Help! I feel like I am going wrong somewhere, but don't know what to do!?

Question

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice on our situation! My son is 7 and a half months old and was a colicky but got over that at about 3.5 months. Since his 2nd week he has not been a great sleeper. It goes okay sometimes (a couple days here or there he may nap for one-two hours during the day) but for the past week he won't sleep more than one 20-30 minute nap during the day and may fall asleep at night at around 8 and sleep til 8ish the next day but he is up almost every three hours to feed. He also has still not gotten the hang of eating solids and turns his nose up at most everything. We tried bottles of water at night so he would be hungrier during the day (didn't work), and I have tried giving him less milk during the day. Still doesn't work. Plus he is usually tired because he won't nap. Have tried letting him fuss a bit in the crib (like 45 min to one hour) but he just gets angry and won't fall asleep. Does anyone have any helpful words? Feeling exhausted and hopeless!

Answer 1

he is waking up hungry try giving him baby rice cereal with his milk at night before bed he will sleep longer with a full belly

Answer 2

Sounds like he is very, very overtired, and also hungry! First of all, bottle of water are not going to help, may make it worse. I assume he is formula feeding as opposed to nursing (since you said bottles)? He still needs his formula. It should be his primary source of nourishment.

Try enforcing a schedule. At 7 months, he'll need 2 naps a day at least, and probably 9-11 hours of sleep a night. Babies get more upset and sleep less when they are overtired. I know, it doesnt make sense. At 7 months, he should only be waking 2 times a night to feed (some kids sleep thru the night at that age, but most still wake 1 or 2 times). He probably wakes now cuz you are giving him water instead of formula, and he may be refusing solids for that reason. Keep trying cereal at the same time every day, and offer it before the bottle. He is still little, so shouldn't be eating 3 meals of solids yet.

Check out the book "How to Solve Your Baby's Sleep Problems". Also, check out the Best Of answers in yahoo answers - there are several moms that asked "how to get my baby on a schedule". It takes some tough-love and some hard work, but it is really, really beneficial to the baby and the mommy!

Just as an idea... at that age my baby would only be up about 3 hours before needing a nap. If your little one gets up at 8, he probably needs to go back down around 11am, sleep for 1-2 hours, then back down again at around 4 or 5, then bed at 8pm. If he is constistently sleep deprived, he is at risk for developmental issues. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's normal stuff until he gets a little older and eats some solid foods. This may sound gross but if he is interested in what you are eating chew some up a little and feed him a little of it. He may not want anything but milk since anything else he associates with stomach pain. Stomach pain to a baby is like a hot knife in your belly. If you can imagine that then you may begin to understand why he won't eat food. In the next five months you will see an improvement and I know it can't come soon enough. Take turns with your spouse every other night so at least someone is getting some intermittent rest. Any employer with a kid will understand if your not all there in the morning. Good luck.

Answer 4

For the sleep part I recommend the book healthy sleep habits happy child. It saved me. My 7 1/2 month old now sleeps from 7pm to 7ish am without waking. It will change your childs habbits....and I do think at this point it is a bad sleeping habbit. There is no reason he should be waking that often at this age. As far as feeding goes he should be on some stage one foods. Just keep trying to introduce them. Maybe the taste is too strong for him. I usually mix baby food half and half with rice cereal or baby oatmeal and thin it out with formula. Your baby might take it if it is liquidy enough. Maybe what you are giving him is too thick?
I'll tell you what I do and you can compare it to your schedule, maybe that will help you.
7am wake- offer an 8 oz bottle, he usually only drinks about 4-5 oz. THEN offer a fruit (half a 2oz jar) mixed with cereal and a bit of the leftover bottle.
Between 9-10 am nap- Offer another 8oz bottle, somedays he drinks it all and some days he doesn't.
usually sleeps at least an hour
around noon I offer 6oz bottle but he usually just snacks on it and leaves an ounce or 2.
Naps around 1:30 or 2- sleeps about 40 minutes and takes 4oz of milk for this nap.
Around 3 I offer another 6oz bottle some days he wants it, somedays he turns his nose. I just go with what he wants.
5pm I offer solids- same as breakfast except with a veggie.
Between 6:30 and 7pm he is ready for bed and gets an 8oz bottle and usually drinks about 7oz but I always offer 8 just in case.
My little man is thriving and well rested. I don't know what other moms do but this seems to be a consistant schedule for us. Good luck.
Also- and I am being serious- my son does not fuss or cry to go down to sleep. He was crazy when he was little- I thought I was going to lose my mind and a close Dr. friend of mine got me the book I mentioned. (She gave it to me for my baby shower and I never got to reading it) So she sat in my living room (with me in tears) and read me the section for the age group I was in at the time and told me to follow it. I did (religiously) and my son was a PERFECT sleeper and has been ever since. It is like someone switched babies with me. He is now happy and well rested. (and so am I ) I don't know if I just got the luck of the draw (my next one may be a terror) but it is worth a shot for you to try it!

