4 1/2 mths - growth spurt?

[Jemimah]

I just posted in the naps forum, but also have nighttime issues.  We are on a 4 hr EASY starting at 6.30AM, but naps are poor and believe to be in OT circle which I think is causing nighttime issues as well....

When he goes down for bed I BF at 6.30, then he falls asleep by 7 BUT always wakes up 1/2 hr later, at which time he stirs, and smiles. If you leave him it will escalate into crying, and not going back to sleep.  So then if you go in and Shh/Pat, he looks at you and starts giggling and smiling more!!!  This will go on for a few minutes, but 90% of the time ends up in crying.  So we have to pick up and get back to sleep, which always works but can take a few times to resettle with him finally dosing off for a chunk of time by 8PM.  He then used to wake around 11.30 then 4ish, and sometimes only once around 3ish.  BUT for the last 3 days he has woken approx. 8 times per night.  I was able to settle for some, but fed around 9.30; 12.45; 4 as I was unable to calm him without.

We have no reflux issues.

I know he is OT from his naps during the day, but to wake that much is abnormal for him.  And the giggling and smiles when he wakes would make me think UT, but that is impossible as I know what his naps are like. Or am I totally on the wrong path??  Or is it a growth Spurt?

Between naps and nights, I really want to get to the bottom of this!!!

Advice/Suggestions??

[nevinsmama]

Hi there! It does sound rather like a GS to me. What does the rest of his day look like? This is a prime age for those lovely short naps, so it is not uncommon for LO's to need several of them a day to get by if naps cannot be extended. Have you tried going in a little before the 30 minute mark after BT and trying to hold through the jolts?

[Jemimah]

If it is a growth Spurt I will push through, but here is the day:
E: 6.30-8.30
S: 8.30-9; wakes at 9 and takes till 9.30 to get back to sleep; 9.30-10.30 (unsettled for remainder of nap, and on and off with my shh/ptt assistance)
E: 10.30-12.30
S: 12.30-2.30 (as above)
E: 2.30-4.30
S: 4.30-5
E: 5.30
E: 6.30 and bed by 7

Used to have one or two night wakings (didn't dreamfeed), and now as mentioned I have multiples wakings and feedings at night.  Last night we woke and had to feed at 10; 2; 4.30.  Also woke up at 5.15 and couldn't resettle so held sleeping till 6.30.   What would the Early waking be from??

I have been going in to hold through the jolts for his naps, will try for his nighttime.  My issue is it seems like he jolts every 5 minutes until 9PM - what would that mean?? 

[nevinsmama]

How long have you been on 2 hour A?ALL that jolting ( it's painful isn't it!) in the early evening sounds OT, I would watch that last A and keep it 2 hours tops after the CN. Wondering if it is a GS if he is not extra tired and needs slighlty shorter A for a bit ( just 15 minutes or so.) All those 30 minute jolts sound so tired. Does he go right to sleep for naps? 4 months is such a sketchy time for sleep. I think there is a "sleep regression" right around 4 months where things go haywire also. I will get more eyes on that though. Hang in there! HTH!

[Jemimah]

So its been a week, and I am still having night wakings!!  DS is 5 mths now.   

This is our Easy:
E: 6.30-8.30
S: 8.30 ( 1.5-2; with help resettling several times)
E: 10-12.10 (have tried earlier, but unsuccessful)
S: 12.10-1.40 (resettling, usually have to stay in room with arm over his arms to keep him sleeping through the jolts)
E: 1.40-3.50
CN: 3.50-4.20 (wont go longer)
E: 4.20
E: 6.20
S: 6.30 (aim for 6.30, usually 7)

So this schedule is kinda like a 3.5 hr EASY with more awake time then sleep time which is fine.  However since I have switched to it and combined with a GS last week DS gets up every 3.5 hrs on the nose to eat during the night!! Giving him his dummy used to get him another 1/2 hr sometimes several hrs.  Now the second he wakes, he stirs, starts pulling on his growbag and then it will eventually escalate into a cry.  No soothing, bouncing or rocking with help in the least, so I feed him .
 He used to be able to feed once, sometimes twice a night and we didn't do dreamfeed.  What gives?

Plus he still in his joyous manner wakes up 30 minutes after putting him down for bed.  If you stay to hold through the jolts, he still usually wakes up, stirs, tries to go back to sleep, then looks at you and smiles, then giggles.....within 1/2 hr once he has stopped giggling, and smiling and flopping around, he will fall back asleep with assistance.  Now I still cant tell if it is OT and he is hyper, OR UT and he is simply awake!!

Any further suggestions on night wakings, waking after 30 minutes from going to bed, and schedule would be welcomed!!

I should mention his sleepy cues are really difficult to tell and always have been - so not sure if EASY is decent for where he is right now?  I try playing around with it, but never see any different results.  Plus, if I try putting down early as I think he is tired, he just fights it until the 2 hr, 2.25 point anyways.........

This munchkin is sure not as textbook as the first
Suggestions Greatly appreciated.....

[nevinsmama]

Ohh hun. At this point in my DD's life her sleep was total cr@p. However a couple things come to mind...If he is 5 months then it is possible he is ready for as much as 2.5 hour A. Sleepy cues can be quite unreliable at this age as they are really waking up and some give no sleepy cues at all, or sometimes they just need a change of scene. WHen you play around with A I would be sure to give it a few days to sink in.
WRT the early evening wake-ups, that really does sound OT to me. OT can sometimes look UT when they are all silly and giggling ( madenning isn't it!!) And yes...my DD was a whole other being from my DS! I had no idea what I was in for! ((HUGS))) on that! HTH, let me know how it goes.