BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Night Wakings => Topic started by: colenliam on November 23, 2005, 21:51:00 pm
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My 4 month old started sleeping though the night when he was almost 3 months. Went to bed at 10:30 and I would wake him up at 7:00. We flew home for a visit at the first of the month which had a 3 hour time difference. He adjusted really well but when we came back 12 days later he wanted to go to bed much earlier and get up 2 or 3 times though the night screaming, like I have never heard before and wanted a bottle. As hard as I try I can't get him back on our routine. It has been 2weeks now. He has no problems falling asleep, he does rather well. I don't know if it is the time differance, a growth spurt, teething. I just don't know what to do???
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My thought is if he is taking a full or almost full bottle at the night wakeups it is probably a growth spurt. Try upping the amount he takes in the day time.
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I had the same problem with my dd around the same time (lasted for a few weeks) and I kept feeding her thinking she was hungry but realized that she was able to spread out the feedings more during the day. I then tried to give her the pacifier like the book says at night and it worked so I knew that it must have started as a growth spurt but ended up becoming a habit.
Then she got a little better with the pacifier but still woke up (I believe she started depending on the pacifier so calm her so she needed us to put it back in). I am now putting her into a 4 hour easy and wheening her from the paci - using Tracy's last book which explains everything wonderfully. At 4 months they should last about 8 hours at night after the 10-11 dream feed. See if he takes the pacifier at night and that should give you an idea if it's a growth spurt or not. I know growth spurts don't last more than a few days to a week so that's a hint! Also, Tracy says in the book that once they change their naps and get on a four hour easy, their night sleep should improve (i.e. extending their naps by pu/pd and extending their activity time).
Another thing...
I read in a few books that it's best for babies to sleep around 7-8pm. It's healthier for them and contrary to popular myth, a later bed-time does not mean a later rising because they become overtired and their waking will increase at night if that's the case.
I have done a lot of reading about baby's sleep and all of the books say the same - that sleep begets sleep.
Good luck!
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Thank you so much fo r your replys. I just started reading the book actually, and am going to try to get ourselves into the easy routine. I think he his getting himselve overtired cause I can;t get him to eat a whole lot during the day, plus he is getting pretty cranky. Thanks for you help.