14 Week Old Early Waking at 4 a.m.!

[Tweakster]

I call it early waking because he is not always hungry at that time - we have tried feeding and not feeding both to no avail.
It seemed to coincide with his chronic catnapping and his ability to roll over (we tummy sleep him due to reflux and he rolls from tummy to back - he is working on but has not mastered the other way around).

Quick background:  we solved his reflux issues at around 8 weeks - prior to that we AP around the clock to get him any and all sleep.  We transitioned him to crib at around 8 or 9 weeks once we saw that the reflux was in check (he takes Prevacid 2x/day).  He is 14 weeks old and bottle-fed (Nutramigen).  He rarely takes more than 6 oz a feeding (that would be a big feed).

We are trying to get him on a 3-hr. EASY but his inability to sleep and nap has made that problematic.  I am currently working on shh/pat for naps with some success - but not always. All the A time has been scaled back and kept fairly low key while we sort out the naps.

He pretty much sleeps 7 - 11:30 or midnight (wakes to eat - we tried DF but have had varied results and decided to let him wake on his own accord, which pretty much times well with dream feed - this is my DH choice since that is his shift) and goes back down (normally quite easily).   He used to sleep to about 3 or 4 and then eat again and go back down until 6 or 7.  But now even if we feed at 3 - he is wide awake at 4 regardless. 

It starts with general fussing and quickly progresses to full on hysteria.  I have tried shh/pat and even some AP to get him back to sleep but to no avail.  He might go back down but then fuss and wake all the way up to 6 a.m. - and then I normally get him up for the day so we can start working on napping.  I am starting to get desperate at that hour and almost resorted to the swing (I am trying to get rid of the props but I can't think straight!).  So far have not done it (two weeks of 4 a.m. now!)

Sample day:
Wake at 4 a.m. - fuss, fuss, cry, thrash, etc. Shh/pat or AP to try to get him back to sleep.  He normally takes up to 6 oz at his 11:30 or midnight feed so the ped tells me that he should be able to sleep longer...?
4 a.m. - 6 a.m. fuss, cry, some sleep (maybe) and usually hysteria ensues

E 6 a.m. - does not each much at this feed, even if he didn't eat at 4 a.m.
A hang with mummy while she eats her cereal
S approx. 1 hour after getting up he is tired and cranky again - before I read BW and started shh/pat I was napping him in his cradle swing - he would sleep up to 3 hours!

E 10 a.m. (or earlier depending on nap) - I don't wake him from this nap because I need to catch up on sleep from my 4 a.m. wake up call
A getting ready for the day with mummy - usually hanging in bouncy seat or on playmat (no danglies)
S no later than 11:30 - watching for cues and tired signs, slumping, etc.  start windown at the 1 hour mark to aim for him being asleep by 1 hr 30 mins - current napping situation is 30 mins (OT and no self-soothing skills) but have managed some longer naps this week by staying in the room the whole time

E 1 or 1:30 - all depends on nap
A jumperoo or playpen or playmat or Bumbo or tummy time - he is most alert and what I call 'happy' during this time
S no later than 2:30 or 3 - again subjective, depends on his earlier naps and/or his OT

E 4:30 or 5
A usually a walk outside in stroller (which he is not really a fan) but we both need fresh air every day!  if it is too hot we just sit outside in the shade for a short time watching the neighbourhood
S depending on naps etc. I might try for a 30 min catnap OR I will just move his bedtime forward to 6:15 or 6:30

Bedtime is bath-massage-change into sleepers-bottle-bed.  This is done in his room with the mobile on - usually we sing and chat quietly to him - very low-key.

Sorry for being so long-winded but he is really so very inconsistent!  Any thoughts or advice?  I read a lot of the early waking stuff but did not see anything that really applied since early waking seems to be considered 5 or 6 a.m.

[Purplecattypants]

Hi there,

I'm so sorry you've had no replies yet I will try to help as best I can though.

