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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

3.5 months - will these evenings sort themselves out or should I do something?

12 replies

stickersarecurrency · 31/12/2010 19:17

Just now DD feeds and naps on my knee all evening, eventually settling sometime between 9 and 11. I'm not convinced that it's getting any earlier. When she does settle down she's going up to 8 hours, so no complaints! But some evening would be nice. Any thoughts?

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mousesma · 31/12/2010 19:26

I would try to introduce a gentle nighttime routine.

We do the following for DD (6 months):
5.30pm feed (3/4 oz)
6pm bath
6.30pm lullaby then feed in dark until DD drowsy then put in cot

The times above are approximate but DD is normally either asleep or on her way to sleep by 7pm every evening. We started this routine at 14 weeks and its worked really well for us. Once DD is in bed the lights do not go back on for any reason so if she needs feeding or settling it's done in the dark so she knows dark time is sleep time.

Just a word of warning though she'll probably still only sleep or 8 hours so you may be swapping your late bedtimes for an early wake up.

allyfe · 31/12/2010 19:33

How I would love 8 hours in a row. MY ds is 8 weeks and only managing 4 on a good night (including 45 mins feed). ANd he is waking every 2 hours from about 4.

As is suggested above - if you get start of sleep too early you may have 8 hours from then.

Good luck and enjoy your sleep :-)

APixieInMyMulledWine · 31/12/2010 19:38

Sounds like she's cluster feeding and getting herself filled up for that 8 hour stretch.

With my 15 week old, I give him a wash/bath, nappy, pj's and sleeping bag on all by 7pm. Then he feeds on and off all evening before finally crashing out. It has been getting earlier and earlier though and is usually asleep by 8.30pm

I agree that a gentle bedtime routine might help.

Once he's ready for bed at 7pm I sit with just a little lamp on for light and keep the tv/radio to a quiet volume, I think this has helped as there was too much going on for him before.

thisisyesterday · 31/12/2010 19:41

yes it'll sort itself out in time. I found with mine that gradually they started just being sleepier and sleepier between the evening feeds until I could leave them upstairs and just feed and put them back in the cot

all the while they are very alert between feeds i kept them downstairs as it was easier.

i guess it was prob around 5/6 months that i started putting them to bed at maybe 8pmish

APixieInMyMulledWine · 31/12/2010 19:41

Oh and since he's been going to bed earlier I've been trying to dream feed him. Don't know if it works yet as I've only done it twice but I go in around 11pm, breast out and ready, gently pick him up and latch him on. He has been taking a good feed then going straight back down.

He is awake at 5am since doing this but we just lie in bed listening to music and him feeding etc until the toddler wakes up.

It's lovely actually.

Original poster

stickersarecurrency · 31/12/2010 19:55

ally, she only did 4 hours at 8 weeks so have faith! Thanks for your replies everyone, once the festivities pass we'll start a wee routine I think.

OP posts:

Bumperlicious · 31/12/2010 20:31

Having the same problem. The one time she slept fir 2.5 hours in the evening she woke up at 2am as well as the usual 11pm feed.

Brillbryant · 01/01/2011 20:52

We're in exactly the same boat at the moment....my DS is just 4 months and I'm breastfeeding and bottle in the evenings which my DH loves to do. We haven't really had an evening together in peace for months!! It's all the usual stuff, naps on my lap, wakes when you take him to his room, cries when you leave the room etc. Very tough going indeed. As I write this he is nuzzled in my lap feeding. A routine is needed although I'm not very organised and have a very busy 5yr old DD too. My DS seems to be very strong willed and will NOT settle at all!! Hopefully a routine will fall into place but as it stands we are at the mercy of a tiny little man.....

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 03/01/2011 22:46

It'll change as her biological clock matures. Keep exposing her to plenty of daylight to help keep the day/night organisation going and it'll settle down in time.

I don't think there's anything you can do to accelerate the maturing of the biological clock.

at 8 hours in a row, though!

Bumperlicious · 03/01/2011 22:52

God I need to know how to solve this! Just had the second night of dd2 yelling for half an hour each time I try and put her time allegedly asleep . I have no life!

AliBellandthe40jingles · 03/01/2011 22:59

I would hang on to your 8 hours! It is really similar to how DS was at that age.

He added a nap from about 6-8.30 when he was roughly 6 months and would then be awake and feeding until 10.30ish when we went to bed and he would usually go until about 4/5am.

Bumper - growth spurt if she's coming up 4 months?

Bumperlicious · 04/01/2011 00:35

Well, it's been a 3 month growth spurt!

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