[Kay1]

DS3 is 5.5 months. He has never been a great sleeper but we were doing ok, lots of gentle self settling teaching had got him to the point of self settling during the day. Still waking several times at night but settling easily after a feed.

The last week or so he started having 2-3 hour unsettled periods in the middle of the night. That has now stretched out to bed time. He starts to scream as soon as its bed time. Even though he is clearly tired. I can't settle him at all except with the boob. Even then he squirms around for ages but will eventually settle. Problem is no matter how long I wait he wakes immediately I remove the boob and he just screams until I put it back. I have two other kids and I can't lie with my boob in his mouth from 6/7 pm all night unfortunately.

So I have finally got him down after another epic screaming battle and I know he's going to wake in 45 mins. I am so desperate that I am thinking I'll give him a bottle of formula to see if its hunger. If nothing else it might just knock him out and give me a break.

I am doing BLW with him but its so slow and because he refuses his last afternoon nap most days he's often too upset and hungry to safely have any food so he is on no solids to speak of really. I am starting to really doubt everything I am doing and just wondering if maybe feeding him formula would help. Last night he slept fitfully for 4 hours total, its 35 degrees in our house, I am alone with 3 kids and I am hanging on by a thread.

[Excentrique]

could he be teething OP? is he growing ok, plenty of wet nappies? would you try a little bit of baby food on him (like spoon feed rather than baby led weaning). I'm not against baby led weaning but I don't think its for all babies either.

[mavisandjack]

I am sorry you are having a tough time.

Did you mean that it is literally 35 degrees inside your house, where he is sleeping?

If this is the case, I would be trying to find a way to keep him cool.

My DD is often tired by dinner time even though we eat by 5. I have switched her meals around and so she has porridge for dinner, which fills her up. We do BLW but I spoon feed her dinner as she is tired and gets frustrated. You could try something similar?

I honestly don't think formula will solve your problem.

[kay11]

DS3 is 5.5 months. He has never been a great sleeper but we were doing ok, lots of gentle self settling teaching had got him to the point of self settling during the day. Still waking several times at night but settling easily after a feed.

The last week or so he started having 2-3 hour unsettled periods in the middle of the night. That has now stretched out to bed time. He starts to scream as soon as its bed time. Even though he is clearly tired. I can't settle him at all except with the boob. Even then he squirms around for ages but will eventually settle. Problem is no matter how long I wait he wakes immediately I remove the boob and he just screams until I put it back. I have two other kids and I can't lie with my boob in his mouth from 6/7 pm all night unfortunately.

So I have finally got him down after another epic screaming battle and I know he's going to wake in 45 mins. I am so desperate that I am thinking I'll give him a bottle of formula to see if its hunger. If nothing else it might just knock him out and give me a break.

I am doing BLW with him but its so slow and because he refuses his last afternoon nap most days he's often too upset and hungry to safely have any food so he is on no solids to speak of really. I am starting to really doubt everything I am doing and just wondering if maybe feeding him formula would help. Last night he slept fitfully for 4 hours total, its 35 degrees in our house, I am alone with 3 kids and I am hanging on by a thread.

Why not try spoon feeding him? My first kid loved finger foods but my next was much happier being spoon fed. Different kids had different preferences. My second was a big lad and I was happier giving him more solids than formula (he was entirely formula fed and I wanted him to get used to different tastes).

[Amber Spyglass]

Keep hanging, on your own with three kids is difficult and you are doing a great job so far.
Personally, I wouldn't necessarily introduce formula. I'd keep persisting with BF and BLW (was great for us).
With feeding to sleep, he has built a sleep association. I had this with my eldest DD. I followed Elizabeth Pantley's gentle 'pull off' technique (google her website / books for more info). This wasn't an immediate solution, but it helped me transition her to fall asleep without my boob in her mouth. Introduce a blanky / lovey type item (I used a favorite teddy) that bub holds during feeding/sleeping, and leave it in the cot with bub during sleep times.
Good luck. It will get better.

[KRT]

First thought was teething - have you tried giving him a dose of Panadol/Nurofen?

If that doesn't work, in your situation, I would try the formula. Usually, I would probably suggest you look for other signs that your baby is hungry (e.g. pulling off, wanting to switch sides, not feeling a let down) before trying formula, but you sound like you're having a really rough time and it'd be quicker to just try it to rule out hunger as a cause.

DS was a relatively good self-settler when I started having significant supply issues, but even though they didn't start until he was about four months, he never had trouble settling. He started waking for feed more often, but settled quickly. So even severe hunger (poor DS put on 200g between 9 weeks and 5.5 months) doesn't necessarily mean a very unsettled baby.

[kay11]

I'd keep persisting with BF and BLW (was great for us).

What if he is going hungry, or becoming anaemic? Why persist with BLW? Yeah it was great for your kid and my oldest also loved it, but it's not for all kids. I'm all for following kids cues on this and one reason he could be screaming is because he's hungry. I'd deal with that one first and see if spoon feeding some dinner helps.

One thing I did for my boy was rice cereal with frozen cooked grated steak in it and some applesauce. He loved it and it gave him some protein and iron. He wouldn't have got that from finger food. My eldest was OK at chewing on a chop bone, but he didn't go for it.

[ubermum]

Why do people always think formula will be the miracle answer? Your son is 6 months and breastfeeding well. Sure BLW is great, but why not try some food on a spoon too. You could pre-load the spoons for him. My 7 month old has been similar and too cranky and hot to get into BLW at night. I have spoon fed her some vegies while she BLW some barramundi fillet tonight. Also, try to break the feed to sleep association. Feed and then pat/ settle your baby. You may like to give him a comfort toy (buy 3 the same- one to use, one to lose and one in the wash, believe me) and try that. There is no way my booby girl will even take a bottle of anything, even EBM anyway without getting upset.

This post has been edited by ubermum: 18/01/2013, 06:45 PM

[sarahec]

He might need something extra, especially on hot days. Give it a try. Maybe spoon feed some solids.

[LookMumNoHands]

I would not be introducing formula at this stage. It could be the heat, teething, or any number of things. Agree with PP's that BLW doesn't work so well on some babies, and that spoon feeding some dinner might be the way to go.

It sounds like your having a tough time right now, but I think you should try other things first, before formula.

Good luck