3mo and regular 4am waking

[ALmom]

For the last month, J has tended to wake around 4am and we play a few rounds of the paci game* for about an hour.  Aside from this one hour he sleeps fine; "bedtime" is around 7pm, nightfeed around 10-10.30, and he goes back to sleep around 5am and sleep for almost 2 hours before waking.

Are we supposed to do shush-pat?  Will he grow out of this?  Is the paci a prop, or is this habitual night waking?  He doesn't wake *every* night, maybe 5/7.


*I'm sure you know it.  I'd be more inclined to wean him off except he has reflux and the sucking does seem to help.

[becj86]

What is his daytime routine?
When did you last review his meds - dosage, effectiveness? It does sound pretty classic of reflux symptoms and I think you're right to keep the paci since he has reflux.

[ALmom]

His meds were readjusted just last month, and he seems to be okay on that score - no crying after feeding, no excessive spitting up.  We keep him raised (no carseat or lying down) for 30 mins after eating.

Daytime routine:

meds about 6.45am when he starts to wake, then gets up about 15 mins later
E - around 7.15am
A
S - 8.15 for about an hour
E - 9.30
A
S - 11am for about 1.5 hrs
E - 1pm
A
S - 3.30pm for about 2 hrs
E - 6pm
A
S - 7pm
E - 8.30pm
E - around 10, 10.30pm
paci game - around 4am-5am

[Shiv52]

Are you feeding at 4-5 am?

At 3 months it would be totally reasonable to need to be fed at 4-5 am if he hasn't fed since 10/10.30 the night before.

[ALmom]

No, because he's been gradually starting to sleep through (I guess he's at 2 nights out of 7 right now) and he does go back to sleep for 2-3 hours after.  He also doesn't *act* hungry, he just wants to suck.

Should we feed him when he wakes?  Normally it's very apparent when he's hungry, and he won't settle for more than an hour.  With the paci game, each round lasts up to 20 minutes, averaging about 12 mins.  By round 5 he normally goes back to sleep.  In the interim, he's quite happy.  No diaper change required (we checked a number of times before).

[becj86]

Honestly, I'd just feed too, especially at this age. At least try it and see if it helps him get back to sleep quicker - feed and both of you back in bed is significantly better in my book than spending an hour trying to get him back to see IMO.

[*Kara*]

I would feed as well.  There is a growth spurt around 12 weeks and another one at 16 weeks.  I always assumed hunger at this age.

[Shiv52]

If it was just a need to suck then he should just go back to sleep after you give him the paci. I would feed at this stage too.

[ALmom]

I'll try that next time.

Just to confuse me more, he only snacked at the dreamfeed last night, so when he woke at 5am for the paci game I realized I needed to give him his medicine so he could eat in 1/2 hr because (as suggested above) he would probably be hungry.  I gave him the meds... and then he slept till 7.45am!

[becj86]

It could be discomfort - sometimes it is with refluxers - they have an increase in symptoms or they are in lighter sleep and are more likely to wake from discomfort in the early hours of the morning.

[maibaby]

I am having the same issue with my 12 week old. He dream feeds at 11pm but wakes at 4am every night. Before we put him on EASY I just gave the paci, carried him, rocked him until he fell asleep but he would wake up and sleep intermittently until around 7am.  Day 2 into EASY he woke up at 4am. Tried the paci but he would take it and spit it intermittently for about 20min. I finally gave him a bottle and he finished 6oz which is what he normally takes every feeding. S I guess his 4am waketime was due to hunger? Habitual waking too?

[Shiv52]

I'd go for hunger at 4am if its been 5 hours since last feed.

[becj86]

I'd go for hunger at 4am if its been 5 hours since last feed.

Agree! These babies are still so little its perfectly normal for them to need to feed 2-3 times per night.

[ALmom]

Even if he's not giving any indication of hunger, other than waking up and being happy with a paci?

[Shiv52]

If he's happy with a paci and goes back to sleep and stays asleep then by all means resettle. But if they settle and then wake 15 minutes later and need resettled over and over then personally feeding is easier as it gets them resettled quickly and means they aren't getting used to the whole paci/rocking/needing mummy to resettle for that few hours every morning.