So, let me see if I can break things down a bit here:

-The problems is EW at 4am, correct?
-He wakes like clockwork at 4am no matter what time he last ate, and will not go back to sleep?
-He takes up to a 3hr nap for his first nap of the day?
-Naps are inconsistent and can often be short?
-Is his reflux still under control, not needing an increase in meds?

 

[Tweakster]

Thanks Angela.  I re-read my post and can see why people are skipping it lol.
Just sleep-deprived ramblings.
But yes, thank you for the summary.

I feed him every 3 hours to keep the routine on track but I have to say he is not always hungry and takes inconsistent amounts at every feed.  I think he is getting ready to move to a 4-hr. feed but his A times cannot be more than 1.5 hrs or he is a bear.
Reflux is under control for a month now (takes a full Prevacid FastTab - half in morning and half at night).  When it wasn't in check it was REALLY hard with sleep and feeds (as opposed to just being HARD now lol).  But I am pretty sure he is doing ok now, he doesn't cry in pain anymore when he eats and burps (he is silent refluxer).

Normally:
He goes to bed relatively easily when not OT at 6:30, 6:45 or 7 (depends on naps).  He generally manages to get himself down (don't know why he can't during the day naps but hey that's another forum) or with a small bit of shh/pat when he is having an off day.  Then he wakes between 11 - 1 depending on when he last ate and how much it was.  He will go back to sleep easily at this feed.  He then used to wake at 3 or 4 to eat again BUT also go back to sleep easily and would wake to start the day between 6 and 7.

Lately:
A couple of weeks ago (after the rolling started) he started waking at 4 a.m. and would NOT eat but wanted to be awake.  I thought it was because he was having a full nappy but when I change him he is desperately trying to make eye-contact with me and wide awake.  I just kept to the task and shhh'd quietly.  Then after an hour of shh/pat one night and he was in hysterics, I got my husband who tried to feed him (it was 5 by this time) and he ate and went back to sleep.
So it appeared he was hungry after all (but not always!).  It is inconsistent.

The only consistency is that he is wide-awake at 4 a.m. and doesn't want to go back to sleep. 

Help!

[Purplecattypants]

Well, if he's having good naps, 3 x 1.5 hrs and a 40-50 min catnap then it shouldn't be OT...if not, then that could be the culprit.

What happens when he wakes? Is he still in your room? What happens if you just leave him?

I think if routine is the issue then yes you're looking at maybe transitioning to a 4 hr EASY....loads of info on that on the easy forum.

Have you tried wake to sleep at 3am to see if that stops him waking at 4am?

[Tweakster]

Hi Angela,

He isn't having good naps - the rolling, early waking and catnapping all started around the same time.
He had a major OT spell and I had to APOP a lot and also resort to the swing to get him caught up on sleep.
I started getting better naps out of him with shh/pat last week 3 x1 or 1.5 and usually a 30 min cat nap after 1hr15 mins of awake time (usually the first and second yawn appear here) - but it's still touch and go and he still woke at 4 even if he had lots of day sleep. 

We spoke to the ped who said don't go into his room (he is in his crib in his own room) until he is wailing so we tried that.  But with him it's like he has two speeds - he goes from gurgling to screaming the house down.  So once he is awake, I am awake waiting for him to go ballistic.  He does not go back to sleep at this time unless he is hungry and agrees to eat (he won't always take the food at 4) and then he might be soothed with shh/pat enough to get him to 6 or 6:30.  I can't remember the last time he actually slept until 7!

I have not tried the wake to sleep but that is something to consider.  For now my husband is covering the shift even though he has to work because I am so exhausted from shh/pat all day with the naps that I can't do the early start as well. 

[Purplecattypants]

It may be developmental in that case....milestones really can wreak havoc with sleep! If routine is an issue i'd try posting on EASY...i'm not that great with routines anymore 

Also give the wake to sleep some consideration, it might really help