Anyone else getting a DC wideawake for an hour or more in the small hours?

[Sigur]

DD still wakes regularly in the night, but generally slips quickly back to sleep after a feed. This last week though she's had one long wideawake session - the worst was 23:00 - 04:00! I'm trying hard not to give any stimulation, but have tried other usually effective ways to persuade her to sleep when suckling got beyond an hour. I've tried leaving her in her cot, but she gets more and more lively...
Has anyone else experienced this? Did you work out why it happened? Suggested solutions would be gratefully received.

[teaandcakeplease]

My daughter (first child) did used to wake in the night and chatter for a while at one point between 12 months and 20 months, a few times a week. To be honest I left her to it unless she got distressed and she went back to sleep again. I was always worried about encouraging a waking habit if I fussed over her and she enjoyed it and then deliberately started to wake for the pleasure of my company instead.

Sometimes with developmental milestones it can happen.

Or maybe her routine needs adapting again? Is she napping too much in the day?

[Sigur]

She hits 6 months tomorrow and has changed quite a bit this week. Have lessened naps a little today. Hopefully it will pass. Know what you mean about leaving her, but she gets more and more lively, culminating in crying... Laying her down awake is one of my missions...

[teaandcakeplease]

6 months is still young. Try teething gel and see if they settle again. Just in case the teeth woke them. If that doesn't work then a feed is fine if it helps them go back to sleep. They're still little at that age. Could of course be the cold waking them, do you use a Gro Bag or equivalent?

I think naps by 6 months for mine were roughly 10.30am and 3pm only and I put them to bed about 6.30pm after a bath and then a feed.

Your name sounds familiar so I apologise if I suggested things before to you. I still gave both my children a dream feed at 11pm until about 9 months when they were no longer drinking it all/ or not interested. They also both at around 9 months suddenly slept better at night. Hope you find the same x

[blinder]

Amazingly, my 5mo is doing exactly the same thing this week.
Is it something in the ether?

I was irritated when she started waking more frequently, but that was bliss compared to hours of watching her kick her legs, sing and play with her hands, culminating (as you say) in being wide awake.

I think the cause of this in our case is

1. I have stopped swaddling so she thinks she is only napping and has exciting hands to play with
2. I am more reluctant to suckle to sleep so she is becoming more awake
3. I have been putting her down at 8pm instead of 10pm so she needs less sleep.

Pick one or all of the above!

[BertieBotts]

My DS does this occasionally - he is 16 months now but has done it for a while (sorry!!)

I usually keep the light low and let him play quietly with some toys while I read a book (now he is older he is in the playpen) - I do bring him downstairs for this but you could do it wherever, keeping her in her room is a good idea if possible.

If I am feeling more able to cope with a battle then I sit by the cot and keep lying him down every time he stands/sits up or gets into a crawling position. He does get a bit frustrated but tends to go back to sleep quite quickly. If he gets upset then I will feed or cuddle him back to sleep but if that doesn't work then it's back to lying him down again and again.

Just a note - he does sometimes seem to get more excited by this and think it is a game, but if I keep on doing it then we get through that stage and he does start yawning again and does go to sleep. It has taken over an hour some nights, but it does work and now when I lie him back down he seems to know he won't be able to get up again and goes back to sleep more readily.

[Sigur]

OMG!!! Pick up/put down actually works!!!!
So she woke at 10:30, I fed her, she fell asleep, I laid her down, bling she was wideawake.
I decided no stimulation and left her, she started shouting & I thought right I'll snuggle up beside you until you give up - over an hour later I caved and tried ssh pat with a dummy, then DH rocked... At 1:00 I was desperate, DH was suggesting CIO and I thought, last ditch, PU/PD.
Before 2:00 she curled up, put her thumb in her mouth and went to sleep. She has never, ever done that!
Fingers crossed for continued miracles...

[Sigur]

T&CP - Yes you've given me good advice and reassurance on moving from in arms naps to in cot - thanks v much!!

Blinder - Can see lots of reasons there that don't match ours, but maybe PU/PD would work for you too?? (assuming this wasn't a fluke)

BB - Thanks for your advice, looks like PD/PU worked for you too. BTW I loved your No Cry thread - you are a hero!

[teaandcakeplease]

Don't thank me. Thank the baby whisperer book. She reckons it takes 3 days of being consistent every nap time. Poor thing must have been shattered after being awake that long over night, glad she conked out again in the end. Hope your hubby can watch her for a while so you can take a snooze this afternoon yourself. You must be tired as well. It's a stage and it will pass.

I heard on another thread about wake to sleep. So that one is always worth a go if this doesn't work after 3 or so days and things aren't improving.

[Sigur]

2 successful naps - one took an hour of PUPD, but the second only 5mins. Fingers crossed for tonight!
For a tired girl she's been lovely all week, bless her heart; her mother's holding up pretty well too!
Yes, I will grit my teeth and wake to feed &/or dreamfeed when I've given this a chance to settle. I'd need a vibrating alarm under my pillow though..