Reassure me re Sleep Regression

[AllNightMilkBar]

DS2 is just coming up to 5 months old and EBF He had been sleeping through but for about 2 weeks now he has started waking at random times of the night to feed, he is much harder to settle during the day etc. He is back to feeding every couple of hours during the day as well. He is sticking to his growth curve perfectly.

But, he and I have both had colds, and tummy upsets in the same period. He is back to having dirty nappies several times a day, and occasionally at night again, having previously settled to once every 2-3 days.

I made the mistake with DS1 of introducing solids at about 19 weeks, and then watched his growth stop completely, so I don't want to do it again. But, DS1 was dairy intolerant, and we were hoping solids might help keep something down as he had associated reflux (it didn't, he just puked lumps instead!)

Does all this sound like Sleep Regression (he is certainly distractible)? Can a 4 month growth spurt go on for 2 weeks or more? Is it linked to the cold and tummy upsets? Or is he gearing up to need some solids?

There's info on the 4 month sleep regression here, here, here and here.

His beaviour sounds very normal for that age. It'll be a combination of a developmental spurt, growth spurt and could be something to do with the cold / tummy upset too. My DS's 4 month regression lasted a few weeks IIRC.

As you're probably aware, the advice on feeding from the NHS is to wait until 6 months for solids unless your baby shows signs of readiness beforehand. The signs are that they are sitting up, and are able to pick up and taste finger food. If he's not doing that, I'd leave the solids for a while yet myself.

The NHS weaning leaflet does explictly say that more night wakings doesn't necessarily have anything to do with readiness to start solids.

Thanks. I'm just wavering in my confidence that it is all normal, because everything with DS1 was so abnormal! He didn't sit until about 8 or 9 months old, and although he didn't need solids when we started them (hindsight is a remarkable thing!) he would not have waited until he was sitting.

DS2 is completely different and almost sitting already, and is reaching for our food/watching us when we eat, and will put anything he can get hold of into his mouth. I just haven't allowed him to do it with anything edible yet. He is a much bigger, more robust child than DS1 - at 21 weeks, he is half the weight of DS1, who is 5!

hi, my 4 month old is waking much more, he was sleeping for one 4-5 hour chunck ( at your ds2 sleeping through!) but now back to waking every 2 hours...

imho it is normal. my ds2 woke every 45-60 mins at this age and i nearly went mad. i do not see why introduction of solids, esp how most people do it (couple of teaspoons of baby rice at 11am) would help, but it is hard when all around you suggest that.

i think the phase lasted a few weeks with ds2, then it finally settled a bit to waking 2-3 times at 6 month-ish

Thanks, I'm not feeling pressured except by myself. Even my normally impatient DH is telling me to wait a bit longer.

DS1 slept through from 12 weeks too (sorry!) but then when he started night waking we mis-interpreted it as needing solids, and I'm trying so hard to reassure myself that I don't need to this time.

I gave up at 18 weeks having had the same night wakings since 14 weeks and a 7-7 sleeping boy from 10 wks. He is exc breast fed.
One week in, the usual veg and fruit pureed with breast milk
He slept thru again immediately and Hasnt dribbled one little drop of food. He cries if I'm not quick enough.
He is thriving. He also manages lumps.
He weighed 16lb which is what DD weighed at 6 months when she was weaned.
I have found timings a but tricky but he has settled really quick and still has the same amount if breast milk.
WHO schmoo
I know my baby best .