Well, we have had success with a peaceful bedtime (that technique is STILL working- I can't believe it!!). We have weaned Stephen out of going to bed in his carseat. But now the boys have decided that they want to wake at 5am rather than 6am. Matthew used to wake at 5am but I could give him his pacifier and he would go back to sleep. Now, they want to be up for the day! *sigh* ANy suggestions on how to keep them asleep a little longer. My nights are becoming like days.. they wake frequently after their 2am feed- and it's mostly from vomitting and being wet around the neck (which they hate). This morning it was Stephen screaming the house down at 4am. I'm very tired! I need that extra hour of sleep!! Help!

I wish I had some suggestions, Sarah. I'm still struggling with my own non-sleeping child (which is why I'm typing this at 2:47am, lol!)

Sorry I don't have any real answers, Sarah! It sounds like they're waking up hungry and/or in pain. Since they're too little for infant cereal yet, will they drink a little more? What about trying to have some white noise in the background? I've found that having reflux makes Evan a lighter sleeper. A fan or a humidifier work well here. Can you try putting them down for the night a bit later so that they HOPEFULLY won't wake as early?

sheesh, I cant say anything either especially since you have 2 setting each other off! I know Eli woke alot from pain. What I did, with DRs OK, was give him extra dose of prilesec at bed time and it would help alot. He slept better so I know he was waking out of pain. Maybe if they were more comfortable they would sleep longer? Getting up is probably making them feel better since laying down worsens the symptoms. ((hugs)) !!!!

Hi Sarah -- Sorry you're so sleepy! You've already gotten some good suggestions. Daniel was sleeping horribly before we upped his dosage, and now that he gets prilosec before bed, too, he sleeps like a log. And I've also used white noise to help us through a rough patch. Maybe that'd help one of your boys keep sleeping if the other got fussy in the early a.m.

Good luck!

Thanks ladies for the suggestions. We have treid the white noise thing and it doesn't seem to make any difference. It really wouldn't be so bad if I was feeding 1, rather than 2. They are only taking half feeds at 10pm and 5am. The 2am feed is a full one. I just wondered if they were ready to cut out a feed?? What do you think. I always thought that if the 2am feed was a full one, they'd sleep for 4 hours- *sigh*
Matthew is on Gaviscon, which we can only have at it's current dose as he does not take a very big bottle. He is meant to have double according to his weight but he needs to be drinking at least 8 ozs :shock: to have that double dose. We are lucky to do 3 ozs so can only have the minimum dose. It would make the formula too thick and him very constipated otherwise. I don't want to go there, his poo is hard enough as it is currently. Am off to the doctor today anyway, so will ask what he thinks.

About cutting out a feeding, I have to vent about what my books said about that. If I remember correctly, it said something about giving the baby a few more ounces before the night bottle you plan to cut. Ha! They neglected to give any advice about how to get your baby to take those extra ounces! And believe me, that's the advice I really need!

Oooooh Becky, I don't think we could squeeze in any more formula into their nighttime bottles- that's if we don't want to wear it!!! I'd need that advice to!!! [Ha!] I loved the way you said that!!!! :lol: :lol:

Sarahh, when you figure the getting the babies to sleep later, can you let me know, PLEASE! :lol: I am in the same situation as you are, Zoee is getting up earier the the last couple of days as well and I need that One extra hour as well, too or just hook the :coffee: to my veins and leave it there. :lol:

Hope we all can get that extra hour soon!

Shannon

Becky,

It sounds like your book failed to mention that none of the so-called "rules" apply to infants with reflux. :roll:

I hope that everyone gets that extra hour (and maybe even two!) tonight! Pleasant dreams! :D

Oooooh Becky, I don't think we could squeeze in any more formula into their nighttime bottles- that's if we don't want to wear it!!! I'd need that advice to!!! [Ha!] I loved the way you said that!!!! :lol: :lol:

Sarah,

How much are they taking during feedings? Catherine will take 3 ounces maybe once a day and that just started. Most of her feedings are 1-2 ounces. That's all she'll take, not how much I put in the bottle. I always make 4 ounce bottles with the hope that she'll have a bigger meal and not need to eat so often.

