Weaning and disrupted sleep.

[Writerwannabe83]

Hi all, just after some advice please because I'm turning into a sleep deprived crazy nightmare.

Has anyone noticed a correlation between weaning and a deterioration in their baby's sleep pattern?

Prior to starting weaning 4 days ago my DS was a good sleeper, going 8pm-8am with one wake up for a feed at about 3am.

Since we started weaning his sleep and nighttime behaviours are unrecognisable.

He is awake every 2-3 hours, seemingly uncomfortable, crying, grizzling and extremely difficult to settle. His stomach is gurgling, he's arching his back a little as though he has stomach ache (it's not trapped wind) and trumps a lot.

I'm surviving on about 4 hours of broken sleep every night and both I and DS are shattered.

When he wakes up it usually takes me 1-2 hours to get him back off to sleep and for the duration of that time he is constantly upset.

I did wonder whether it was teething but no teething gel, powders or pain relief makes any difference.

I only ask because I can't help but think it's a bit of a coincidence?

During the day he is a happy little soul but he's like a completely different baby during the night. Incidentally when we offer him new foods we do it in the evening when me and DH have our dinner, usually about 2 hours before we put DS to bed. He then has his first wake up at about midnight (6-7 hours after having being given something new to suck on/taste) and things just go rapidly downhill

I'm up with him now and have been for well over an hour and he just seems in so much discomfort. I'm so tired

Yes, my DC stopped sleeping through the night when we started weaning at 6 months. It was a shock to the system as previously we had a model sleeper. Now approaching 8 months and things are almost back to sleeping through - maybe one feed during the night but pretty good again. I think the gut had a lot to get used to, maybe. That and teething ferociously.

He's still awake now - it's been over 2 hours since he woke up

I've always been told to always offer new foods at the first meal, that way if they have any adverse reactions or discomfort you've got all day to monitor it. Maybe firstly switch new foods to the morning and see if that helps x

Sorry me again! Was just going to say at his last meal try easily digestible things, so no gluten for example, and see if it makes any difference. Good luck! Hope you get some sleep soon x

I don't mean to sound like a stalker Writer, but is it actually the case that he slept 8-8 with one wake up, or are you remembering a short period just before weaning? I only ask because I thought I remembered quite a few threads I'd seen you on where you said he didn't sleep well. Wasn't it you who had one where he wouldn't go to bed pre 10pm or something?

What you have to remember is that baby books make out sleep is linear: newborn sleep is the worst, then they drop feeds, then they sleep through. The odd 'off' patch for illness, teething, etc.

In fact, the reality is that it more often ebbs and flows like the tide. There is hopefully an overall direction (though it may take months, or even years, to see it). But the impression in close up is improve, downhill, improve, downhill.

You could try doing food at lunchtime. But honestly I think it's just as likely given what you said he's eaten so far on your other thread that it's just the natural variation in a not brilliant sleeper.

I don't mind stalkers, you've given me good advice on numerous threads

He did used to be a post-10pm bedtime baby but it seemed to have sorted itself out a little but maybe you're right and he was trying to kill me into a false sense of security.

He fell asleep tonight at 7.45pm and I actually managed to put him in his cot which I haven't even able to do for the last four nights. I did let him get into a nice deep sleep in my arms first though. I'm 100% positive he will wake before midnight it's just a guessing game as to whether he will settle quickly or not. He was actually awake for 3 hours last night (midnight-3am) and I had a complete emotional breakdown because of how tired I was

Yep both my babies sleep went tits up after weaning. Think all of those new foods trying to be digested by little tummies!!!

Today's the first day we didn't give him anything and it's the easiest and quickest bedtime I've had in days.

what are you giving him to eat?

If I were you, I wouldn't give any dairy, wheat, egg or soya based food, and no nuts or fish. And then see how his night goes.

To me, it sounds like one of the above maybe causing him a tummy ache. If it is, then you'll probably have to take it out of his diet until his gut matures

Ideally, when you wean you should introduce the above individually on separate days, so that you can see what is causing a problem (if anything).

My DS had terrible sleep issues when weaning and for a good few months, but he had bad digestive issues from the start - colic, silent reflux then pukey reflux, we've only just taken him off reflux meds at 12mo. Even now he still occasionally gets constipation and wind despite having a very good diet and drinking plenty of fluids. Some babies just don't take to it so easily.

Hope you get some sleep soon - sleep deprivation is so awful.