EW's - I think I'm doing it all right, but why aren't they going away???

[nancypants]

My lo just is turning 3 mos. tomorrow. He is 15.5 pounds. Formula fed.

Previously he was waking around the usual 5-6 am EW time and I would go in and reswaddle and pacify and EVENTUALLY he would go down until 7:00 or 7:30 am. 

He is now waking anywhere between 3:30 - 4:45 am.  I go in, re swaddle and pacify him, but I spend a good 30 minutes in there because once that pacifier falls out it wakes him up again.  I'm thinking "in this time, I could have fed him three times over and been back to bed"  However, I do NOT want to get him used to eating at that time, and he DOES eventually go back to sleep, so I know he doesn't need the food (I think). 

I read the FAQ about EW's and I think I do everything - room darkening, white noise, re-pacify, no feeding so as not to get used to eating at that time), etc. 

I was first wondering if I'm doing all the "right things" so to speak, when will these EW's go away?  Or should I just feed? I don't know. 

Then, for some reason for the last three days he's gotten up at 3:30 (twice) and 4:45 this morning.  What's the scoop on this one? I don't know what to do. 

I know it sounds like two separate issues, but I treat BOTH as EW's.  Furthermore, I'm afraid that the pacifier will become my arch nemesis (ie: dependency)..... although he is only 3 months.

Any ideas? Or any thoughts as to what is going on?

[Colin Macs Mom]

Sorry Nancy.... but I think the paci is already your arch nemesis.

once that pacifier falls out it wakes him up again. 

there you have it - a key sign that the paci is a prop. Tracy recommended getting rid of it by 3 months exactly for this reason.

[*Nicola*]

Hiya

If he needs the paci to go to sleep/when he wakes up then that could be an issue.

Also, how much is he feeding during the day, is he having a DF and is he feeding at all during the night.  At 3 months it is very realistic for him to still need at least one night feed.  If he is waking, taking a while to resettle and then waking again then I would be thinking hunger. If he's waking at 5/6am I would be feeding him.  

There is a huge growth spurt at 3 months, which might explain your extra wakings.  Very common for them to start waking more at night to eat during a GS.  good info in that link for dealing with GS's .. http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=67976.0

[*Nicola*]

Jess got there just before me

[nancypants]

Also, how much is he feeding during the day, is he having a DF and is he feeding at all during the night.  At 3 months it is very realistic for him to still need at least one night feed.  If he is waking, taking a while to resettle and then waking again then I would be thinking hunger. If he's waking at 5/6am I would be feeding him.  

He gets 6 oz of formula per feed, on a 7:30 EASY schedule.  He does not DF because he didn't ever seem to need one, and I always try to be in bed long before 10:30 pm.  He does not wake in the night for a feed at all.

You mentioned you would feed at 5/6 am....but won't this just reinforce him waking at that time EVERY morning??  As well, like last night for example, he woke at 4:45 and then once settled, he was good until 7:15 am.   

We will definitely try to phase out the pacifier. Although, at night when he goes down for bed, he doesn't require it -- it only seems like he does at some naps and in the EW.

I'm just confused on feeding at night so as not to reinforce waking for a feed (as I know he can go without a feed)....also, if it IS actually a GS and I feed him in the middle of the night, will the one or two times I have to do it teach him to wake up that way every night???

[*Nicola*]

he was waking around the usual 5-6 am EW time and I would go in and reswaddle and pacify and EVENTUALLY he would go down until 7:00 or 7:30 am. 

Ok .. when you said EVENTUALLY I assumed you meant he was taking ages to settle and therefore, with a 3 month old, I would have offered a feed

Also, how much is he feeding during the day, is he having a DF and is he feeding at all during the night.  At 3 months it is very realistic for him to still need at least one night feed.  If he is waking, taking a while to resettle and then waking again then I would be thinking hunger. If he's waking at 5/6am I would be feeding him.  

  He does not wake in the night for a feed at all.
I'm just confused on feeding at night so as not to reinforce waking for a feed (as I know he can go without a feed)....also, if it IS actually a GS and I feed him in the middle of the night, will the one or two times I have to do it teach him to wake up that way every night???

If he's stopped the night feeding then that's great If it is a growth spurt then usually you feed him when he wakes at night (first night) and begin upping the day calories the next day.  For us the extra night feed lasted 3 nights or so. 

[Colin Macs Mom]

Ditto!

[*Nicola*]

Fixed the growth spurt link