am, dinner about 1:30pm, some yogurts or a fruit pot about 4:30pm and then bottles for the rest of the evening and before bed.
I started back to work last week and baby was doing well in the evenings with bed time becoming earlier than it had been, with him going to bed anytime from 8:30pm to 9:15pm (I think this seems a bit late but is earlier for him!). His food routine probably hasn't changed in the last 2 - 3 weeks either. For the last few mornings, he has been waking much earlier - Saturday and Sunday morning, he woke at 5:40am, took a 6oz bottle and went back to sleep. Monday morning he was awake at 4:20am, took 6oz and went back to sleep. This morning, he woke at 5;15am and was awake for the day! He didn't sleep as long as he usually does either but was awake for the day so early. He took 5oz at this time but didn't go back to sleep. He is a big bag too - he's about 18lbs so about 8kgs.

Are we in a sleep regression do you think or should I be giving him some supper before bed at around 8pm maybe? I know he's getting bottles when he wakes at the minute but I don't want to get into a habit that I'm later going to regret so want to see what parents who have been here before think. I think tonight I'll try some Milupa with a bottle before bed and see if that helps. He is teething so that could also be a factor but hadn't been before.

Some advice would be greatly appreciated :)

How old is he?

He is exactly 6 months old today :)

That is a LOT of food for a baby that age. You'd generally only just start introducing a small taste once a day for a 6m baby. Food is less calorie-dense than milk, and at 6m he should still be getting the vast majority of his nutrition from milk, so I think your issue is you're filling up his stomach with food but it isn't giving him the goodness that he needs, so he's compensating by feeding all night long. He could also be waking in discomfort, as that's a lot of food for an immature digestive system.

My advice would be to cut back solids to one small meal a day, and give a 7oz bottle every 3 hours.

That's not fully weaned and nor should it be at that age. Cut back on the food and give more milk. Food should just be for fun before one.

At 6 months babies go through some big changes developmentally. You seem to have started weaning early if he's taking 3 solid meals a day. I wouldn't be inclined to increase this at the moment (unless he is blatantly hungry and wants more at the end of a meal).

Honestly I'd wait until the tooth is through before making any changes. Some babies have it rough with teething pain and need some extra comfort. It's also probably a case of big changes for him (new skills and awareness, mum away at work) so he'll need some time to adjust to these. Once he does, he'll probably sleep better but it will take a week or 2.

Exactly what the two posters above have helpfully said! Too much food and not enough milk ^^

there is absolutely no need for food 3 times a day, they only get to three meals a day approaching 1 if they're reducing their milk intake themselves - give food after milk and they will reduce the following milk feed accordingly themselves. A 6 month old still has pretty much the same milk as they did before; 7-8oz every 4 hours during daytimes and a try of food once a day is perfectly manageable for a healthy baby this age. Remember for a baby there's much more nutrition in milk than there is in a little yoghurt, or half a carrot or whatever.

Also it pretty normal for babies to wake at 5-5.30am, anything after 5 is the morning.