Won't go back to sleep in the night.

[blinky]

My LO is 6mos and she wakes twice a night - 11pm and 3am
AT 11pm we give her the DF and she goes back to sleep.
At 3am she won't go back to sleep until 4.30am

We're on 4 hr EASY and I'm doing gentle removal of the pacifier as befoe I thought she was waking up for the pacifier. But it seems I'm wrong.

I need to get her to go back to sleep, i have to go back to work and can't have 3-4.30am party time every night.

Please help

[robynfuller]

Just wanted to say you are not alone, my lo also started waking at weird times (but not set times) she bit sick though, could yours be going through 6 month growth spurt.  Just a suggestion, maybe up her calorries during the day.

Hugs to you and hope it gets beter soon, good luck going back to work. 
Robyn

[blinky]

thanks Robyn for answering.
I've tried giving her more milk during the day but she's a very poor feeder and will only have 100ml at a time.  I end up feeding her to sleep to get more milk into her and to avoid using the pacifier.
Even the doc said she wasn't getting enough but she's still gaining weight (doesn't help the night waking though)
Before she used to wake in the night, feed and go straight back to sleep. Now we party.

[robynfuller]

I thought of something that might help. Have you tried wake to sleep there is alot of  info on it, on one of the sleep boards. Sorry cant remember exaclty which one. Especially if it is at the same time evrynight. Might be worth a try. Sorry I cant be of more help though. But maybe one of the moderators will answer you soon they are really great, helped me a ton.
It will come right just keep positive.
Robyn

[blinky]

Thanks Robyn, you're so kind.
I'm just recovering from laser eye surgery and dh is spending the night's with LO at the
moment.
As soon as my eyes are rested, I'm going to go and do wake to sleep. I've thought about it several times (I'm just terrified she'll wake up and not go back to sleep again for 1hr 1/2.       )

Hope everything is going well with you.

Blinky

[robynfuller]

Yes you must get some rest for those eyes. When doing wake to sleep you dont really wake them, just get them to stir enough to settle into the next sleep cycle (stroke the cheek, pull slightly at blanky etc) but seriously read the posts on this (W2S) they are a great help. Youre doing a great job, good that dh is helping you.
Robyn

[blinky]

DH has just offered to do every night!            
Last night she woke at 2.30am only and after 100ml of milk, went straight back to sleep.
He thought it was because of his good parenting skills.   

[teezee]

just wanted to add here that maybe your lo waking for the df is causing a problem. the dreamfeed is supposed to be done when a lo is still asleep, if they are not it can actually disturb sleeping patterns.

if you would like to post lo's routine i am sure it is just a matter of tweaking as at 6 months they usually drop the catnap and extend A times here and there

[robynfuller]

Hubbies can be soo sweet.   
Good luck to you.

[blinky]

Thanks teezee

We aren't giving a df anymore because she was taking less and less and sometimes would lie as flat as  a pancake and not suck a thing.
Now we're on

7am eat
8.30 nap

11am eat
1pm nap

3pm eat
4.30pm nap

6.30pm bath
7.00pm bottle & bed

Last night she woke at 1am and dh fed her. He then woke her at 5am by sneezing.   
I think maybe she's going through a growth spurt as yesterday she had 800ml during the day which she's never had before.
Her naps also vary considerably. Most of the time she struggles to get onto the 2nd 45min cycle.  Only when she's very tired can she do it.

Thanks again
blinky

[teezee]

it very well could be a growth spurt at this time.

also, i think you could stand to extend A time slowly and see if that helps..once you have extended that A time some you can try dropping the catnap-about this age alot of lo's need to get rid of it as it provides too much daysleep and can really interfere with night sleep b/c lo just isn't tired enough to stay asleep. with the extended A time it should help push the day forward some so lo can make it without the catnap, although for the first while you may have to put lo down an hr earlier to avoid getting overtired.

[blinky]

I'll certainly have a go at extending her A time, her tired signs are rubbing eyes and going quiet.  She doesn't start yawning for a while.  Maybe i should wait for the yawns.
I'm aiming for 2 naps of 1 1/2hr-2hrs but naps aren't always completely successful.  She'll go down easily enough, but usually wakes after 45mins and wont sleep again after that. It throws our whole day off every time.

thanks again
Blinky

[teezee]

if she is waking at her first sleep cycle than she prob isn't tired enough to stay asleep kwim? def go with the yawns - even those didn't indicate to me that my lo was tired at that age - i kinda just had to get a feel for it - by of course trial and error. looks like you are headed in the right direction!! keep up the great work and keep us updated on your progress

[blinky]

Good news! 
I kept LO up for an extra 10 mins before her first nap and she's slept through the 45min barrier.   
she still woke up in the night though at 4am.  It's never the same time, must be hunger right?
Thanks again,
Blinky

[teezee]

try to settle lo at the night wakings and if she wakes within the hr assume it's hunger and feed.

congrats on the nap accomplishment!!