Night wakings around 4am (not hungry)

[newnymom]

Hi,

I need help !!! My son is 15 weeks old and we have been on EASY for the last 4 weeks, but he still wakes up around 4 am every night, I know he is not hungry. We don't rock him to sleep, we have been doing pat/shush method. When he wakes up he does not open his eyes, he just starts squirming and fussing, I go into his room and give him a paci, hold his hands and feet ( we never swaddled) and he used to fall back into a quiet sleep after about 30 min till about 5:30 - 6 am. But recently he does not fall back asleep for about an hour and a half, he is not awake he seems to be stuck in REM sleep. I tried leaving him and do nothing, but then he starts crying and fully wakes up. I am back at work, and I can't start my days at 4am, please help.
We also have issues with 45 min naps, that we have been working on for the last 4 weeks, and so far he slept once for an hour and a half by himself. Usually, someone has to go in after 45 min and pat/shush him back to sleep. Also, we use paci for him to fall asleep, but take it out when he is still in REM phase.
Here is our day routine:

E 7:30am
A 8
S around 9am based on his tired signals, then he sleeps for 45min to 1.5 hour , if he does not sleep the full hour and a half there might be some more activity time before the next feeding.

E 10:30 am
A 11
S around 12pm same as previous

E 1:30 pm
A 2pm
S around 3pm

E 4:30 pm
A/S 5pm we take him for a walk and he might take a 40 min catnap
7:30 Bath / Feed / Bed

11pm Dreamfeed

I am currently working on transitioning to a 4-hour EASY using Tracy's schedule.

I appreciate all the recommendations.
Thanks

[BabyBsMommy]

Try wake to sleep.  Set your alarm for an hour before he usually wakes up (so you would set it for 3am) - you just stroke his cheek or jostle him a little, just enough to get him to stir slightly so he comes to a lighter state of sleep for a few moments before entering a new sleep cycle.  It apparently works the first night but you should do it 3 nights in a row to break the habit.  I was skeptical but finally tried it last night with my lo for his habitual wake 5 hours to the dot after he goes down at night - he slept a full 2.5 hours longer!

[MDHmommy]

I have a very similar "problem" with my 5.5 month old. He had been sleeping fairly well, swaddled, but waking every couple of hours for his pacifier. (He's been on EASY since day one). We decided it's time to get rid of the props, so we started with the swaddle. As a result he's been waking at about 3am every night and staying awake for over an hour!
We did pu/pd, but it made him really mad, so instead, I've been staying with him, holding his hands, patting his tummy, and stroking his forehead until he goes back to sleep...this can take 20 minutes...and sometimes requires starting all over up to three times.
I work 3 days/week, so I'm not really able to be as consistent with the routine as I would like (DS is in daycare during those 3 days)
Here is his schedule, give or take 30 minutes...

Wake - 6am
BF - 615am
S - 9-11am
BF and solids - 11am
S - 1-2/2:30
BF and solids - 2:30
S - 4-4:45 (this catnap varies, sometimes he does not take it at all and just powers through till bedtime
BF and solids - 5:30
Bedtime routine (bath, massage, book/s) - 7-7:20
Bottle (formula) 7:20 usually takes about 3.5 oz.
Sleep 7:30 - he goes down very easily...

Not to make this about me and my problem!  But, I'll be curious to hear if wake to sleep works for you...I'm considering doing it since his wake up is so consistent...but I'm totally freaked out that if I do, I'll be up for hours on end...Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated. and, I'd like to hear if it works for you, newnymom!

[UNCMomma]

I'm also very interested in wake to sleep, and if it works for you.  I'm petrified to do it at all, but especially during the night since it seems it could easily backfire.  What if you catch them in a light phase of sleep and they wake up fully?  More advice and reassurance on this is welcomed! 

Amanda

[kcamelia]

Newnymom:  How much does he eat at each feed?  I think moving to a 4 hr EASY, slowly, is a good idea.  She recommends moving at 4 mos old, right?  You say you're back at work?  Does his caregiver stick to EASY and his routine, as much as possible?

As for w2s, I've done it for four nights in a row, now, and it worked every time.  I don't know when to stop, though, because for some lo's it takes longer than three nights.

My ds is 5.5 mos, and he'd been waking at 3a and 520, give or take.  I had already stopped night feedings and noticed the pattern, so I made sure it wasn't a growth spurt and made sure he was taking at least 25-30 oz during the day, added a df (this took a week or two).  Then I set my alarm for 2a.

The first night it stopped the 3a wake, but he still woke at 520.  I patted him, and he slept until 730/8a.  The second night he woke at 230 (I've read of this a few times on other posts), and he cried out.  But he went right back to sleep and did not wake until 730.  The last two nights he has slept through, 645-730!  I highly recommend it.

I think having the same wake up and bedtime as much as possible helps Hugo sleep better.  I also think solids, since he is tolerating them well, are helping.  But the 45 min naps are just a phase, in my opinion.  You can use w2s for them, too.  It's much kinder than pupd.

[UNCMomma]

Kcamelia, What exactly do you do for w2s?  My LO is stuck in 30 min naps, and I'm wondering if this would help her.  I've tried going in and laying my hands on her when she starts stirring, but it doesn't work, she wakes and can't get back to sleep. 

Thanks, Amanda