4.5 month old waking between 3am and 4am? Insight?

[foxyburd]

can I jump in on this old thread?
I am going through something very similar - my 5 month is waking at 4am - eventually crying with hunger - he literally will suck my neck off if I dont feed him at this time. My last feed for him is currently at 11.30pm when my hubby gets in from work - do you think moving this back to 10.30pm will make a difference?
Typically the main issue is that I cant get back to sleep after 4am so end up being a crabby miserable mother for the rest of the day, and my 4 year old doesnt really appreciate this 

[Bryony]

Foxyburd - I've split this into a new topic as I think you will get a better response that way! 

I know what you mean about not being able to get back to sleep once you've got up at 4am...

Can you post your routine for us?

Bryony

[foxyburd]

here is his routine:

wake 4am BF one-side
E: 7-8am BF one-side + baby rice
S: 9-9.15am (1 - 1.5 hrs)
E: 10.30am 6oz bottle
E: 12 - 12.30am 1 cube veggies
S: 12.30 - 12.45pm (2 hours)
E: 2.30pm BF one-side
S: 4 - 4.30pm (30 mins)
E:5pm baby rice
S: 6.30-7pm
E: 11.30pm DF 8oz

all this is done without any fuss - no props or persuasion.
He is 5months 20lbs - pretty big guy.
But the 4am wake starts with fussing, but turns into full out crying. Seems to get worse when I go to him and I end up feeding him. He seems genuinely hungry too.
The only other factor is we came back from the UK last week, but we all seem to be back on schedule ok.
please advise

[foxyburd]

oops
I missed out his bedtime feed - he also takes a bottle 8oz at 6.30 - 7pm.

[Bryony]

Phew, I was worried then until I read your last post!

A few thoughts:

You say he does seem genuinely hungry - he is still only young and it might be that he does need that feed.   Has this started recently or has he always been waking for another night feed? 

He's on a lot of solids for such a young baby - although this may be a rather personal view on my part, as where I come from (UK) most people don't start until nearer 6 months. However, you might want to be careful that he's still filling up on milk rather than solids - a tummy full of milk has a lot more calories than a tummy full of veg or fruit... 

Also you said you were in the UK last week - where are you now, and what is the time difference?  It can take a long time to adjust after time zone changes.

Finally,  his last A time is really long - 2 - 2.5hrs A time is a loooong time after only a 30 mins nap. My LO is 9 months old and I would put her to bed 1.5hrs after a 30 min catnap. So it may also be that he is overtired which can lead to wake-ups...  what time does he wake up in the morning (other than 4am?  )

hope that gives you a few thoughts to be going on with 

Bryony