4 MO Waking at DF/Plus NWs

[~Sara~]

During the past week, my DS has started waking for his dream feed.  Not as in he wakes up during the dream feed, but that he wakes up before the dream feed (like his body is now programmed to wake him up for this).  What can I do to prevent this habitual waking?  It's frustrating because it didn't happen a week ago...and it's not a growth spurt.  He had one just a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks in advance!

[~Sara~]

Also, just wanted to post what happened during the night last night.

I started giving him his bath at 6:10, and had him eating at 6:40.  Then he started acting really weird--he didn't want to eat anymore after only 3 oz--and so I thought, okay, he's just really ready for bed.  So, I took him into his room, swaddled him, and tried to get him to eat just one more time.  Not doing.  After much shhing and patting, an outfit change (because I thought he might have been too warm), and even finishing his bottle, he went to sleep at 8:30!!!!  And it was a horrendous night.  Woke at 10:30 for the DF Roll Eyes, and then, woke up at 1:30, and wouldn't go back down until about 3 (he got a diaper change, ate 4 oz, and was shh/patted for the rest of the time).  I have NOOOOO idea what that was about, but I'm the only who thinks that something needs to be "fixed."  I tried so hard to make sure that he got to bed on time, but I'm really bummed.  He's usually such a great night sleeper.  I just wonder where we went wrong (bc he's been waking since his shots, which I understand, but it hasn't tapered off).

I've run into the waking up "talking" in the middle of the night before--it was when I had him on too "young" a schedule.  I had to increase his A times.  Do you think that maybe 2 2-hour naps plus the cat nap equal too much sleep???  I don't think he could last longer than a 2 hour A time, and I'm not excited to have a sleep-deprived baby on my hands during the day bc he didn't nap long enough.

My husband suggested starting him on rice cereal??

Here's his routine from yesterday:

E 7
S 9
E 11
S 1
E 3
S 5
A 5:45: Bath at 6:10, started feeding at 6:40
S 8:30
DF 10:30ish (awake for this)
NW 1:30-3

[Otownmama]

I don't have much advice to give, but wanted to say that my LO often wakes in anticipation of her DF as well. My sense is that she is just hungry at that time, because she is used to the DF. She doesn't do it every night, but quite regularly. I don't really see it as a problem because I would be feeding her anyway, and she settles well after that feed even if she's awake. I'm far more concerned about the middle of the night wakings - between 3-5 we usually have 1-3 wakings and it is starting to wear thing.

[~Sara~]

Hi Sarah   Our little ones seem like kindred spirits!  Thanks for letting me know about your situation--I really appreciate getting others' perspectives.  I guess you're right...we're feeding at the DF time anyways, and if he goes back to sleep right afterward, then no harm done.  We'll see how it goes tonight.  We're going to try and do the DF 30 mins earlier

I'm sorry your DD is having so many NWs--they're worse than those short naps, huh?  Speaking of which, how have things been for you lately with those?

[~Sara~]

*sigh* So much for nipping it in the bud...DS woke up at 10.  This makes me want to cry.

[*Jo*]

ok, just wanted to say that we had this at the same age as well, how we fixed it: W2S, go in about an hour or an hour and a half before the normal DF time and stir your LO, we did that for three nights in a row after three weeks of him waking and viola he didnt wake again, this is better because if he wakes up and then you feed him, because its DF time, then he will get used to being fed back to sleep.

Give it a shot and let me know how you get on

[~Sara~]

Thanks again, hon   I will give that a shot tomorrow.

I wish that I could bring you over a big plate of brownies--you are amazing

[*Jo*]

mmmmm brownies...... 

[~Sara~]

Just checking in...we haven't been doing the w2s for the DF time, just because it's been so unpredictable.  Some nights, he'll wake up at 9:30, other nights it's 10:45.  Last night, he didn't wake up, which was nice.

We're still having NWs (though, we had 2 nights in a row with none).  Last night, he woke up at 3 am, screaming from hunger...so, we fed him.  He hasn't woken up just babbling anymore, which is also nice.

As I mentioned on the other thread, DH wants to put him on rice cereal so that he'll sttn *consistently* again.  I'm not very enthusiastic about that idea.  Any thoughts?  We feed him until he won't take anymore during the day.  His NWs are just so erratic that I'm tempted just to deal with them as they happen, and not expect him to sttn anymore like he used to (makes me kinda bummed).

[*Jo*]

yeah i know what you mean, we aer having NW's, could he be going through a growth spurt??

also what time does he go to bed? perhaps do the W2S at 8.30pm? thats how early i used to do it cos Caleb would wake up at 9pm sometimes, but most times a waking before midnight is an OT wake up, whats your routine looking like now?

[Otownmama]

I haven't tried W2S for the DF waking because she only does it occasionally, but it seems like a good idea. I can see that the waking could be a problem in the longer term once you are weaning from the DF. Is your LO waking in the night as well? On the rice cereal thing, I think most of the evidence suggests that it doesn't really help with STTN, and it is best to wait till 6 mos to start solids.

BTW, we're starting to get some longer naps, but usually with me acting as a human swaddler. She seems to WANT to sleep longer now, but still stirs at 30 mins.

[~Lori~]

just popping in to see how it's going.  We've started having a lot of night wakings.  We just gave up on the DF b/c he would sometimes eat a lot, sometimes not, and still wake up a ton in the night... so just seeing how things are going!

[~Sara~]

Hi ladies! 

Jo--I've been wondering if it's a growth spurt...but his daytime intake hasn't changed at all (averages about 6 oz a feed).  Re: his bedtime, it really depends on what time he wakes up plus how his catnap goes...we usually end up with a very tired baby on our hands at night.  I try to have him asleep about 1.5h after his catnap, usually that's around 7:15-7:30. 

Last night was definitely an OT night: my parents took us out for dinner and by the time we got home, gave Aaron his bottle, and started putting him down, it was almost 3 hours after his catnap...ugh!  But, at least it was easier to deal with the wakings knowing the reason why they were happening.  He then woke up at 4, starving...just like the night before (except that was at 3).  I didn't want his feed to affect his breakfast, so we only fed him 3 oz...but then he went right back to sleep until about 7:15.  I can deal with that, I think.  So, here's to a new day and trying to get him into bed before he gets too tired *fingers crossed*  Like I mentioned, he woke up at 7:15, so if he's in bed by that time tonight, I'll try the 8:30 w2s. 

Sarah--that is great news about the longer naps!  I was a human swaddler for a few weeks with Aaron.  Felt more like I was a human restraint device   But these past couple of days, he's resettling himself more and more, and we're getting at least 1.5h naps.  Thank all that is good!  I feel like I have my life back...lol, and I spent all my Y time on the boards   And, yes, I feel that solids are best put off until the LOs are older, too.  I'd much rather deal with an extra feeding at night than a tummy ache.

Lori--I'm SO sorry to hear about the multiple nws....Ours have settled a bit since he got his shots.  I never figured out a rhyme or reason to them (except for those happening before the DF...usually OT).  I think it's alright to just wing it for a few nights until you know there's no way he could be bothered by them (the shots) anymore.  Here's hoping things settle for you, too, in the next couple of days.