To think getting through this 4m growth spurt/sleep regression is the hardest thing I have ever done?

[Moulesfrites]

No exaggeration. I mean, the early weeks were hard but you kind of expect the exhaustion and steel yourself through it, but I have been absolutely floored by the tiredness caused by 17 week old ds waking every 2/3 hours at night for the past few weeks.

Last night it got even worse because I couldn't get myself beck to sleep in between him waking at 12 and 3! I was. So upset I had to go downstairs and cry in frustration at not being able to sleep. I also have a cold and so couldnt really breathe through my nose properly - I plugged in ds's karvol thing and couldn't even smell it!

I know I will face many more challenges as a parent but did anyone else find this really hard? I am determined to ebf but even dh had started to suggest a bottle to help ds sleep a bit longer, but I know I will regret doing this. Sorry, I had to rant and get this off my chest. Does anyone have any survival tips?

'Four month sleep regression' my arse. DS is 6 and a half months old and has not recovered. Still up four times a night.

Am moving him into his own room this week as we've started to think we're waking him up whenever we turn over in our sleep.

Good luck OP (and others) and may I recommend 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' as a bit of trash to watch with the subtitles on (naturally- no sound) in the middle of the night. You don't need to follow the subtleties of the story very well, but it's always quite entertaining.

Yanbu. Dd is nearly 19 weeks and for the past fortnight has refused to go to bed. She used to take 20mins to self-settle (on a good night), but now it's 2 or 3 hours of full on screaming. I wake up dreading bedtime!! Thank fuck she only wakes once or twice for a feed! Starting to wean her, but it has made no difference whatsoever. Wishing you all a good night!

tortu - love Spartacus. It's pure filth.

Thank god it's not just ds. I commented to DH that it's more difficult now than it was when he was first born, because I have to do everything else I normally did too.
I am a zombie.

Full sympathy - i had a terrible 4 month sleep regression with DD which went on for months - made much worse as we were moving around in preparation for emigrating.

I also had pressure to start giving a bottle, but didn't. The 4-month sleep regression is nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with the developmental stage they're going though.

DD didn't start on solids until 6 months, and then didn't actually take to them until nearly 7 months by the time she lost her tongue-thrust reflex. She was 9lb 4oz at birth and 98th centile in weight, so definitely not a small baby!! Anyway - she didn't sleep through the night until well-gone 9 months, so solids didn't help, anyway. Why would they - there's way more calories and sustenance in milk (whether breast or formula) than in 'diet' food like fruit and veg purees.

We got through it and she is still being b/fed at nearly 11 months. I truly hope this doesn't come across as the dreaded 'breastfeeding smuggery' - just wanting to relate to Moules and provide some reassurance that all is normal and doable (if you so want it to be). :)

Anyway - loads of sympathy - it is all still very recent for me!

YANBU. DS is 18 weeks and also EBF. Up until last week had been sleeping from 7-7 waking at 4am for a feed before going straight back to sleep. Was also happy in his cot.

Since Tuesday last week he has been refusing to sleep in his cot and waking up every two hours. I'm co-sleeping with him which seems to be helping with my sleep but he will now only go to sleep if i feed him to sleep and then don't move him!

I just keep remembering that this will not last forever! It is so tempting to give in and give him a bottle but I am determined to EBF until 6 months.

It's nice to know that i'm not alone though!