4 month old waking multiple times in the night - help!

[pootlebug]

My daughter slept through the night from 10 weeks. Hurrah, I thought...
But from 13 weeks started to wake up once or twice and then for the last three weeks has been waking between 3 and 8 times a night. Some of the times it is caused by wind / discomfort, but a lot of the time she just wants to feed.
I know it could be a growth spurt but seems to be taking a jolly long time! She's breastfed (not sure whether that makes a difference).
Anyone else had similar? How long did it go on? Any tips at all? Any advice greatly appreciated...

[Catilla]

Lots of them do this... kid you into thinking you have it sorted!! Unfortunately growth spurts can cause this extra feeding, to get your milk supply up... and some of them just like feeding!

Many people will advise to just let her feed when she wants, and bring her into bed with you.

Personally while I was happy with this to an extent, I also tried to influence the feeds a bit... ie. things like:

• let them feed lots in the day, and never let them go too long between daytime feeds
• let small noises in the night go on for a few minutes, just to see if it's a blip or they are really waking up
• when they wake to feed in the night, make it a full feed. ie. one side, then wind them, take a break, change nappy, make sure fully awake again, then other side and feed back to sleep. No snacking if possible.. that will only mean waking sooner again!

I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice here, but the main message is - it's normal! Find ways to cope and very soon you'll be looking back at wondering where the time has gone!

[Clayhead]

My dc both woke several times a night for a year or so, for a variety of reasons, sometimes no reason at all.

Not sure if that's what you wanted to hear

[tellyaddict]

Hi - yes, as everyone else has said, it's normal. Mine started to wake up more around this age too and it was because of teething (he cut his first two at 5 months). He's settled down again at 6 months (just takes hours to settle in his crib at bedtime aaaaahhh) but is sleeping through most nights since introducing solids (my bf babies never got the hang of a full 10-12 hours until they had solids, but all babies are different). My baby sometimes wakes in the night for a 'chat', which hard as it is, I absolutely ignore lol! He soon goes back off!

Plentiful day time feeds are essential as is an extra long one at bedtime.

[BoyzntheShire]

sounds par for the course to me

[moocowme]

try some teething gel just before going to bed.

[pootlebug]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I guess I have to just sit this one out. I think I probably should follow Catilla's advice to make sure nighttime feeds are long to avoid snacking - I think I'm guilty of hoping they're as short as possible so I can go back to bed! I'm already feeding as much as possible during the day.

[TheGabster]

Hey pootlebug

Straight back at you - my lo is just in the middle of the same growth spurt. Know just how you feel!

Speaking to friends, it seems it lasts at least 2 weeks - but that if you are bf ing your milk actually changes to cope with it - becomes chunkier iykwim.

Stick with it!



Gabster

[TheGabster]

I stress the "at least" in my last message!!!!

[cupcake78]

wish I had the answer but don't. Prob not what you want to hear but my 8mth old is getting worse not better.

Its just damn hard work