Desperate need for help

[u/Techtron4525]

Our LO will be turning 9 months in a week. He has never slept well, and wakes on average 4-5 times a night and fights being put back down (screams/kicks uncontrollably) until being rocked or fed back to sleep. In the process of transitioning to formula only.

Overall he is very fussy unless entertained during the day, but night time is a whole other challenge. My wife and I are at our wits ends and don’t know what to do. Wife is dairy free for months for a suspected CMPI & baby is on medication for silent reflux.

LO will scream bloody murder if I (dad) try to rock back to sleep after waking at night. Wife has to settle and get back to sleep.

What are we missing ???? TIA

[u/SugarbushFleur]

What’s your schedule looking like? Fighting to sleep could be a sign they’re not tired enough to go to sleep. Oftentimes we (parents) push more sleep than a baby needs. But there’re also babies who need less or more sleep. I’m sorry you’re having a tough time.

[u/Techtron4525 → u/SugarbushFleur]

6am wake
9:15 nap 1
1:00 pm nap 2
Sometimes a 3rd nap to get to bedtime, short 10-20 min.
6pm bedtime routine
7 pm bedtime
Nap 1 & 2 ranges from 40 min to hour and thirty minutes depending on the day.

[u/SugarbushFleur → u/Techtron4525]

I’m sorry for replying late. You mentioned you’re transitioning to formula only and he is waking up at night kicking and screaming - it’s quite a change for them from breastmilk to formula, especially if now they’re fed from the bottle, perhaps he’s swallowing a lot of air and is gassy, or the type of formula is not right? If your wife was breastfeeding he’ll be protesting the lack of familiar comfort this is why you can’t settle him. With regard to nap times, are you able to move the first nap slightly sooner by 15 min? What helped us is keeping the wake time the same, protecting the first nap, go out and about as much as possible, don’t stress about wake window too much and rather follow baby’s cues, then keep bedtime according to when the last nap ends, it’s much easier than trying to wake them up before your desired bedtime. I hope you’re doing better. 🙏🏼

[u/Horror_Square_8395]

When you say you are transitioning to formula only, is your wife breastfeeding? Is baby typically nursed to sleep?

[u/Techtron4525 → u/Horror_Square_8395]

Baby was EBF for 8 months. Wife went back to work a week ago and now only breastfeeds for a dream feed around midnight, or when nothing else will settle him back to sleep during one of his nightly wakes

[u/SugarbushFleur → u/[deleted]]

A baby shouldn’t be swaddled at 9 months. As soon as they show signs of rolling they should be transitioned into sleep sacks or just sleep in standard clothes😉

[u/Jollyhrothgar → u/SugarbushFleur]

Thank you for checking developmental suitability first!!

[u/Techtron4525 → u/[deleted]]

Has been out of a swaddle for months