Hunger or habit.

[blue2006]

Hello. 

At four months my son started waking on the hour at night he’s only recently stopped at 5 and half months – before this sleep deprived month or so he’d only woken once or twice in the night from a very young age. A week old I think it was even though he was two weeks early and smallish 6lbs 5.5oz (he’s still small for his age).  Anyway we have managed to get the night wakings down to about two on average again.  I’ve added a dreamfeed and won’t feed on the second waking.  His first wake up tends to be between 2 and 3am. 

Since it’s not at the same time every night could hunger still be the issue?

He is BF.

I asked about something else on the BF board and mentioned the night waking Samuel’s mum has given me good advice “Try and feed him the 'minimum' at night he'll let you get away with. Take him off gently and hope he'll go back to sleep. Or try having someone else go in and settle him first before you go in - it's worth a go.” Which I’m going to try tonight, but I’m curious to know the difference between habitual waking and waking for other reasons.

[Katet]

Once babies get around about 4mo they get into a "physical developmental" stage eg starting to move (roll) & so can wake themselves up by moving or by just having tingly muscles.
My thought is if you have limited the wakings previously - assuming you didn't feed on the hourly wakings - although they could have been a growth spurt- I would try the advice given by Samuel's Mum.

[blue2006]

assuming you didn't feed on the hourly wakings - although they could have been a growth spurt- I would try the advice given by Samuel's Mum.

Wow thanks for the quick reply!  Um, I did feed on the hour because I thought is was a growth spurt but then it became our habit! I wasn't following the BW at the time.  When the 45 minute naps kicked in at 6 weeks I floundered and didn't realise I could have stuck with it!  Yes I am kicking myself now. 

[Colin Macs Mom]

It's ok, we all become the victims of accidental parenting at one point or another.    If he's waking at different times and it's not consistent, that does usually indicate hunger. At his age it would be pretty normal to wake for a feed between 2 and 3.

[Kimberly®]

I agree it does like hunger. I also agree with the advice you got from Samuel’s mum. I suspect the first feeding is the hunger waking, and the other is more habit.
I would suggest you continue to feed at the first waking, and when he wakes the second time have someone else go in to settle him, if he doesn't smell you or the BM he may settle easier. Pat/Shush or PU/PD may be all thats needed.
Don't kick yourself too hard, after all we'ed all be black and blue if we followed suit  We've all been there.

[Katet]

Even second time around you fall into pitfalls, that is part of parenting.

Personally I actually think it is better after (or close to) the 6mo mark to try & drop the first feeding as by 7-8mo most babies can go 10-12 hours between feeds & "developmentally" they start to learn they wake up they get fed, so if they learn they wake up & don't get fed they are more likely to drop later feeds on their own (I know my friend is going through this with her almost 7mo who she weaned off the first night feed (11pmish) & then within 2 weeks of solids starting the 3/4am feed went of it's own... it also happened with my ds#2 I didn't ever do a df with him & decided to re settle on his 11.30pm feed at 3mo & he then started doing 10.5 hours dropping 2 night feeds within  days of that.

[blue2006]

Thank you all for your advise.  I'm sorry I didn't say thanks sooner.  Things are turning nightmarish at the moment.

The 5am wake up it turning into a disaster.  I posted about it this morning but can't find the post!  I'll have to do another search. 

I also don't want to feed him that close to his supposed wake up of 7.00 but I was distaught this morning when he wouldn't go back to sleep! 

Also I should add that Liam used to be a snacker and is doing well during the day and often managing to wait 4 hour before the next feed that is until the evening when he wants to cluster feed.

[blue2006]

Forgot to ask

If ds is waking between 5 and 5.20 what time should I do the wake to sleep? 4am?  Do I stir him of wake him properly? 

[Colin Macs Mom]

I would try 4:15 or so, and NO you do not want to actually wake him. Just make him stir to switch sleep cycles. Depending on how heavy a sleeper he is, stroke his cheek, tug the blanket, that sort of thing.

[blue2006]

Thanks Jessica.  I didn't get to try it out last night, as I didn't get your post till this morning. 

BUT guess what! YES he only woke once at about 2.30 for a feed and slept through till 6.30am! 

Not sure why all of a sudden he decided to sleep on!  He did go to bed later.  Not sure on the exact time between 8.30 and 9pm.  I'm not sure if the later bedtime was the reason he sleep till later or not. 

I also DF him at 10.30 instead of the usual 10pm.

Anyway I've decided to document what him and I do for a few days to find out what is really happening - identify the pitfalls and that sort of thing.  (I started doing this last night). 

I think I've been trying to tackle too much.  Thanks for your support.

Tasha

[Colin Macs Mom]

Let us know how it goes!