Should I be worried?

[noahgena]

My DS has started waking a couple of times during the night at various times over the last 2 weeks. Last night was 4am and 5.20am, the night before was 1.30, 3 and then 5.30am.  (He has fussed between 5-6am since he was about 3 months but will go back to sleep when settled). I am able to settle him straight away but I'm worried that I might be missing a growth spurt or somthing?  I would have thought that if he was hungry that he would not go back to sleep so I would use this as a cue to feed him.  I don't want to AP by getting him up to feed when he is not actually hungry.  Am I worrying about nothing?

How old is your child? 17 weeks
What’s his/her daily routine? we have been on 3.5 hour EASY for 3 weeks
What’s nap routine?
How long are naps?  We are currently working through the 4-6month stage of waking after 40 minutes.  So far we are making inroads and having some success with getting him to settle back to sleep.  I don't want to jinx myself though!
What's bedtime routine? Time? 8pm.   Bath, Book, Quiet Time and Lullabies about 20 minutes before bedtime.  5 minutes before bed is cuddles in his room with no lights or noise
Do you bottle or breastfed?? breastfed with the occasional bottle (once or twice a week)
How much? or how long? 6 times including the DF at 10pm. 20-30mins or 210-240mls
If breastfed.. one side or both?? (at each feed) both
How many wakes per night? varies, can be 1-3 times
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up?  fuss and mantra cry.  will settle straight away if I go in and turn him on his side and sometimes  give him his paci
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? a bit of everything
What have you tried to settle?? turn him on his side and sometimes his paci
What do you do for A time and how long is it? A time is about an 40mins of playing on his baby gym or with me, 20 mins quiet time and cuddles
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones? suspect early teething signs but hard to tell as there is no conclusive symptoms
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months) no
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? paci
Do they have a lovie? no

[Tweakster]

HI there, just going by your post above, is his A time only 1 hr?  Could you post your routine in EAS format - it will help us help you :-)

It sounds like maybe he's starting to shift to a 4 hr EASY.

[noahgena]

Here is the 3.5 hour EAS I'm currently working on.  Am planning to move him to 3.45 hour EASY for a week and then to 4 hours but have held off due to the Nap time issue (waking after 40 mins) as I thought I'd try and tackle one issue at a time.  Not sure if this is right?

E: 7am (E includes a break for burping and nappy change)
A: 7.30-9
S: 9-10.30
E: 10.30-11
A: 11-12pm
S: 12-1.30pm
E: 1.30-2pm
A: 2-3pm
S: 3-4.30pm
E: 4.30-5pm
A: 5-6pm
S: 6-7pm (CN)
E: 7-7.20pm
A: 7.20-8pm
S: 8-10pm
E: 10-10.15pm (DF)

[Tweakster]

Hi there, two things about the nap issue 1)  naps are developmental in a lot of kids, it takes a lot of shush/pat or HTTJ to get them beyond those jolts or hiccups; 2)  when they are transitioning from 4-3 naps then 3-2 then 2-1 these transitional times can be a bit hairy until they make the full transition.  So we need to ride it out.

You say that's the EAS you are working on - how much does your actual day match what is posted above?  I would recommend logging a few days, include all the naps and nap extensions etc. so we can get a good idea of what is happening.  I do think he would need more A time after that first solid nap...but let's have a look :-)

[noahgena]

Here is 3 days of EAS.  We have moved to the next stage of 3.45 hour EASY from Monday.  So far I have found that bottle instead of breast feeding him at the dream feed has helped with the NW but it's too early to see if that is conculsive.  Struggling to get him to stay up till 9am for his first nap as he gets so OT so his nap is not good.  Getting past that 40 min mark at any nap time is still a battle.

30/08/2010      
E   7am   
A   7.30-8.30 (was very grumpy, teary and tired so put down early)
S   8.30-10.30   
E   10.40am   
A   11-1245   (4 month Health Check up at 12pm)
S   12.45-2.15 (woke at 1.30, settled)
E   2.15-2.45   
A   2.45-3.45 (finished with quiet time, sit)
S   3.45-5.30 (settled at 4.30)
E   5.30-5.50   
A   5.50-7pm   (play, bath, bed)
S   7-10pm   
E   10-10.30   (DF)
S   10.30-7pm (woke at 1.05, 3.55, 5.20, 6.15)
      
