3AM to 6AM, miserable...Help!

[TnTsmama]

My LO is 12 weeks old, and I have been trying to use EASY for about 3 weeks now.  He is one tough customer, but that is a whole other issue.  I am really struggling with the early morning hours of the night.  He's waking up every 40 minutes or so after about 3am.  I'm exhausted.  So, here's what the nights are like:
7:00-7:30pm bedtime
Usually wakes around 12:00-1:00am for feed.  (I am not using a DF, because I usually go to bed so early because I am so tired)
Then wakes again around 3:00am for feed.
Then the trouble:  He'll wake up again at 4:00am, then 4:30, then 5:00am, etc.  You get the picture.  I know he can't be hungry. 
The past two nights I have been using ssh with my hand on his chest (this is what seems to work), to soothe him back to sleep, but after 20-30 minutes of this he sleeps for only a half hour or so and is back up. 
Any ideas on what to do?  He sleeps so well the first part of the night.  How can I continue that til morning?  And if I do start using a DF, when should I do it?  Help!

[albertasweetpea]

Hi Jenean - are you rushing in to your DS when he wakes in the night? Do you give him a couple of minutes to settle himself??  I know it is hard to let them fuss but it will help him to learn to fall asleep on his own.
Molly went through about a month or so where she would do the same as your LO, this was at about 5 months old I think, and finally one night I had had enough!! After she had gotten me up for the 10th time or so, I just left her the next time she cried out. She wasn't crying a "I'm hungry" or "I'm in pain" cry, just some noises, whimpering, whining etc. I left her and within about 3 minutes, she settled back and went to sleep.
I'm not saying this will work all the time, but it sure cut down on the night wakings for us!!
HTH!

[TnTsmama]

Yes, I've tried to be patient, and not rush to pick him up.  He's a grunter, and he also sucks his fists really loudly.  He's still in the bassinet in my room, so I hear everything...(maybe that's the problem).  But it's almost like he's waking up from his naps, jolting, unable to settle, etc.  He tosses his head back and forth and looks like he can't get comfy.  I used to nurse him every time, but found this was not what he wanted.  If I just leave him it seems like he never falls back into sleep... :?

[albertasweetpea]

Just my opinion again, but I would try transitioning him to a crib in his own room?? That way you won't hear every little sound and may get yourself a bit more sleep?
Is his room far from yours??
Molly's room is right across the hall from us and I close her door and mine and yet can still hear her when she cries out for help in the night.
You poor thing, there is not much worse than being sleep deprived!!
 :cry:

[TnTsmama]

Michelle, I thought about what you said and decided to let him go last night.  After he woke up at 4:00am, I nursed him and put him back down.  When he stirred, I didn't do anything, just let him work it out.  He did eventually settle back down! 
About moving him out:  I'm trying to get him ready to move in with his big brother, which I'm a little nervous about doing until his schedule is a little more reliable.  IF we had another bedroom, I would have done it already, but we have another family member living with us right now, so my boys are going to share a room, at least for a while.  But if he is consistently able to settle on his own, I'll be moving him in a couple of weeks.  Thanks for the advice!  You were right!  Yea!

[albertasweetpea]

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Good for you Jenean!!

My fingers are crossed that he continues to settle himself and you get some much needed and deserved sleep!!

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol: