Questions for Dorothy Waide

Hi there are a few things that I would look at here. Firstly with regard to sleeping longer than 1/2 hour during the day - I would suggest you check out my sleeping/settling notes that i have posted on the forum.   These notes are from 12 weeks onwards but you can start using them from 6 weeks.   While resettling I would either have the toddler with me or I would ensure he is otherwise entertained with toys or an educational program on the television.

With regard to feeding, I would look at your diet and would suggest removing dairy from it and seeing it this makes a difference. Some mothers do see a difference overnight, however most people will not see a difference for a few weeks.   ALso you could look at taking fenugreek which will help with your supply levels as remember you do have a toddler in the house and you probably do not get to put your feet up much.   You could also take some omega 3 (fish oil Capsules) this will help to make your milk richer. Have a look at your water intake and perhaps you may need to up this a little. Again I would suggest every time you feed your baby to drink a glass of say 100ml of water and then drink whatever you normally drink during the day. Sometimes we think we are drinking a lot and when we get busy we tend to push this aside.

I have also put my deep latch on notes on the wall for you to look at and see if this helps. It sounds like he is latching onto the nipple and not the breast tissue. Changing position on the breast from cradle to rugby can also help.

Hi I think it is important for reflux babies to not snack as their digestive system needs to empty out completely before re feeding.

Before I would change anything I would look at her daylight routine as this makes the nighttime routine. YOu have not mentioned what or how you are feeding her so this would make a difference to how she will settle and resettle.

Props interfere with a baby's ability to self settle so to try and sort out the issues you are having then you need to just remove the props and start from scratch and work through the settling and resettling with her.

WIth regard to dream feeding it is one of the hardest feeds to break and in my opinion if the baby is sleeping there is no benefit to the baby in having this feed.

Obviously, dreams feeds are one aspect of routines you need to work out for yourself. It may seem a good option when you start doing it, however I have found that a lot of sleeping (in particular night waking) and feeding issues from around 4 months onwards are a consequence of the ‘dream feed’.

Just because you may have decided you no longer want to do a dream feed or that you think your baby no longer needs it that doesn’t necessarily mean that your baby will feel the same and it can be a very difficult element to drop from your baby’s routine.

There is no evidence to indicate that Dream Feeds, those given around 10pm, guarantee parents an uninterrupted night’s sleep or benefit a healthy baby at all.

On the contrary, Dream Feeds are thought to interfere with a baby’s digestion, growth and development and disrupt normal sleeping patterns.

I also do not believe in the 'cry it out' however I do believe in allowing a baby time to have the ability to find their own sleep and will intervene if they cannot do this. Check out my sleeping/settling notes that I have posted on the wall.

Here is a general routine for a baby around your daughters age

Routine for a baby approx 9 months old (I have written this for a breastfeeding baby - would be the same for formula as well)

Before 6.30am Your baby needs to be resettled or left to play in cot

7.00am     Breakfast
          Cereal and fruit – should have more cereal than fruit
          I would suggest trying oatmeal and other cereals if
          You do not like baby rice or if your daughter is a silent refluxer.

Ratio I use for cereal and fruit is 1 tablespoon of cereal to 1 teaspoon of fruit.   Fruit is empty calories and is sweet and does not fill a hungry tummy and then give them the quantity they want.

          Finger food – toast/rusks

          Breast feed as soon as she leaves her highchair

9.45          Morning tea – offer a full breast feed

10.00am     Nap – resettle if she wakes before 1 ½ hours.

12.00pm     Lunch – Vegetables with a good carb and protein
          Offer breast milk once he leaves his highchair

2.15pm     Afternoon tea – offer a full breast feed

2.30pm     Nap – resettle if she wakes before 1 ½ hours

4.30pm     Dinner – Vegetables with a good carb and protein
          Offer breast milk once he leaves his highchair

Evening routine
          Bath
          Top up
          Stories
          Clean teeth
          Sleeping bag

6.45pm     Bed for the night

Night waking
Resettle, resettle resettle – at his age and if she is having a good balanced diet then she does not need calories during the night

It is important that when your baby wakes during the night that you do not feed for comfort.

also please let me know if I have missed your question
Dorothy