      
31/08/2010      
E   7am   
A   7.30-8.40 (was teary and tired again but managed to stretch him another 10 mins)
S   8.40-9.25 (50 mins to settle with paci and firm hand on his back)
S   10.10-10.45   
E   10.50-11.20   
A   1120-1.30 (mum & babies pilates class at 12.15)
S   1.30-2.15   
E   2.15-2.45   
A   2.45-3.30   
S   3.30-5.30 (woke at 4.30, settled straight back to sleep)
E   5.30-6pm   
A   6-7pm   
S   7-10pm   
E   10-10.15   (DF with formula 180mls )
S   10.15-6.45pm (woke once at 4.50 for a chat, settled straight back to sleep)
      
      
1/09/2010      
E   7am   
A   7.30-8.30   
S   8.35-9.15 (10 mins to settle with paci and firm hand on his back)
S   9.30-10.40   
E   10.40-11.05   
A   11.05-1215 Gymbaroos - baby activity group
S   12.35-1.15 (unable to settle back to sleep due to wind)
E   2.10-2.30   
A   2.30-3.30   
S   3.30-4.15 (15 mins to settle with paci and firm hand on his back)
S   4.30-5.30   
E   5.30-5.50   
A   5.50-7.10 (play, bath, bed)
S   7.15-10.00   
E   10-10.15   (DF with formula 220mls )
S   10.15-6.45pm (woke once at 5.20 for a chat, settled him to sleep)

[Tweakster]

Hmm nothing is really jumping out other than after a good nap he needs a longer A time.  How is the DF going and are the nights any better?

[noahgena]

Apologies for the delayed reply.  I wanted to shift DS to 4 hour EAS before I responded to see if that would make a difference.  The DF with a bottle made a difference for 2 nights but now we are back to multiple wake ups?  Fortunately I am able to settle him straight back to sleep (for now anyway!) but I wish I could say the same for myself.  I've been taking catnaps in the afternoon whne he sleeps to help as I'm getting so tired from the broken sleep.  I just don't know if I am doing something wrong or if this is a phase that I just have to ride out?  any thoughts? Here's the EAS for the last few days: 

6/09/2010      
E   7am   
A   7.30-9   
S   9-10.55   (woke at 9.35, settled after 10mins)
E   11.05-11.30   
A   11.30-1pm   
S   1-2.45   (woke at 1.40, settled after 10mins)
E   3-3.20   
A   3.20-5-4.55   
S   5-5.50   
E   6-6.20   
A   6.20-7.15   
S   7.30-10.15   (woke at 8.50, settled back to sleep)
E   10.15-10.20   (DF - 210mls)
S   10.20-7am   (woke at 12.50, 2.10, 2.25, 2.40, 2.55, 3.15, 5.20am)
      
      
7/09/2010      
E   7am   
A   7.30-9   
S   9-10.40   
E   11.05-11.30   
A   11.30-1.20pm   (mum & babies pilates class at 12.15)
S   1.30-2.45   
E   3-3.20   
A   3.20-4.55   
S   5-5.45   
E   6-6.20   
A   6.20-7.30   (play, bath, bed)
S   7.30-10.15   
E   10.15-10.20   (DF - 210mls)
S   10.20-7am   (woke at 2.15,4.30, 5.35am)
      
      
      
8/09/2010      
E   7am   
A   7.30-9   
S   9-10.50   
E   10.55-11.15   
A   11.15-1pm   Gymbaroos - baby activity group
S   1-1.35pm   (unsettled - need to spend more wind down time after A)
S   2.20-3.10   
E   3.15-3.40   
A   3.40-4.55   
S   5-5.55   
E   6-6.20   
A   6.20-7.30   (play, bath, bed)
S   7.30-10.05   
E   10.05-10.15   (DF - 200mls)
S   10.20-6.45am   (woke at 2.20,2.50,3.30,4.35am)

[Tweakster]

HI there, any sign of the 4 mth growth spurt?  Has it happened yet?  Do you think he's hungry at those wakings?  Is he teething by chance?

He may need more A time but best to rule out everything else first before bumping up and making things worse with OT.

[noahgena]

Well we had 8 NW's last night!  I'm not sure if he is having a growth spurt or not as he goes straight back to sleep.  I would have thought that he would keep crying if he was hungry but who knows?  As for teething - everything goes in his mouth and lots of drooling but nothing conclusive.  Today I am going to start topping him up with formula as I'm starting to wonder if my breastmilk supply is not keeping up with his demand anymore and hopefully this will help if it is a growth spurt.  Will see if this makes a difference... fingers crossed