why so many NW's for 4.5 month old? been going on for 4 nights now.

[EloysH]

Hi All,

LO has been NW'ing more than ever,  used to be twice maybe 3 times a night.  For the few weeks he has been waking 3-4 times a night for feeds, and always 45 mins after he falls asleep at bedtime.  

We were able to settle him with shh pat, now we are picking him up all the time and letting him go drowsy in our arms or fall asleep.  DH and I are so tired.

The past 4 nights he has woken for long NW's 1hr +, not settling after a feed, doesn't seem to be in pain  (But does have reflux).  Last night I could hear him swallowing, at 5am.  For the most part he seems to be partying when he wakes, making talking noises, grunting, tossing and turning and clearing his throat.

Anyway whether it be developemental, sleep assocation, reflux or what.....   how do you usually resolve night wakings?

 We have been trying our best to resettle under 3 hours. Sometimes I relent and feed after 2.5 hours, because he just keeps waking up, I think - oh you must be hungry, but no he just has a quick nip at the breast. The 4 nights or so, instead of falling straight to sleep after his feed, he is awake!  Then takes ages to fall back alseep - either tosses and turns in the cot, or else hangs out in my arms looking around in the dark!  So annoying!!!!  

So at night,  he just wakes up again anywhere between 5mins - 45 mins, and seems so 'wakeful' in the middle of the night!!!  Mostly we are putting him to sleep in our arms.

Last night, he was up for the day at 4:30am, he would not go back to sleep no matter what we did - left in cot to play for 45 mins, held in arms for 30 mins, fed him again, finally at 5;40 we let him hang out with the lamp on and he was a happy chappy playing and smiling.   Whilst DH and I had out eyes hanging out of our head   just so strange....  We both said the same thing,. its almost as if he;s had too much day sleep.

here's our routine:

A 6am wake
E 6:30am
S 7:45 sleep  takes 30 mins to fall asleep
A 8:30am wake -  httj usually doesn't work
E: 9:30
S 10:30am sleep falls asleep within 10 mins, either shh pat or in arms for last bit
A 12:00pm - wake  (httj works)
E 12:30 or 1pm
S 2:15 sleep (usually 45 mins but past few days this has been 2 hours)
A 3:00pm wake
E 3:30 or 4pm
S: 5pm catnap 30 mins
A: 5:30
E: 6:00pm (try to hold him out but, he's wanting a snack)
S: 7:20pm  doesn't fall asleep usually for 30 mins or so
sometimes top up of other boob just before bed

thanks in advance

  

[EloysH]

we are going to try him in his own room, I pick up waaaay too early before he's really crying.  Lets hope that helps.

[Tweakster]

Do you think that first nap is UT?  That's a long time for LO to take getting to sleep.  Have you tried 2 hrs A at all?  Don't think it's too much day sleep, just need more A time IYSWIM.

[shivi]

I would also try a 2 h A time at this age....

6 a
8 sleep
10 A
12 sleep
2 A
4 catnap...or even 4.15 to psuh him a bit....
then bed for 6.30 ish....

S x

[EloysH]

aww thanks for your simple and clear advice ladies    What is the theory behind it?  Not enoguh A time in the day causing the A time to be made up at night?  Only issue is though, hes not getting enough sleep in day don't you think? (average - 45 min x 1.5 x 45 min + 30 min catnap)  Why wouldn't he be more tired at night?

I tried 2 hours this morn, he went down alot easier - 10 mins or os to fall asleep but still 45 min nap.

Did 2 hours for next A time, went down well and slept 2 hours! 

Slept in his own room last night. We still had a 1.5 hr NW last night around midnight, however the rest of the night went like clockwork.  It was nice to have my bedroom back and not have to listen to him waking/tossing and turning. 

[mamat]

That is so good to hear! I am waiting on crib parts and then will be putting our lo in her own room as well (5 mo). Hopefully it continues to work for you!

DO you find that you pick him up more quickly so that you dont wake your husband up or bacause he is beside you? I find I dont want to wake dh up so I am right there shhing and picking up way to quickly.

[shivi]

we finally fought and won the 45 min monster between 4 and 5 mths thanks to extending A times and better nights....so maybe its just around the corner?

Definately think I jumped up to mine faster when they were beside me. Their grunts and sighs even woke me. Nothing woke/wakes my DH after 2am ish, even have to wake him for work at 8.30 with all three of us up and at it these days LOL! My DH always did the DF and then I did the rest....but I never worried about waking him!

S x

[EloysH]

oh good to hear that they resolved with this method of extending A times!

Terrible night last night, another NW from 4-5am, crying most of the time while DH held him, he quietened for a while, then would cry on an off, didn't seem like he was hungry. finally fed him at 5am, he only took a very small feed so he could fall asleep.     He wasn't refluxing (we don't think).

He wkoe at 11pm and 2:30 for feeds, fed him big feeds,  then at 4 - that's where we resettled to 5am (3 hr feed).  He's got a cold at the mo.   Yesterday he fed 3 ourly and a few extra nips here and there, I just let him as he's got a cold I though he might be thirsty.

Sigh.   Just can't keep up looking after two kids with these long NW's much longer!

[EloysH]

BTW he woke at 6 for the day and its 7:00am now, and still isn;t hungry yet, doesn't want to feed!
What's up with that?