17wo - what's up?

[~*erin*~]

we've been having about 3-4 weeks of only one NF, which is awesome, and naps are still hit and miss around here ,  35-45min, and I can usually resettle all of them.

The last 3 nights, she's been getting up at odd times. She's been sleeping from roughly 7pm-2/3am for the last 3-4 weeks .... I'm able to get her back to sleep with just her soother, but last night she woke again 2hrs later  (1st night, the 1st NW was at 10, then she slept until 230 I think; last night, 1st NW was 11, then again at 1 and then again at 250 at which time I fed her).

I'm still swaddling, but she's figuring out how to get her hands out of the bottom of it (I'm doing a Miracle Blanket (have seen it called "bat wings" somewhere) technique with a receiving blanket and then using a Swaddle Me) - is she ready to be unswaddled maybe?

I know GS around this time, but I really don't want to go back to more feedings as she's not acting hungry when she does wake, more like she just can't get back to sleep or just wants her soother back (I know, a prop, but I'm willing to live with it for a while longer) .... she actually wakes and is seeming uncomfortable, which is why I was thinking time to stop swaddling. I have not been feeding her these last few nights until about 2-3am ... is this bad, bc as I said she's not acting hungry..... I could definitely shorten the time between daytime feeds to try and get more in her if that's the case ... might try that today and see how it goes....

Also increased her A time over the last week or so, to about 1hr45 for each one ... Still having to resettle most naps, but that goes pretty quickly and easily. Could it be an A time issue? How long should last A time be before bedtime?


Here's our last few days:
Sunday
WU 650
E 705
S 845-920, 935-1015
E 1045
S 1155ish-1235, 1250-210
E 220
S 4-5
E 515
E 640
S 655
wake 10
NF 3
grunting 530

Monday
WU 715
E 720
S 910-945, 950-10, 1005-1105
E 1115
S 1250-310 (woohoo for a super long nap all by herself!)
E 320
S 455-520
E 530 a bit
E 640
S 705
wake 11
wake 1
NF 250
grunting 630, slept until 650 after settling

Last night (Tuesday)
WU 650
E 7
S 835-915, 925-1020 (I woke her, had to go out)
E 1055
S 1205-1240ish, settled in crib 1255, then she was in and out from 110-125 at which time I picked her up and sat with her, put herback down and she slep until 220
E 225
S 410ish-515, replug -525
E 530
E 645 top up
S 705, replug 725, replug 843, replug 9
wake and replug 1230
NF 305
grunting at 630am, sat with her for a bit, then she woke at 655 this morning

Still EBF, sometimes 1 side, sometimes 2 at each feeding ....
Sorry for the ramblings, but thanks!

[Erin M]

First off, have you seen this? http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=164029.0

That might help you get an idea of A time, etc.  the last A depends on your last nap -- if it's short, A time would be shorter -- but an hour nap or so would need a longer A time.  You have to play with it a bit -- regular A at around 4 months would be about 2 hours, but maybe only 1.5 on a short nap.

You might want to push those A times closer to 2 hours if you can.  It might smooth your days out even more, though they are looking decent right now.

Have you been through the 4 month gs?  It could be that though the way you're describing her she doesn't seem particularly hungry.  And it would be odd for her to be so easily co soled with a soother if it was hunger. 

[~*erin*~]

thanks.
last night was awful she was up a few times and very restless. i only fed her at 130 after her 1st waking at 1230, she was restlessly sleeping that whole time and kept replugging. i dont even think she was too hungry but fed her anyway and she did eat, so clearly hungry but not starving. then woke again at 420 crying but rplugged and back tosleep quickly only to wake again at 520 grunting . she settled in my arms until 635 ugh:P
 I"m so tired today, and it's been like this now for several nights. I need those good nights back as they were really helping with my mood and PPD.
i agree i should try more A time. yesterday she did 1hr 50 and napped 1hr15 after it.
thoughts about swaddle? is it time to get rid of it? whats with the grunting otherwise as shes well burped after feeding. I am so frustrated and tired!

[Erin M]

With the swaddle, I would try one arm out at this point and see how she does.  I got the longest stretch of sleep ever from my ds (he was waking every 3 hours at night or more) around that age by dropping the swaddle, first with one arm out, then the other a week or so later.  However, I can remember trying it with my dd1 a few times and her waking up more before I gave up and swaddled again.

Not sure about the grunting, some people around here have had the same issues and I can't really think of any reason that ended up resolving it, more a matter of time and digestive maturity.

[ArianaCR]

I have an 18 week old who has been doing the same thing at night.  Easily settled, not hungry, just waking up 3-4 times after being able to sleep thru.  I read several forums and many people are complaining of the same thing at the same age.  It might just be your 4 month sleep regression/wonder week 19/4 month growth spurt.

[~*erin*~]

I would try one arm out at this point and see how she does

\yes, \i've tried a couple times, and it seems that her sleep periods are actually shorter .... so we'll see. I've heard of a couple of other transitional swaddle things I might try out, so we'll see .... she keeps getting her little hands free and able to move them around, so I have a strong feeling I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and ditch the swaddle I'm currently using and try something else out. keep your fingers crossed for me! haha

Ariana - I think you might be right.

The last couple of nights she went back to one NF, but kind of early around 130, so maybe a sign that things are going back to the way they were ? Here's hoping!

[Erin M]

Fingers crossed for you!