A little lost as of what to do with my sons sleeping

[Rightnow1245]

So my son has never been a great sleeper and usually wakes 3 or more times a night for milk! He is 13 months now so thought this would of stopped this isn’t really the issue for me! Obviously I would like to stop the night feeds but I’ve tried everything 😬 The reason I’m concerned is he’s only having 9 hours of broken sleep and I can’t seem to get him to sleep longer.. even if I put him to bed early or late it’s always 9 hours of sleep! I am sure he should be having 11 hours at least? He still has 2 naps in the day for a total of 3 hours roughly, should I drop his morning nap? Any suggestions would be helpful 😊

Could you drop the milk? If he's waking out of habit for it then that might stop it x

I have tried everything to drop the milk! he’s still breastfeeding so I’m not sure if that’s why he wakes with hunger.. I know it’s hunger not comfort or habit because I have tried so many times to stop the milk and he won’t go back to sleep for hours and hours until he gets so worked up he makes himself sick😬 To be honest waking is annoying but it’s so quick and I’m back to sleep.. it’s easier to just feed him as he can self settle once he’s had milk.. the issue is sleeping only 9 hours really x

A 13 month old who wasn’t premature and falls with usual weight centiles genuinely doesn’t NEED a night feed as nutrition. They might like one for many reasons: - it’s nice to have a cuddle, separation anxiety, because the bottle-sucking soothes and helps them off to sleep but, it’s not an actual need for calories at that time. If they are not taking in enough solids during the day, there’s a small risk that they’re peckish but you can’t resolve that until you cut out the night feeds. He should start to increase his intake of solids if you do this.
You could water down the feeds, using a third to a half less formula/water for a bit and be as boring as you can. Offer reassurance but not too many long cuddles, low eye contact etc. I used to lie mine back down with a back rub and just repeat the same soothing words over and over again. Bore him into sleeping. You know better than anyone whether he’s eating enough during the day (& if he’s not, excessive milk at night will be part of that) or whether he just needs mum, or to soothe/suck so it’s hard to advise but gradually stopping the night milk should solve the problem.

Sorry - my cross post seems unhelpful in the context of your bf update. I should have asked.

How does he do with solids during the day though?

mable he eats so much during the day plus milk when he wants it! He has 3 big meals plus lots of snacks and breastmilk, so I’m really lost as of what to do! I could express I guess and cut it right back but I’m not sure that’s linked to waking up after 9 hours at night, I could be wrong though as he’s my first and I’m new to motherhood lol

mabel I meant to write! Silly autocorrect!!!

What time is he going down? Can you try skipping afternoon nap and putting him down at 6.30/7? You’d need to push morning nap a bit later than usual of course. My son dropped to one nap at 10 months but I know other kids have them a LOT longer.

For the night feeding have you tried co sleeping at all? That would help you get a bit more sleep but I can 100% understand if it’s not for you. My son fed through the night (at least 3 times!) until 17 months old. I arranged a sleepover at grandmas and when I got him home he didn’t feed the next day. When he woke up for his normal feeds at night I gave him water and his dummy (and cuddles!) and he settled a lot better than I anticipated. He’s never woken up through night since then. But I think it only worked because we were both ready to wean, which I know we wouldn’t have been at 13 months x

My son was like this. He still is in fact at 2.5. Will only sleep 9 hours. Always has since he was quite little. Also breastfed. I made my peace with it, some kids just don’t need as much sleep I guess. He has always slept less than his peers and I can count how many times he has slept “through” on my hands.

If you’re baby is happy and healthy I wouldn’t worry too much. I’ve tried lots of things and nothing worked. Dropping a nap will probably make him sleep longer at his next nap or a litttle more at night but only do it if you think he’s ready. He’ll still sleep the same number of hours in a day just at a different time.

Jent13c what time would you recommend for nap? I have tried co-sleeping but he wakes even more lol 😂 since he’s been in his own room he definitely wakes less 👍 I might have to try the sleep over with grandma.. it might works well 😊 she would be over the moon too
FleasSitOnPeas Defo a happy baby so might just have to settle for the 9 hours lol x

At home my little boy often goes at around 10 or 11 but at nursery it’s always 12.30 and all the kids sleep at that time so probably have lunch around 12 and then get cleaned up and settle for 12.30? Worth a go! My son needs a lot less sleep that the books suggest and at 20 months would easy go with out a nap but we have got into a good rhythm now (finally!). If you are reducing day sleep always try and move bedtime earlier though.