21 week old waking before DF?!

[Ammvm]

My almost 21 week old son is EBF and on a 4 hour EASY.  He eats at 7, and then we do a DF at 10.  He has been STTN since about 10 weeks and sleeps through the DF.  This past week, he has woken up crying at 9:30pm.  He isn't teething or going through any developmental milestones.

Why would he be waking up?  And it's not even that he's waking up during the DF...he's not even making it that far!

[becj86]

What's his day look like? Are his naps starting to get shorter - 1hr15, 1hr20ish? If so, he may just be getting OT and need a bit more A time in the day to make his naps long enough to be restorative again.

He may be hungry - if AF has come back, your supply may have dropped a bit and the evening feed may not be as much as it was a week ago, yk?

Any other changes in the household? Gone back to work, different sleeping arrangements, stress? LO's can pick up on that...

[Ammvm]

Nothing has really changed, and no AF. He takes (2) 2 hr naps and a catnap. I guess I'll just see if it continues. Maybe he just had an off week?

[becj86]

Totally possible. DS had a growth spurt at 5 months instead of 6... they don't read the books

Let's know how it is in a few days

[Ammvm]

ok he woke again last night which makes 4x in the past week.  Here's his schedule for yesterday:

E 7
A 6:45-8:45
S 8:45-10:30

E 11
A 10:30-12:15
S 12:30-2:30

E 3
A 2:30-4:15
S 4:25-5:25

E 7
asleep by 7:30 and then woke at 9:30

[becj86]

I'd try throwing in a cluster feed at 5:30 when he wakes from his PM nap, just to see if that makes a difference - your supply may just be dipping a bit in the evening.

Is there a noise at 9:30 - you getting ready for bed or something that may be waking him?

[Ammvm]

I thought you weren't supposed to cluster feed at this age?  And nothing is waking him because we are downstairs and he is up.

[becj86]

I cluster fed til 9 months because it worked and if I didn't, DS woke earlier at night and I knew my supply was lower at that time of day. Really its a fairly natural cluster feed as you would usually feed after each nap and before bed, yk? I know the book says to stop cluster feeding quite early on...

[Ammvm]

So frustrated. He woke up again last night. Do you think it's hunger or now a habitual waking that he's just used to getting up at that time?

[becj86]

I honestly think its hunger from what you've said. Is he eating more during the day?

When did he wake last night?

[Ammvm]

I did the adF about 9:45 and he was awake. He also woke up crying at 1am and he hasn't done that since he was 10 weeks (he's 5 months now). Are these indicators of being ready for solids?

[becj86]

Are these indicators of being ready for solids?

Yes, increased appetite is one of the signs, other indicators of being ready for solids are: good head/neck control and being able to sit when supported; tongue thrust reflex gone; opening mouth when food is offered and showing interest in food (eg. on your plate); and imitating eating.

Is he sleeping in a cot with his sister? Maybe she is moving/self settling at that time and he is waking?

Could be his sleep is being disrupted by a mental milestone - wonder week http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php/about-the-wonder-weeks/your-babys-10-leaps/mental-leap-4

[Ammvm]

They sleep in separate cribs and she is fast asleep when I go into their room for the DF so she's not waking him up.

[becj86]

Hmmm... ok. That's most of my go-to answers

I will have a think and also see if I can get a few more eyes on your thread.

[Erin M]

My thoughts are either hunger or teeth.  My ds went through a significant gs at 5 months -- not "in the books" exactly but it was very real.  I would think teeth -- not that the teeth are. Reaming through right now but moving around under the gums.  We have gone through a few periods like that which turned out to be teeth related -- not that I knew it at the time but it is what it turned out to be.