Night waking for 16 week old

[Sjbc1019]

Hi

My LO currently goes to bed around 7:00-7:30.  She typically wakes at 12:30 and 3:30/4:30am.  I feed her at 12:30 and it see,s every other day I feed her for the early morning.  The other days we will shush pat but it takes 20-40 minutes.  She doesn't go for the breast typically but she gets so worked up that sometimes I feed her to calm her and get her back to bed.  I am thinking I should probably be doing the gradual withdrawal approach for the feelings rater than cold turkey?  Which feeding should I get rid of first?  Should I gradually decrease the time of feeding for both?  Last night when it took 40 minutes to soothe she ended up waking at 3:30 initially then at 5:15 and 6:30.  Could she have woken so often because it took her 40 minutes to get back to sleep so she was overtired?  Thanks for your help.

[*Ali*]

At this age it is more than likely hunger. I would just feed her and settle her straight back to sleep. At 4mo it is still very normal to have a DF and a NF or 2 NFs. I wouldn't do anything to actively wean her off feeds at night.
There is a huge growth spurt at 4mo so it could be that. You can try to get her to take more in the day. Some mamas find offering another BF half an hour after the first BF can help top them up. How many feeds is she having during the day right now? Do you already offer both breasts at each feed?

[Sjbc1019]

She doesn't go for the breast though when she wakes- just cries.  Usually if she is hungry she will root or turn her head towards my breast.  Anyhow, last night she was stirring at around 4 but went back to sleep so I didn't have to deal with it.  If she wakes again I will feed her.

Regarding gradual withdrawal- which feed do I try to get rid of first once she is over her 4 month growth spurt?

Thanks

[Sjbc1019]

Sorry for not answering your questions- she is currently feeding 4 times a day before her night sleep then I typically feed once or twice during the night.  Last night only once.  She feeds both breast has has from birth.  She feeds about 8-10 mins on each side- she usually pulls away or pushes away when she is done.  Her diapers are active and she is growing.

[*Ali*]

From a breast feeding point of view I would not encourage actively weaning any feeds at this age.
I see you already have a sleep thread on the Night Wakings board so I will link it here so you can keep all sleep advice in the same place. Otherwise we will be asking for the same info and repeating or giving conflicting advice which will only confuse the situation Waking hourly starting at around 3:30am