My now 4-month old daughter has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 weeks old up until recently. (This was no surprise as my first-born started sleeping through the night around 5 weeks. They were both bigger newborns (8.5lbs and 9.5lbs), with comparatively larger stomachs for their ages.) For the past 2 weeks or so, she has been waking up every 3 hours on the dot, so I nurse her back to sleep, assuming she's hit a growth spurt. I've noticed that she is eating less during the day now, and I'm not sure how to get her back on track. She doesn't have any wake periods at night, other than her waiting for food. Anyone have any suggestions as to why she's doing this, and how I can help her sleep for longer periods of time like before. She used to sleep from 8pm to 6am with only occasional wakings- like once a week or less.
2006-10-31 15:29:30 · 9 answers · asked by punchy333 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I've tried offering the breast more frequently to coax her into eating during the day, but she refuses. She is also an acid reflux baby, so I don't know how this might fit in somewhere.
2006-10-31 15:37:12 · update #1
Since she's eating less during the day, I'm assuming it's not a growth spurt. She's just being fed at night so she's eating less during the day.
Try not to use your boobs as a pacifier. I think it's time that she learns how to put herself back to sleep. Instead of picking her up and rocking/feeding her until she falls asleep, try stroking her head and softly talking to her to comfort her. Eventually she will be able to fall back asleep without needing to be fed or held.
2006-10-31 15:32:47 · answer #1 · answered by CelebrateMeHome 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If she used to do it before, she can do it now. You should not go in and feed her, you are establishing a new and undesirable pattern. Try a pacifier instead of feeding her, and just let her cry it out. It will be a week or less before she's sleeping through the night again. I bet she'll eat more during the day again, too. Also, maybe you want to try some solids on her, since she is 4 months with a big capacity, as you say. Mine started solids at four months; that is the earliest recommended time.
2006-10-31 16:41:48 · answer #2 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know if this is the case for you or not, But I have a five month old that use to sleep through the night. He started sleeping through the night around 1 to 1.5 months. But now he often wakes up in the middle of the night. I would go in, get him out of bed, fix a bottle... But then he wouldn't drink much of it... maybe 1 to 3 ounces. Many of the times I did this he had flipped over on his stomach or inched is way into one of the corners of his crib, etc. One time when he was crying in the middle of the night I flipped him over and gave him paci, then I went to get the bottle. Well, low and behold when I got back... He was fast asleep. And he didn't get back up until the morning. Ever once in awhile he will be hungry during the night, but most of the time I just adjust the way he's sleeping, turn on music, give him his paci and he's fine.
2006-10-31 16:08:10 · answer #3 · answered by somethingorginaltoponder 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can *try* offering the breast every hour for the 4 or 5 hours before bedtime to encourage her to fill up, however, she is probably noticing more things and "too busy" to eat as much during the day. And 4 months is a prime time for growth spurts.
Waking every three hours is perfectly normal at her age. If you really want her to stop I suppose you could let her CIO. But I'm not a fan because if she is hungry she is hungry.
2006-10-31 15:34:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Could be an early teether. I would also say talk to the Dr. see if there is a safer way for her to sleep other than on her back, that may bother her. I have had to put pillows under the sheets of the cribs for children who have acid reflux, that way they cant get their heads under it...that may work....also, is she getting baby food now? If not she may take that better during the day. Good luck
2006-10-31 15:53:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When kids eatless and wake frequantly most doctor's say either one of two things is going on
1.Growth spurt after which they will eat constantly and alot at once
2.They are changing according to the enviroment around them and it happens nothing to do but get through it.
But my son,9months,did the exact same and even while hitting growthspurts he still slept through the night,8-9pm to 8-9am, he also teethed his first 6 teeth with out much complaining.He is and always has been happy and very complacent with life.
2006-10-31 16:39:15 · answer #6 · answered by rsbalent 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if she has acid reflex then try to put a pillow under her matres to elevate her, and you can try to give her formula once at night with a little bit of baby cerial in it so she can stay fuller longer. you can try to keep her up longer during the day to see if she sleeps better through the night.
2006-10-31 16:15:06 · answer #7 · answered by ang. 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Try the Ferber Method. You can find it on the net.
Or get the book Solving your child's sleep problems. IT really does work.
2006-10-31 15:45:05 · answer #8 · answered by BunnyRabbit 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you think she might be teething?
2006-10-31 15:31:47 · answer #9 · answered by Rosey55 D 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