20 week old waking but NOT for food!

[skippingturtle]

AARGH. Well, I knew this would happen at some point. Having going through a lovely phase of sleeping 7 til 7, DD is now waking 4 times a night.

I'm assuming it's the dreaded 4 month sleep regression, but there's a nagging feeling that how we deal with it could affect her future sleep (and ours!!).

She isn't waking through hunger, she just bangs her heels into the mattress and shouts. A lot.

What can we do to minimise the number and length of wakings? Should we feed her each waking anyway, she will feed if it's offered.

Very tired!

[Sabineba]

Sorry I can't offer any advice, but we've got similar issues with DC who's also 20 weeks. Used to sleep until 5 or sometimes even 6.30am, now waking up at 2 or 3am again, not hungry but just lying there awake and gurgling away very loudly! I'm desperately hoping it's just a phase that will pass soon...

[skippingturtle]

Let's grin and bear it together. I'm SO tired today, I think it's worse than when she was a tiny baby!

[AngelDog]

Yep, 4 month sleep regression. It'll pass. :)

More info [http://www.askmoxie.org/2006/02/qa_what_are_sle.html here,]] here, here and here.

If your LO was a good sleeper before, she'll probably go back to being a good sleeper without you doing anything. I just fed every time DS woke, but he was just waking frequently, not being up for long periods.

He has been awake for 1.5 hours in the night very predictably for later developmental spurts though, and although he does get into frequent waking habits, the being awake for long periods always disappears by itself. (But he's generally not a good sleeper so needs help to re-learn once the spurt is past).

[skippingturtle]

Thanks for the links Angeldog. Not passing soon enough I'm afraid! Is this nature's way of making sure you only have one child?

[AngelDog]

:)

Moxie, whose blog was one of the links, speculates as to which is worse - your first child when you're in despair that it'll never pass, or your second, where you have no patience because you know it does pass and are just frustrated that they aren't getting on with it sooner.