5 month old early waking

[Muppet7410]

I have a 5 month old baby boy. We have had a great bedtime routine since 6 weeks. Bath at 630, bottle at 7, bed by 730. He either is asleep before I put him in his cot or awake. If he's awake it takes him 5 mins to go to sleep with no props.

My problem is he wakes crying around 4ish and then he chats to himself and I struggle to settle him back to sleep. I try to avoid feeding him as I don't think he is hungry and if he has a couple of oz at 430 he won't take a full bottle at 7.

I resort to giving him his dummy and eventually he settles maybe for 30 or 40 mins, then I have to do the same again until he wakes around 630 ish. I usually end up sleeping on his bedroom floor as it's easier for me to pop his dummy in then.

His daytime sleep is pretty awful. We are lucky to get 4 x 30 mins naps and I have to use his dummy to get him to sleep. Often he wakes cranky as he isn't rested enough.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[FATEdestiny]

The dummy should be the first port-of-call, not something you have to resort to. Baby needs comfort to sleep and if that comfort is his dummy it needs to be offered freely when he is tired and sleepy.

I would suggest hunger. If you don't fancy a silly-o'clock feed (which is fair enough) then a 10.30pm dream feed may help. Add in a nappy change if you can.

It acts like a reset and means that baby is a bit less hungry and nappy a bit less full come early morning.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I remember this,the chatting away to himself before he was even talking! Used to drive me bananas but he didn't grow out of it eventually.

[lornathewizzard]

I agree with FATE, comfort from the dummy should be what you are trying first. And it is very possible hunger, sleeping through at 5months is of course possible but not very common I wouldn't think. Our 5mo DS has a feed overnight after taking 4 x 8oz bottle during the day (previously 5).

[lornathewizzard]

And then either give him what he takes at 7am or give his first bottle later. Or a dream feed.

[Muppet7410]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, much appreciated. I'm new to mumsnet so sure you will be hearing from me more! I think I may try a dream feed. Problem is I'm in bed by 8:30 and so scared it will disturb him too much and he won't settle!

[lornathewizzard]

A dream feed worked for us with DD but I can't remember when we started it. Plus my DH is a night owl so he was up anyway