Answer 5

I have 4 children and only 1 would sleep during the day. None of my others slept in the daytime unless we were in the car going somewhere. Since I breastfed i was up every 3-4 hours till about 9 months.

At 71/2 months I was still breastfeeding and weening at the sametime. I would give the baby formula with a little cereal in it or 3/4 whole milk 1/4 water with a little baby cereal in it. (warmed up enough to take the cold chill from the milk away)seems to fill them up more than just a regular bottle. Very important to burp before bed, usually burp pretty fast and sleep alot longer. You can substitute baby cereal with the gerber 1st stage fruits like banana. that one worked well 4 me.

My 4 didnt really start getting the hang of solids till about 9 months. Some solids I fed baby were mash potatoes with a little home made gravy. Didnt really push anything else till they were older. Hope this trick gives you some relief.

Answer 6

I am probably going to sound like a horrible parent but this is what i sugest.

If you are really worried about feedings of solid, try cutting the hole in the nipple of his bottle and pour some number 1 solids in it. Sorta like a baby smoothie.

As for the sleeping I can totally sympathize with you. If he is anything like my son he is used to waking up ever 4 hours for a feeding. My mother always said if he's dry, safe, and not hungry and not in pain then check on him every 5 minutes or so and let him scream it out.

It really does sound like he's a stubborn old goat. If it still doesn't work I'd call up the peds, or ask him at his 8 month well child check.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I would take him to your pediatrician and ask their advice. They should know your baby better than you can describe on here to a bunch of strangers. I'm betting that you trying all these different solutions is not helping as good as your intentions are. Sometimes its frustrating as all get out! My 8 month old daughter has been a gem but we went out of town this past weekend and now her ironclad schedule is down the toilet...the "spring forward" didnt help either. Did you start feeding him solids with cereal? He should be used to that taste since you can mix the cereal with formula/breastmilk. Its used more for "spoon practice" anyways. I know the first few wks(even now occasionally) my daughter wants to be lazy and refuses to eat solids...just wants a bottle.

Call your peditrician and get an appointment. I'm sure you're not their 1st parent dealing with this and they might have some great ideas!

Answer 8

OK well here is what I would do, for now forget the food and give him the formula bottles but add baby cereal to them. That way it will taste more like the formula. Just put enough in there to make it thicker. Like the consistancy of store bought chocalate milk. Each week add a little more untill it is like really thick. His morning bottle don't add cereal just give him formula. This way he is getting plenty of fluids. As you thinken it add more water to his diet.

He has had tummy trouble and he is aware of it and has become picky so what you are doing is going gradual at the baby food.

This is actually quite normal for children who have had either reflux or colic. Just be patient and don't fret it he will adjust. Just take it slow and easy and he will start sleeping more.

Answer 9

Your in a tough position that you must feel like you can't win. My daughter is 10 1/2 months old and I have been making my own baby food. It is really easy and she now turns her nose up at the "store brand". Maybe mash a banana or avacado up and try that. If he wants to drink formula/breast milk let him, he'll eat solids when he is ready, I would try adding a tiny bit of rice cereal to the milk (make sure to widen the nipple with a sterile needle). This way he will sleep better at night, if you are breast feeding, pump some out and put cereal in that. Good luck

Answer 10

First off don't be to hard on yourself this is just something most baby's go through. I can tell you when I tried giving my daughter baby food she did ok with the fruits but the vegetables she would have nothing to do with. And she even had her moments of having trouble sleeping during the day but she would sleep great at night and her doctor told us if she's eating good, the weight is normal and she's not having trouble sleeping at night then it's nothing to worry about.

But if you do want your little one to get some sleep during the day try putting some bedtime lotion on him and this might sound crazy but it dose work try also rubbing the bedtime lotion on he's bed sheets that might help him relax more.

Answer 11

he needs to see his doctor something is going on inside. not what you want to hear but it sounds like it to me. if there are some solids he likes like applesauce or banana feed that right before bed with a bottle of formula also since hes colicky try propping his mattress up so he sleeps more up right. it might help. please do call the doctor though. they know your child best good luck and if you have family near by see if someone will take him for a night so you can sleep