Help!!! should I go back to 3.5 hour schedule??

[Ollie76]

I just moved my 16 week old to a 4 hour schedule and have had nothing but night wakings/early wakings.  She used to get up around 4 or 5 to feed and now she's up at 2:30 and 5:30 and very unsettled.  Is it b/c we dropped a feed and a nap?  I'm not sure if I should keep her at 4 hours and do another dream feed (at 9:00) or go back to 3.5 hours. 

thanks!

[mmom]

There is a major growth spurt at this age and a lot of LOs go from STTN to multiple wakings.  That said, what is your routine like now?

[Ollie76]

Oh...that might explain it.  Our routine is like this:

7:30 Eat
9:30 sleep
11:30 Eat
1:30 sleep
3:30 Eat
5:30 Sleep (catnap)
7:30 Eat/Sleep
11:00 DF

last night she was up at 2:30 (ended up feeding her at 3:15) and restless and awake again at 5:30!  Maybe the awake times are too long.  Her naps are crazy too....

[mmom]

What do you mean her naps are crazy? It looks like she is taking 2 -2 hour naps.  No?  How long is the cat nap?  Her As look ok, but it appears to be a lot of sleep during the day if that is the case. 

[Ollie76]

oh,let me clarify.  Prior to this change, she was doing 2- 2 hour naps (with a brief waking halfway through the 2nd that was extended with her paci).  The last couple of days, she is waking numerous times throughout BOTH naps - and I have been "plugging" her to stretch it out but she has been super restless.

Catnap is 30min- 45 min

Hope that makes more sense. 

[mmom]

The short naps are developmental at this age.  So it is great that you are able to extend.  I would still aim for 2 - 1.5 hour naps and a cat nap.  I think 2 - 2 hour naps is too much sleep during the day.

[Ollie76]

Really?  Ok, maybe that will help. 

[mmom]

Some LOs who are more high sleep needs, do well with 2 -2 hour naps.  But for most, it is too much. 

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

[Ollie76]

Thanks!!!!