4 month growth spurt?

[lma3566]

Hi! My name is Lauren and my little guy's name is Thomas.  We are transitioning him into his crib from the Nap Nanny, and so far it's as to be expected! 

Thomas is on the 4 hour EASY routine and it's going pretty well.  He falls asleep well during naps and bad time, but wakes frequently.  He is a binkie baby, so I am not ready to take that away yet, but rather use it along with PU/PD. 

He hasn't needed to eat in the middle of the night for a few weeks now, but last night he woke at 3:30 (around the time he used to feed) and was clearly starving.  He was fed and happy.  He takes 7 oz. per bottle, and I recently started giving 8 (that seems like A LOT to me!!) during the day.  I will be starting him on cereal soon as I can't wrap my head around giving a 4 month old 8 ounces!!

I guess my first (of many down the line, I'm sure!) question is: is 4 months a growth spurt age?  If so, that would really explain his frequent waking and wanting to eat when he didn't used to.  Also, what are others' thoughts on 8 ounces per feed?!

Thanks SO much!

[jessmum46]

4 months is a HUGE growth spurt so you're doing the exact right thing by feeding

Is he a big baby?  Although 8oz per feed would (I think) be considered quite a lot for a 4 month old in general, the amount of milk babies need is related to their weight so bigger babies often take more milk.  Unless there are concerns about excessive weight gain, I'd just go with it! 

Also just to mention - PUPD is used to teach LO to settle independently and to break the association with props.  For that reason you can't really use a pacifier along with PUPD, unless the LO is old enough to replug it themselves, at which point it is a comfort item, not a prop.  If you want to keep the paci for now I would stick with shh-pat

[lma3566]

Thanks! I am SO happy to hear that 4 months is a growth spurt age! Thomas is 15 pounds at 4 months and is 25 inches long. He is in 9 month clothes and almost too big for those!  I gave him 8 ounces 2x today and he is happy and okay with it.  I will be introducing rice cereal soon, as per the pediatrician...

Thanks for the advice re: pacis and pu/pd.  I knew that but was kinda hoping to do both anyways...   If I think about it, I have been doing more of the shh-pat than the actual picking up, so I definitely need to pick one and stick with it. Thanks!!