Night Sleeping... Do I just wait it out

Hi all - just looking for some feedback. My 4mo old boys are not sttn. They usually get a bath and bottle around 6pm... then go to sleep between 7-8. That first sleep of the night is usually good - sometimes one wakes within an hour and needs a little pacifying. But they usually go about 5 hrs between feedings - waking around 11pm. At 11pm we give them a bottle, burp, and back to bed. But after that 11pm feeding - they don't go very long. They wake a lot of times after only being down for 2 hrs. Same thing after their 1am or 2am (depending on when they wake) feeding. They wake up crying and need pacifying.

They usually get 5oz bottles every 3-3.5 hrs during the day. They get a 6oz bottle at their 11pm feeding. I've started trying to give them 6oz bottles also during the day. I was also thinking about trying to give them a 4oz bottle at their middle of the night feeding and weaning them down.

But, what is waking them? Are they hungry? Is it just habit? Do I just let things run their course... or should I try making some sort of change? Sometimes at the morning feeding, and even randomly during the day, one of them will only eat about 3oz. Does this mean they are getting enough food, and maybe need less overnight?

Any thoughts??

 

They should be getting between 24-32 oz of formula each day. If you can increase their intake during the day, it may cut out some of their nighttime feedings.

There is also a growth spurt around 4 months old, which can cause night wakings, erratic (and increased) feedings, and sometimes general fussiness.

I don't believe in CIO at that age, but it wouldn't hurt to let them fuss a bit before you go and sooth them. What I do is, make sure they are getting sufficient food during the day, and you could try cluster feeding them before bed at night. Basically, do what they are doing at 1am, except do it before bedtime. Feed them every 2 hrs in the late afternoon/early evening time. Then, when they wake to eat at night, don't feed them immediately. Try to hold them off an extra 30-45 mins (or longer if they fall back to sleep). Don't give in, keep giving paci's/soothing them. Your hope is they will fall back to sleep for a short time. Unless they are screaming in hunger...then I would go ahead and feed them.

The point is, if you can hold them off a bit longer at night, they will naturally start eating more during the day, thus you'll eventually lengthen the time they are sleeping at night between feedings.

 

what else causes night waking? Should I just focus on food - or should i focus on some other things as well? I'm just so confused... they look so comfy in their cribs - I don't know why they wake up.

 

I would try to up their bottles during the day and see if that makes a difference. Maybe if you stretch them out to 4 hrs during the day and feed them a little more that will help with the nights.

My one daughter started STTN at 4 months but my other one was a challenge and we've had to do it slowly over a couple months, and she still wakes once or twice here and there. Mostly just to talk to herself, no crying.

First I went to one feed a night. Bedtime was 7 and if she woke before 2am, no bottle. After 2am she got one. Then after doing that for a bit she seemed to be making it a couple more hours. We then went to no feeds and she got the pacifier. I will admit there were some sleepless nights and some fussing, but it was short lived. For us definately increasing her bottles during the day was needed. They now do 4 bottles of 6-7oz a day.

Its hard to say if its routine or hunger that makes them wake. My good sleeper just STTN one day, 12 hrs + straight through and has done it ever since. Good luck

 

I think at that age, they are probably waking out of hunger. I would try increasing their feeds during the day if they will take it. Also, it is possible that they are teething. But if they havent been STTN at all, then I would think that they just need to mature a bit more in the brain to help with their sleep.

 

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I am trying to increase formula during the day. I'll have to give it some time. Good thing I am now used to getting very little consecutive sleep! Oh, I can't wait to be able to sleep a few hours in a row

 

Lynn, I feel like I could have written your post. I'm in the same boat as you and I would LOVE more than 3 hours of sleep in a row....i'm really looking forward to that day!

One thing that I have started doing, is giving them an evening nap, waking them up about 2 hours later and then putting them down for bedtime. They go down for their nap at 7pm, I wake them around 9pm (which is in 5 minutes hehe) and then giving them another 6oz bottle and pray that they sleep longer. So far, it has worked every other night for the past week. Its just consistent.

I did a count and my guys are eating 32 or more oz a day....I'm at a loss just like you. I'm glad you posted this, I will keep coming back to see what others suggest for you!

 

I'm sorry you are going through this too - but I have to say it makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one!! Yea, my boys are getting at least 30 oz during the day (6am-6pm)... then whatevery they drink at night and over night. I'm stumped! They usually wake up around 11pm or midnight for a bottle. I've tried giving them a "dreamfeed" bottle sooner to see if it would help, and it doesn't seem to. I just found out from the pedi that they are probably teething. Maybe that's why they wake. Looks like I'm going to have to wait it out a bit longer. Good luck!

 

do you have any baby oatmeal you can start them on? Nestle makes some here for 4 month olds and I started with a teaspoon each with my boys when they were 4 months and one week, now they are up to a few tablespoons at dinner time. The go down around 7-8 and I nurse around 11 and 3am and then at 7am before getting up and having my morning coffee.

 

At 4 months, I always assumed if they were waking & consistently finishing a bottle, that they were waking because they were hungry. I'm not a fan of CIO at that age, I would probably continue to feed them at night, maybe try to increase the amount they eat during the day & decrease the size of the night bottle, and wait it out a little longer. Sorry, I know it's exhausting & frustrating when you aren't sleeping, but hang in there! :hug:

 

They don't really finish their bottles at night. I'm trying to lessen the amount at night and increase during the day. They don't really like to eat more than 5oz at each feeding during the day. I've tried increasing and it didn't really work. Def not looking to CIO at this age.

 

defintely ween them off the night feedings... and increase there oz per bottle during they day and have them go even longer. Eventually you want them drinking 8oz bottles every 4 hrs... and they will sleep thru the night. Trust me!! My girls have been doing since 15 weeks. And its been like a dream.

I followed the "The Baby Sleep Solution" by Suzy Giordano. You can start weening them off the night feeds as soon as they weigh 9lbs. My girls reached that at 8 weeks old... by 10 weeks they were waking up for 1 feed, then by 12 weeks they were sleeping thru the night. And I mean really sleeping thru the night.... as in 12 hours!!!! It was amazing!

The book also shows you how to ween them off night feedings, how to help them self soothe and fall asleep on there own, how to increase there intake during the day, how to create a daily and consistant routine and nap schedule. it was a total life saver!

my girls are 9mos old and they still sleep thru the night. its like heaven! The key is a consistant, daily feeding and nap schedule. Good luck!

 

My boys did not really STTN until later that this. Is this new or normal? If it isn't new I would just wait it out. I know it is hard my DD STTN at 10 weeks. It was closer to 5 months or so for my twins. This was a little brutal. We are almost at the 1 year mark and it does get easier I promise. One thing I would suggest if they are not eating when they wake up is just give them a few min. to see if they go back to sleep on their own. I would run right in when mine made a peep. But, they just wake for a few mins. and then go back to sleep. I never did CIO really at this age.

 

We don't do CIO but we definitely do this! And usually it's right back to sleep.

 

Thank you!! Looks like another book I should buy... I have 4 or 5 already

 

I just picked up this book - and it looks like the method will work perfect for me - better than the others that I have read about. Thanks!

 

that's great!!! Good luck... post again with your progress. I would love to know if it works out for you. STAY STRONG!!! )))

 

Thanks, I'll do that! :ibiggrin: