My DD has woken 3 nights in a row before the dream feed. This has happened before but never 3 nights in a row. I usually DF at 11pm but have been experimenting with the time because she’s waking before it at least once a week now for the last 3 weeks or so. It’s a mantra cry not a hunger cry. 3 nights ago she woke at 10pm which also happened to be 45 mins after getting to sleep. I had a hard job getting her to sleep that night. Not sure why, she didn’t seem overtired, I think perhaps she was too hot, then got really upset and overtired. Normally she goes to bed about 7.30pm. For the last month I’ve been working on getting her to put herself to sleep and with the odd exception that’s been working really well. (Previously I was shush-patting her all the way to sleep for naps and nighttime and I’d be in there for 20-40 mins).
So 3 nights in a row:
- 1st night, she woke at 10pm which also happened to be 45 mins after getting to sleep
- 2nd night, she woke at 8.15, 45 mins after getting to sleep. I shushed her back to sleep easily (to my surprise). Then she woke at 10.35. It wasn’t a hunger cry but I fed her cos I figured by the time I got her back to sleep it might be past 11pm.
- Last night I was just about to go in and DF her when she woke at 10.20. I tried shush-pat for all of 2 minutes before giving up and feeding her.
Am I teaching her that she needs the breast to resettle? Should I just feed her or attempt to resettle and feed later? What time am I supposed to do the DF? She does a mantra cry which then becomes emotional. Help!!
Previously if she woke before the DF, I did the DF the next night 15 mins before she woke and then went back to 11pm and it didn’t happen again. I wouldn’t mind doing it at 10:30 and getting to bed earlier.
(We’ve come back from a long weekend away – last weekend – and the night we got back she woke at 1, 4, 6, so maybe she’s still getting over that?? She’s also woken at 5:50am a few nights this week (not this morning) and I’ve fed her when she got worked up – about 6.15. Thought it was a hunger cry but realised later it was only a mantra cry – I still get confused cos the “coughing” sound is a bit similar……. I BF both sides and she only took one side and didn’t seem ravenous. Usually she used to stir about 6:15 and go back to sleep and I’d wake her at 7, or often she’d wake up again just before 7).
I’d be grateful for any help
How old is your child? 5 months (22 weeks)
What’s his/her daily routine? See below
What’s nap routine? Same as bedtime routine (without feed) see below.
How long are naps?
Often still 35-40 mins. A few are now 1.5 hrs but only happens occasionally.
What's bedtime routine?
Bath, go to bedroom, close curtains, play lullaby music, feed, swaddle, sit on my knee few mins. Bed.
Time? 7-7.30
Do you bottle or breastfed?? BF
How much? or how long?
Usually 15-20 mins in total. But takes most of it in about 3-5 mins each side.
If breastfed.. one side or both?? (at each feed)
Both sides always.
How many wakes per night? Usually no wake-ups. But lately – wake at 10pm-ish and 5.50am.
What’s your LO like when waking at night? 10pm – upset. How long is he/she up? I do DF early.
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry?
Starts as mantra cry. Try to wait till real cry till go to her.
What have you tried to settle??
Shush pat.
What do you do for A time and how long is it?
Quiet in morning. play while I have shower. Other times – play gym, play with toys. Look out window. Mother’s group.
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones?
Has just found her feet. No evidence of her playing with feet in bed.
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months)
No
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? No
Do they have a lovie?No
What’s his/her daily routine?
The routine varies a lot at the moment due to erratic length of naps. I’m moving her to 3.5 hr EASY. She can definitely go 3.5 between feeds most times. I’m watching her tired signs carefully and put her down as soon as she’s tired (especially while I was sleep training her). “A” time is usually about 1.75 hrs.
Yesterday the first 2 naps were 1.25 hrs (by herself - I didn’t extend). Feeds were at 7.10, 10.55, 2.30, 5.35, 6.30 (topup) bed at 7.
Here’s a typical day at present.
7 wake up, change nappy
E 7:15
A 7.45
S 8.30 start wind-down. (Asleep 8.50, Slept 40 mins)
Awake, A 9.30
E 10.45
A 11.15
S 11.45 start wind-down (Asleep 12.20, Slept 35 mins)
Awake, A 12.55
E 1.25
A 1.55
S 2.25 start wind-down (Asleep 2.45, Slept 1.5 hrs – I extended nap with shpat)
Awake, A 4.20
E 5.05
A 5.35
(Sometimes will have a catnap, depends on time of last waking and naps so far)
Bath 6.05
E 6.35 feed (top-up)
S 6.55 Start wind-down (In bed 7pm. Asleep 7.15)
E 10.35 Dream Feed
She woke 5.50am in morning. Fed at 6.20 (not sure if was really hungry).
Before moving towards 3.5 hr EASY, the routine was:
7 wake up, change nappy
E 7:15
A 7.45
S 8.30 (45 mins)
A 9.30
E 10.00
A 10.30
S 11.30 (45 mins)
A 12.30
E 1.00
A 1.30
S 2.15 (45 mins)
A 3.15
E 3.30
A 4.00
S 5.00 (45 mins) Doesn't always have this nap if too overtired and hard to settle.
E 6.00
A 6:30 bath
E 7.00 feed (usually small top-up)
S 7:30.
E 11 Dream Feed