Wow, Lesley! What a good little eater! Evan was heading towards 2 years by the time he could finally handle 3 oz.

I didn't have that problem with Zoee, she loves to eat. I am trying to follow the feeding specialist instruction of just 3 bottles only a day and it is not happening. Zoee loves her bottles whether it be formula or water which she is not allow to have right either. The problems that we all face!

Shannon

Shannon,

Is the feeding therapist trying to restrict the number of bottles and the water in order to have her eat more calories?

No, it is to stop the choking that she is doing. She can't tolerate thin liquids and so she wants her to have more solids and less liquid to reduce the choking. Water is thin so no more. I even have to put her back to newborn nipple just to slow the flow right down for her. It is a little crazy again. Zoee has gone back to having the feeding difficultes that she was having before. She is even arching her head and back when she is having her bottles. Sorry got long winded and maybe a little off the question, I have aproblem doing that. :oops: :roll: She is not worried about calories because Zoee losed 3lbs that month and has not put them back on but they are not worried because she was on the heavy side before. She was 24 lbs and now at 10 months is 21. It is being easily controlled now.

Shannon

Wow, Lesley! What a good little eater! Evan was heading towards 2 years by the time he could finally handle 3 oz.

I guess it's all in your particular frame of reference. Most people I know with babies around Catherine's age are already taking 4-6 ounces per feeding so I always thought she was way behind by only taking 1-2 ounces most of the time. Glad to know she's not unique in this respect!

Wow, Lesley! What a good little eater! Evan was heading towards 2 years by the time he could finally handle 3 oz.

And she's only occasionally taking it in, not keeping it down by any stretch of the imagination. I can only feed her an ounce at a time - like an ounce an hour - to have any hope of most of it staying down. Unfortunately, that schedule isn't feasible.

I guess it's all in your particular frame of reference. Most people I know with babies around Catherine's age are already taking 4-6 ounces per feeding so I always thought she was way behind by only taking 1-2 ounces most of the time. Glad to know she's not unique in this respect!
I know what you mean! As hard as it is, try not to compare the amounts she eats/drinks to other kids her age. I just wanted to encourage you by letting you know that she is drinking well compared to some.

And I know what you mean about not being able to feed her an ounce every hour. That would be nuts!

Wow, Janette, I didnt realize that with Evan. That seems so crazy to me. Only 2 ounces. I nursed so I didnt know how much he got. How frustrating it must be for you guys watching the ounces. I never thought of that part of reflux stress since I was nursing, that would have driven me nuts.

Wow, Janette, I didnt realize that with Evan. That seems so crazy to me. Only 2 ounces. I nursed so I didnt know how much he got. How frustrating it must be for you guys watching the ounces. I never thought of that part of reflux stress since I was nursing, that would have driven me nuts.
Yes...It can be really tough, especially when reflux prevents them from nursing, but I know that there are also kids who need to be tube fed or have the fundo to survive.

Lesley, I always make 4 oz bottles too...dreaming of the day they actually drink it all and keep it down!!!!! I have to make that size bottle for Matthew anyway for the gaviscon- it has to be at least 4oz so it doesn't glug up the bottle and make him constipted. Yes, Erin, it's hard when you are watching the ounces- does drive you kind of silly!! You never know how much they get when they are breastfeeding. The Plunket nurse keeps telling me so long as they are gaining weight, it doesn't matter about the amount of formula and then in the next breath she is saying they have to take at "least 4-5 oz"!!!!! :roll:
Well, the boys slept until 6am this morning- but that's cos they didn't feed until 3am!!!! :D I don't care, I got an extra hour sleep!!!!!!!!!1

Let's have another good night, boys! Mommy needs more sleep! :)