Binky, Breast Milk, ZZZZZZZ & formula - Please Help me figure out what my baby is going through!

Kristen - posted on 05/22/2009

another note: The doctor DID say pooping more frequent JUST being on breast milk is normal and pooping frequently is good - means they are eating enough! And no he did not think Beau had pink eye in the opposite eye - thought the slight oozing was from the ear infection and the antibiotic he is on will clear that up. It isn't even that much of a concern! The waking up in the night, he thought, is due to the infection.

Kristen - posted on 05/22/2009

Hey every one, thank you all so much for the great advice ... I will take it all into consideration!! We went to the doctors yesterday and we caught an ear infection early!! There was some puss in the ear :( He is on medicine and he's getting lot of TLC

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

In addition to the excellent advice pp's already mentioned...4 months seems like one of those times when lots of LO's go through big growth spurts. With those times, usually you'd expect to see babies being fussier, waking more often, and wanting to eat more. If you combine with a sick baby...who will also tend to be fussy, wake often, and want more comfort....well, that certainly sounds like it could be what you are facing here.

I'd say try to ride it out and go with your gut instinct. If he wants to nurse, then nurse. Since you said you just recently went back to full time BFing, I don't know how your supply has been...but adding back night feedings can be really helpful for increasing supply. I don't know if you're co-sleeping (or even open to that idea), but it also might be a solution to your problem. Contrary to what you may hear, once you bring baby into your bed, you don't have to keep him there forever. When my son went through one of those sickness/growth spurts when he was small, we brought him in to sleep between DH and I. We read up on it beforehand and were very careful and confident that we could do it safely. He slept well between us and then could nurse pretty much whenever he wanted without my having to actually get up.

Cheryl - posted on 05/21/2009

Poor little thing! If he needs comforted give him the binky, it he is hungry he will let you know. Bowel movements of breast fed babies are different consistancy - they are more frequent and softer.

Natalie - posted on 05/21/2009

when babies get sick they look for comfort! Thats all i see it being!

Kristen - posted on 05/21/2009

THANK YOU EVERY ONE SO FAR FOR THE ADVICE! I WILL LETCHA KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS, TOO!

Kristen - posted on 05/21/2009

Quoting Toni:

Sounds to me like he could be using you to sooth himself back to sleep. Try leaving him for 10 mins at a time, go to his cot but don't speak just stroke his head or hand and walk out again...repeat every 5 - 10 mins till he soothes himself to sleep.
As for his bowel movement changes, did the change happen when you went from formula/breast milk to breast milk only? Cos I have heard that formula babies tend to be more constipated and less regular than breastfed babies. My DD was BF and went a couple of times a day as did my nephew.
One thing to consider is if he might have started teething, he may be an early teether...you never know.

Thank you for the advise!

And to answer your question, the pooing differently happened about a week after I went to only BF

Toni - posted on 05/21/2009

Sounds to me like he could be using you to sooth himself back to sleep. Try leaving him for 10 mins at a time, go to his cot but don't speak just stroke his head or hand and walk out again...repeat every 5 - 10 mins till he soothes himself to sleep.
As for his bowel movement changes, did the change happen when you went from formula/breast milk to breast milk only? Cos I have heard that formula babies tend to be more constipated and less regular than breastfed babies. My DD was BF and went a couple of times a day as did my nephew.
One thing to consider is if he might have started teething, he may be an early teether...you never know.

Kylie - posted on 05/21/2009

After reading your post I believe your baby is using you as a binky. My second daughter did this for a while. It was wearing me out, I would have loved to have given her a binky but she never took to one. She's alot better now, she goes to bed & stays asleep all night (8pm - 6.30am most nights). You seem to be doing a good job with your son & I'm sure he'll finally work out how to get himself to sleep. Good on you for going back to BF exclusively. It's a wonderful feeling being able to breastfeed your child & I wish you all the best on bf your baby.

Cathralynn - posted on 05/21/2009

I'm a cry it out mom, but not at four months and not when you know he's been sick. I'd wait until six mo to let him learn to sleep through the night on his own. After he's healthy he will probably go back to his old sleeping pattern on his own. But whatever you decide you might give it some time to see if he works it out.

Jenifer - posted on 05/21/2009

Sounds like comfort nursing - totally normal for a 4 month old, especially after an illness. If you'd like to use the binky to calm him, that's fine. At 4 months, if he were hungry in the middle of the night, he'd let you know by crying. My son is almost 9 months, and he still occasionally wants to nurse for comfort in the middle of the night.

Selina - posted on 05/21/2009

I agree...let him cry it out. And get rid of the binky!! You will be up and down all night putting it back in him mouth. He doesn't need it. I have 4 kids....2 with binky's 2 without. It's much better without.

Jen - posted on 05/21/2009

the waking in the middle of the night seems like he hasn't learned to soothe himself yet. when he wakes up in the middle of the night give him like 10 or so minutes b4 u go in. he needs to learn to soothe himself back to sleep.(don't wait if he is screaming) do this if it is a little fuss. as for the formula or the breast i would discuss that with your dr. The bowel movements are curious to me because I breast fed my kids and they always went several times a day. I would question ur dr about that. his waking up so often could be due to stomach discomfort. if there are no health issues with him try the first suggestion of the self soothing. good luck

Liv - posted on 05/21/2009

Very commen for babies to do this after illness. If you know he is not hungry just let him cry it out. Best thing for both of you.