HELP - 19 weeks waking every 2hrs

[lolamay226]

HELP badly needed! Desperate for anyone with advice/wise words on getting some SLEEP. My LO is 19 weeks today, combination fed with breast all day and then an extra bottle with 2-3 oz of formula before bedtime. She had been sleeping great up to 12 weeks (9.30pm - 4.30/5am - even 6am for a while) and then bang on week 12 she started waking earlier and reverted to 2am then waking every 1.5 to 2 hrs until getting up time. We didn't do anything differently on the night she started waking, or change anything about her routine for four weeks - waiting for her to settle.

It's only in the last three weeks (I'm so desperate for rest) that we are trying to make changes.

We've tried earlier to bed but she just wakes up 4.5/5 hrs after whatever time we put her down and then every 1.5 after that. we've tried more clothes, less clothes - no difference. We've tried (twice) dream feeding at 11pm - this seems to actually break get sleep even more and she wakes slightly more frequently. None of it makes any difference, her pattern is the same regardless.

As of yesterday, we've decided to try cold turkey on her dummy as every time she wakes up we put her dummy back in and she goes back to sleep so we figured - no dummy falling out, no waking. WRONG. She woke exactly the same times last night but this time cried for 30 mins at 2am and all I could do was try shhh and stroke her head hoping she's settle. When she didn't after 30mins I relented and fed her and she was asleep in 20mins. Woke up then every 1.5 hrs and I just fed Her to sleep because I was so exhausted and wanted my OH to get some sleep before going to work.

Anyone able to help? She's so fussy and unhappy today and I can't tell if it's because she's exhausted or distressed without her dummy or neither or both! I feel like we've started the cold turkey so we shouldn't relent yet as she'll just be more confused...

Just want to know how to help her get a good nights sleep. And some sleep for me so I can be a good mama, feel like I'm failing miserably right now...:(

[PotteringAlong]

Google 4 month sleep regression. It's changed and it might not go back for years! The key is learning to cope with it (and you will, I promise, you body will adjust to less sleep).

[PotteringAlong]

Also, she's still really tiny. If it's a growth spurt she might want feeding - if she wakes at night I'd just feed her.

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

I am sorry to say it is very common. Could well be four month regression. All three of mine did this and it's not necessarily something you can immediately change. A good starting point is making it easier to cope with. Is she in with you?

[Teacuptravells]

Both mine fed like that for their first year. Not sure that's helpful but just to let you know you're not alone!

[lolamay226]

Thanks PotteringAlong I am still feeding on demand, can't bring myself to deny her! Although I have to say she doesn't cry/grumble like she's hungry. Have looked up sleep regression and it scares me... Hoping she's not like this for life!!

Thanks Penguins and Teacup, really good to know I'm not alone. Yes she's in with us - not co sleeping but in cut beside bed. We've tried her own room but her pattern stays the same whatever we do. Was just hoping there was something we could try.

Will persist with the dummy for another day of two and see if that has any effect. :)

[FATEdestiny]

My DD's milk intake went up by 25% at 4 months old.

Are you feeding your DD more often? That may help. We were feeding at least 2 hourly through the daytime (more frequently if demanded) from 3 months to 5 months old.

Not sure why you would take away your DDs source of comfort (the dummy). It will help her sleep in the long term, not hinder.

[InFrance2014]

I think you'll find you had an unusually good sleeper for the first 19 weeks, many babies wake every two hours or less from the beginning. Mine didn't do a three hour stint until she was about 7-8 months. It is shattering and there's not much you can do except try to support each other as parents if its possible, take turns making a cup of tea if you're both awake or something.
My personal advice is to try not to stress about the big picture, the sleep patterns change so much, and sometimes [most of the time] there's nothing you can identify that alters things.
I found one thing I read on MN very comforting- don't listen to criticism about feeding to sleep, it's an amazing gift. Use it. And even though its hard to remember sometimes after the 3rd wakeup at 4 am, these moments of nocturnal comforting and closeness are what builds the bond between you and your baby. They can't help waking up when they're this little, and you being there to soothe them is what being a mum or dad is about. Very best of luck!

[BringBackCabinPressure]

Neither of mine slept more than 2 hours in any one stretch until about 8 months.... Sorry

[laurajaneP]

This could of been written by me!! We have tried moving DD into her own room thinking it may help but it's just been a nightmare!! We wish we knew how to keep her settled!!

[lolamay226]

thanks for support...we've had a Breakthrough! LO has had no dummy since I posted and has slept through 9pm - 6am for two nights. There was quite a bit of grumble crying (2 x 20 mins) the first night and (2 x 30 mins) the second night after which I fed her. And then the third night she woke at 2, grumbled (no crying) for max 3 mins and went back to sleep herself!
It's been hard but it's totally changed her pattern AND she's great in the daytime without dummy, trying laurajaneP...

[lolamay226]

that's 'worth trying'!