night wakings after illness and holidays

[gracie1]

We have been back from our hols now for 2 weeks. Whilst we were away my lo was unwell with a stomach virus. We stayed in 2 different places with relatives, so he was in  2 different rooms and cots but there was no problem he is quite adaptable. He continued to sleep like he had previously done at home. His usual was sleeping through the night but he is a catnapper during the day. Since returning his naps have improved, now putting himself to sleep  for naps and if he wakes early he will put himself to sleep again without help (I previously had to do PU/PD). When he became unwell he started getting up twice a night for milk.

My problem is that he is still waking twice a night. Because he did not feed well when he was unwell he was initially making up for his reduced intake of milk. But he no longer wants milk in the night but is still waking up. If we leave him alone he will eventually put himself back to sleep, but talks very loudly for 1 hr at each wakening. He doesn't cry at all during the awakenings so can't do PU/PD to get him back to sleep earlier. I'm concerned about all this time awake during the night as it's shortening his sleep to 10 hrs per night. The wakenings are between 1 and 3, then the second between 4-5am.

My lo is 5.5months, he is angel/textbook mainly, he is slightly smaller then average but growing well, not yet weaned (waiting until 6mo), have had to move him into his own room since retuning from hols as its been too hot in ours due to current heat wave in UK. He had been used to being in the nursery for playing, nappy changing since birth and seems quite happy to be in there. Also, due to The heat he can only sleep in a vest, normally a baby sleeping bag, but this doesn't seep to bother him. Current routine as follows:

7am - feed 5-6oz, activity
9am - nap 1.5hrs
11am - feed 6oz, activity
12.30-1pm - nap 1-2hrs (usually 1.5 but can vary)
3pm - feed 5-6oz, activity
4.30pm - catnap 40mins (sometimes less), activity
7pm - bath, feed 6oz, bed

Help much appreciated, we want to get back on track as soon as possible.
thanks
Grace & Joe

[gracie1]

Sorry forgot to mention df. He has a df at 11pm, but doesn't always take all of it, usually 4-6oz.

Grace

[Colin Macs Mom]

Sounds like those wakings became habitual.    I would suggest trying wake to sleep assuming he's waking around the same times each night. But if he's not crying and is only talking, you would also be fine to just leave him be.

[gracie1]

Thanks for responding, was thinking wake to sleep may be a good idea, but the times have varied quite a lot over the past few nights. There usually within 1-3 and 4-5am, so not exactly the same time. Will monitor times over the next few nights and leave him so long as he is only talking.

thanks
Grace & Joe

[gracie1]

Well things have improved a great deal. We have tried really hard and left him to talk, but it has paid off, he is now sleeping through the night again until 6am. He feeds at 6am then goes back to bed until 7am. He is no-longer wakening overnight at all! He wouln't take his dreamfeed last night and still slept all night! 

thanks
Grace & Joe

[Colin Macs Mom]

Fantastic! Good for you!!!!