It's just not working - could he be getting his first tooth?

[busymama77]

DS's ped/NP (not our primary ped, but the NP that sees the kids at 4mo checkups) recommended eliminating the MOTN feedings. She didn't recommend how, didn't give suggestions, but she did say the three words that make me cringe - cry it out. Well, we are NOT doing that, but we were offering him a paci.
Friday night, he took the paci. Saturday night, he STTN. Sunday, he started waking up twice instead of once. Took the paci ALL week last week until last Friday night (just three days ago). He wouldn't take it. He was kicking his legs, crying with tears. Now, a couple of hours before that, I had him in the carrier - backpack style - and he just started screaming. Had his hands in his mouth. He was drooling. Just VERY uncomfortable. We took a quick trip to Walgreens to pick up some Orajel and that seemed to help a bit. But he was fussy all weekend and still continuing to chew on his hands, drool puddles, and eat tons!
I threw out the paci idea and fed him both times he woke up over the weekend and at both of the feedindgs, he sucked down 5-6 ounces!!! I mean, he ATTACKED the bottle! Also, his naps were shorter than normal - little cat naps in the carrier or 30 to 45 min naps in his crib or even with me on our bed.
Just a very hungry baby? Teething? Learning something and therefore his sleep is out of whack/sleep regression?

It's amazing how diff my boys are. My ODS never had any sleep problems when he was learning something new. It didn't phase him. But for this little guy, it does.

[akind1]

at 4 months a MOTN feeding is still pretty normal, I think (although it is also really normal for ped/np to say that babies really don't NEED that feeding, and to recommend CIO)

It could be teething, he could also be hungry. FWIW, I use Hyland's teething tablets. I like them far better than orajel. you can find them at nearly anywhere, I know Target carries them. they also make a teething gel. It is homeopathic, so I just am more comfortable giving it to DS.

DS started rejecting the paci around that age; he prefers his thumb for sleepy comfort sucking now.

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by akind1

at 4 months a MOTN feeding is still pretty normal, I think (although it is also really normal for ped/np to say that babies really don't NEED that feeding, and to recommend CIO)

It could be teething, he could also be hungry. FWIW, I use Hyland's teething tablets. I like them far better than orajel. you can find them at nearly anywhere, I know Target carries them. they also make a teething gel. It is homeopathic, so I just am more comfortable giving it to DS.

DS started rejecting the paci around that age; he prefers his thumb for sleepy comfort sucking now.

I saw the the Hyland's next to the Orajel but hesitated because it said "tablets". I also saw strips, too. I'd MUCH rather do the Hyland's, but grabbed the Orajel because he was screaming and I was frantic. Is it okay to give him the tablets?

[busymama77]

He took the paci just fine over the weekend when we were at a playdate and he was fussing around. The paci and his blankie were right there and he snoozed right on to sleep. I just wonder if the MOTN paci is no longer needed. My ODS found his thumb around this age - maybe he's close to doing the same thing?

[Knitting Mama]

I give Cecilia (3.5 months) the tablets by putting 2 drops of breast milk on a spoon and dissolving the tablets in it. They break down really easily, and then I can get her to swallow it easily.

But I agree that middle of the night feedings are really very common. I know plenty of kids over 1 who still need 1-2 feedings a night.

[texmati]

ITA, middle of the night feedings I feel are normal-- even if they aren't hungry; it's their way of making sure mama is there, that they are safe, warm and taken care of.

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by texmati

ITA, middle of the night feedings I feel are normal-- even if they aren't hungry; it's their way of making sure mama is there, that they are safe, warm and taken care of.

Exactly. Makes me wonder why the NP suggested it to begin with.... Grrrrr.....

[ErinYay]

Sounds a lot like the pre-teething V did. Each time (twice or so around 12 and 16 weeks) we were CERTAIN she'd be cutting teeth the next day, that's how bad she was teething. But, no. She cut her first two at 6 mo 1 week, and with a lot less drama than her previous times.

So I vote for teeth are moving but not cutting just yet.

(FWIW, V is 7 months and will go most nights without nursing (we bedshare) from 12a-7a-ish, though she does need a paci.)

[Lauren31]

My baby is almost 6 months and she sleeps with me, nursing on and off all night. Who knows, she might be eating 4 times!!! haha I can't imagine her going a whole night without eating...

[Adaline'sMama]

My baby is also a March '10 baby and she is going through a growth spurt! She was STTN, and now she's back up to two feeding a night. He naps have gone from 90-120 minutes to 30-45 minutes in just a week! I can tell she's eating a lot more because every few days my breast change...its like the first few weeks all over again.

Also, I think DD is teething. She drools all over everything constantly. Currently, the feedings seem to make her happy, so we havent tried any teething aides. But, Im geting prepared with orajel, tablets, cold rings, and we got a wooden teething rattle the other day.

I'd just keep feeding him when he seems hungry, because he may be teething and having a growth spurt.

[LadyCatherine185]

Most babies need middle of the night feedings until at least 12 months old. You could be endangering your milk supply as well as your son's health by nightweaning this early. Follow your baby's lead and nurse him at night. He is probably waking up because he is hungry. Their bellies are so tiny at that age, they need to eat frequently. Your NP is very wrong.

[dakotablue]

DS's growth spurts often coincided with teething. MOTN, I'd only begin to consider cutting if I 'knew' it was only comfort or habit, versus getting food. I can usually tell the difference in DS suck whether he is eating or playing. We still have some MOTN feedings and DS is almost 10m. I noticed when its been hot and he didn't eat much during the day he'll make up for it at night. I personally think he still needs it as when he nurses he nurses .

I'd go with your gut rather than any doc, NP or not. We really don't know as much about child development as they think we do. Babies have only recently become focus of study and there has been a lot of screwing up in that.

O/T one idea I have floating in my head is the safety of formula. I mean children grow, but isn't odd that IF has increased as the formula fed generation is getting older? What does science really know?

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by dakotablue

DS's growth spurts often coincided with teething. MOTN, I'd only begin to consider cutting if I 'knew' it was only comfort or habit, versus getting food. I can usually tell the difference in DS suck whether he is eating or playing. We still have some MOTN feedings and DS is almost 10m. I noticed when its been hot and he didn't eat much during the day he'll make up for it at night. I personally think he still needs it as when he nurses he nurses .

I'd go with your gut rather than any doc, NP or not. We really don't know as much about child development as they think we do. Babies have only recently become focus of study and there has been a lot of screwing up in that.

O/T one idea I have floating in my head is the safety of formula. I mean children grow, but isn't odd that IF has increased as the formula fed generation is getting older? What does science really know?

My DS is a FF baby and has been since 10 weeks old. I had supply issues - just as I did with my first. My little guy is healthy - obviously thriving - as was my first. Both have zero health issues - hardly EVER sick - developmentally on target. The bond I have with both is wonderful. So, please, let's not go there with the whole FF vs. BF babies.