Gavriel was born via elective caesarian section at 38 weeks, after his mom (Jo-Anne) went into spontaneous labour. She had a normal pregnancy, with no complications, and elective caesarian section which was performed under spinal anaesthesia, again with no complications. He had a low birth weight of 2.8kg, and lost weight within the first week to 2.5kg.
Jo-Anne had difficulty breast-feeding in the first few days after the birth, as Gavriel was struggling to latch. She saw a breast-feeding consultant at UCLH directly after the birth, was encouraged to use breast shields and the electric pump to express, which she continued to use for the coming weeks at home.
A tongue tie was noted and cut, but this didn’t seem to help with breastfeeding. Gavriel would try to feed for lengthy periods of time (45-60 min), fall asleep sometimes on the breast, but other times be unsatisfied and really upset after feeds, with abdominal cramps and long periods of crying.
Jo-Anne’s milk supply was low despite natural remedies to increase it, and she continued to pump to try provide breast milk via the bottle, which Gavriel took to easily. Unfortunately, he failed to gain adequate weight, and at 3 months, after much trial and effort (breast feeding consultation, craniosacral therapy) – a paediatrician advised that we needed to supplement with formula, and provided Omeprazole for possible reflux. He was more satisfied on the formula, but still suffered with cramping and reflux, until about age 8-9 months.
Solid foods were introduced slowly at around 8-9 months, and he took to them well, enjoying a variety of homemade fruit puree, vegetables and mushed proteins & starch.
Gavriel initially took a dummy to soothe from birth to around 3 months old, at which time he rejected the dummy himself and hasn’t taken to it since. He sucks his fingers/hands only when teething.
He slept in a ‘next to me’ cot in his parents room until age 4/5 months. He never slept in the bed with us. We used a mixed method of hushing/gently shaking the cot / patting his back to get him to settle in his own room. We allowed him to cry for short periods of time, in order to learn to self settle, which he did after about 2-3 weeks.
At around 9-12 months, he went down at 7pm, woke up once during the night around 3-4am for a nappy change and a bottle, and went back to sleep until around 6:30-7am.
He started to sleep through the night around 14-16 months, and only wakes if he is unwell or wet through his nappy. However, he needs the bottle of milk to fall asleep, and has needed this since around 12months. He falls asleep with the bottle in his cot, whilst drinking it. We have tried to reduce the amount of milk, and dilute it with water. He now gets 60ml full cream cows milk, diluted with roughly 100ml water. He generally only takes 1 bottle to go down, but if he wakes or doesn’t fall asleep with it, he asks for ‘more milk’. He sleeps with his friend gorilla, and won’t fall asleep without him.
Wake up around 7am
Has a yoghurt pouch and a fruit at home. Sometimes an oat bar (organix) or some cheerios (wholewheat) if he asks for it at home
Nursery at 9am
Full breakfast at nursery consisting of toast, humus, cream cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, fruit
Lunch at nursery around 12:00, consisting of fish, salad and carbohydrates (examples include tuna bake, salmon fish cakes and salad, vegetarian chicken pieces and noodles)
Nap at nursery roughly 12:30 – 2pm (sometimes Gavi sleeps for just an hour, but usually 1.5 hours). The children sleep on mattresses on the floor, and he doesn’t need milk or his gorilla friend to fall asleep at nursery
On the weekend (sat/sun) when at home, he has a midday nap around the same time, but asks for milk to go down, which we give
Has an afternoon snack at nursery in the mid-afternoon (fruit, rice cakes)
Drinks water mainly. Sometimes offered dilute apple juice if asks for it
Comes home from nursery at 17:00
Dinner given at home around 17:30-18:00. Examples given include: figh fingers and boiled veg / pasta with napolitana sauce and cheese / turkey nuggets + sweet potato fried (oven baked) / cheese omelette with cut up fresh vegetables / gnocchi with pesto sauce and cheese
Gavriel used to eat various forms of meat as a baby, but since becoming a toddler and attending a nursery which only serves fish and vegetables, he doesn’t want to eat any form of meat. Tried chicken, bolognaise mince etc… but he is not keen. So he gets his protein from fish, eggs and diary
Bathtime around 7pm, wind down routine and a story
Bedtime around 8pm
He protests going to sleep in his own cot recently in the last 2-3 months, jumps up and down when we put him there for a few minutes, but once we have left the room, he drinks his milk and settles relatively quickly
Generally doesn’t wake up during the night, unless unwell with a fever or wet, which doesn’t happen very often
Gavriel has been a well child, with no medical issues at all. He has had all his vaccinations, and gets the usual fevers/snotty nose etc from nursery, but its usually self limiting and doesn’t last too long.
There is no relevant family history, on either mom or dad’s side.
How to wean off milk bottle at night, and the habit of using this as a sleep aid
Wanting to potty train Gavriel soon, so would need to get the night milk off
How to transition from a cot to a bed, and tips to get him to settle in a big bed
Any nutrition advice, guidance on what I’m giving him and options for broadening the variety
