Fitful sleep from 5 a.m. onwards

[Mommylgee]

My lo used to sleep through the night (from her last DF 10 a.m. - 6 or 7 a.m.) but has within the last 2 weeks, become very fitful from 5 a.m. onwards.  She will make grunting noises, then put herself back to sleep again.  This will go on and on until her wake time in the morning.  It's so frustrating because from the moment she starts grunting (she grunts loud  , I can't put myself back to sleep again, and neither can DH.  Sometimes I'll get up to go feed her, but by the time I get to her crib (usually grab a water bottle from the fridge first) she'll be sleeping again.  I have fed her some nights, but even when she takes the feed, her sleep is still fitful afterward.  Has anyone experienced this?  Her naps are getting better each day (full morning naps, and 30% of the time, her 2nd and 3rd naps are complete) - so I would expect her to get better sleep at night.  I worry she's hungry, but if she was, wouldn't she start actually crying?  Any advice appreciated!

[rob1lu2]

My girls do this and to be honest, I put a pillow over my ears. I know that sounds terrible.  But honestly, I used to go in there and try to settle them and it would only upset them more. They used to take a pacifier and I would spend an hour or more replugging them 6 or more times.

If you want to post your schedule, we can take a look at it. But TBH, from 4am on most LOs sleep lightly b/c the sleep inducing hormone is reduced b/c it's closer to the beginning of their day. They are almost all "slept out".

I would say this is incredibly normal. It may make me sound like a bad parent for putting the pillow over my ears (and I don't believe I am), but you'll hear her if she *really* needs you.

JMO
Lu

[Mommylgee]

Okay - now I don't feel so guilty, because I do the same thing!  but just in case, here's her schedule:

7 - E
7:30-7:45 - A
8:15- S
10 - E
10:45 - A
11:30 - S
1:00 - E
1:45 - A
2:30 - S
4:00 - E
4:45 - A
5:30 - catnap
6:15 - bath
6:30 - play with DH
7:00 - Eat and straight to bed
10 - DF

She'll be 3 months tomorrow, and as mentioned, the naps are not 100% (she's awake now) but are getting better.  I'm hoping to move to a 3.5 hr schedule soon.  Any thoughts?

[rob1lu2]

Okay - now I don't feel so guilty, because I do the same thing!  but just in case, here's her schedule:

  

Your schedule looks spot on to me. If you want to start transitioning her to the 3.5 you can pretty much do it, very gently, in the next week or so. You'll definitely want her to be closer to the 4 hour EASY by the time she is 4 months old b/c you can get a whole host of problems if they are still on the little baby EASY.

So, in summation, pillow over head. Or ear plugs.  She'll let you know if she needs you.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Lu

PS Your avatar is darling! She is precious! And happy 3 month birthday to her!

[Mommylgee]

Thanks so much, Lu!   I feel relieved about that now.    Definitely don't want to leave DD if she's hungry.  I just wish I was a heavier sleeper!
Best to you and your lo's!  They're cuties!

[rob1lu2]

Thanks! Same to you and if you ever need anything let us know!

Lu

[pbmom]

Hi - just wanted to chime in and say that mine was doing this (she's now 5 mos) and i got in a bad habit of feeding as I worried she was hungry...she wasn't.  I ended up having to use pu/pd to get rid of the NW as she started waking for a feed and then the entire morning was off as she wouldn't eat at 7am...yadayada.  So, I would agree.  If she screams the I need you cry, go, but if not...turn the monitor down a bit or put a pillow over your ears and go back to sleep.  Don't make the mistake I did!!!!

Sounds like you are doing great at 3 mos old - congrats - good job!!!!!!!!!!!!

[*Nicola*]

Just wanted to add that DD2, now 7 weeks, also does this. 

Very annoying as I can't settle either and she is still in our room    so very noisy!! I just leave her to it though as intervening would upset her. 

[ele]

hi I have a couple of questions as I have some similar problems, were you breastfeeding?
also you are saying the naps were not great. how bad? my lo is crying through her naps a lot recently. the only one that is ok is the first one. lunch nap is the worst sometimes sleeps only 30 min.
since you posted so long ago, how did these issues progress?

[ele]

also, you had a very nice routine, it's close to where my baby is who is the same age (we are at an ever failing Gina Ford routine which just doesn't work for us), but it seems different from baby-whisperer also (I am still familiarizing myself with it though) because you feed just before night sleep. what is the source of your routine please and what it was after she turned three months. thank you!