4 month DS wakes at 5.30 am, not really hungry, how to stretch to 7am?

[Gemmitygem]

He is a very good tempered baby, has a lively day with structured naps, goes down at 7pm, woken up at 11 pm for a big feed, down at midnight (no probs going down). BUT he always wakes at 5.30 am, crying, and seeming quite awake. If I feed him, he will go easily back to sleep after just 5 mins, but if I wait and see if he settles himself, he won't, just keeps crying. He just seems quite awake at that time.

He has slept longer a couple of times, with exactly the same routine the night before. Due to start back at work in 2 weeks and would like to know if anyone else has had this experience and will he start going longer soon?

I know he's not desperately hungry at 5.30 but don't want to leave him to cry as I've tried a bit and he won't settle.. the funny thing was, he was going longer and longer, till 6 often over Christmas, and now suddenly he's stuck on 5.30 am..

any hints appreciated..

[firststeps]

I would give him a small feed at 5.30 and settle him back asap, then wake him about 7ish and top him up so he's on track for the rest of the day, hopefully that way you'll find he'll keep going longer and longer til he gets to 7 over time, otherwise he'll get used to waking at 5.30 and staying awake, if you feed him he (should!) go back to sleep therefore getting used to having about 12 hours.

[Gemmitygem]

thanks, first steps.. I give him 5 mins at 5.30, then he goes back happily, then I wake him again at about 7.15 and he has a big feed at 7.30, although still isn't desperately hungry for it... hopefully it's just a case of waiting, then..

[justJAM]

I had this (and posted about it) but DD was waking at 4.30.
I knew it wasn't hunger so I didn't feed, but did give DD a dummy and she would drop off again. If you use a dummy you could try this?
HTH

[firststeps]

Gemmitygem - think they come into a light sleep in the early hours of the morning as well - our heating comes on about 5.30-6ish which sometimes wakes my lo up. I think if he is feeding at 7.30 he must need the small feed at 5ish - I stopped feeding my little boy when he fed at 5ish but then refused a feed at 7 altogether. hth

[rarrie]

Agreed, I also use a dummy and that cut out the night feed entirely for my 8 week old. She now goes 11.30 - 6.30 and if she wakes in between, putting a dummy in usually sends her straight back to sleep with no tears.
HTH

[Gemmitygem]

ok, might try dummy: have never used one before but I do own one. don't know why, but feel very guilty using a dummy, as if I'm fooling him or depriving him.. silly I know. Will give him three more nights and then try dummy if he continues to wake... thanks!

[justJAM]

Don't feel guilty, babies like/need to suck and it's a great way to help them to self soothe. Obviously, if they become mega dependent then you may want to reconsider but IMO a dummy can really soothe a baby.

[sueanna]

My DS is now 2.5 and I found that as he was growing up he would wake early if he had too much sleep during the day. So I reduced his daytime sleep by about 15mins, which seemed to work.
I would also agree about trying a dummy if you want to. My DD hated them, but my DS gets on fine with them. However, make sure there are a few within easy reach otherwise you might get woken up just to find his dummy!