Frequent waking in the early hours. Is my 16 week old hungry or just wanting to comfort suck?

[peckhammummy]

The sleep deprivation is beginning to get to me. I EBF my DS3 and our nights just don't seem to be getting any better. He goes down really brilliantly in the evening. I can put him in his cot and he happily gets himself to sleep. He then wakes any time between 9.30 and midnight to feed. He will then wake at 2 ish 4 and then 5.30 ish at which point he usually ends up in our bed.
What I don't know is whether he is hungry or just wanting to comfort suck. I think it could be the latter but I don't seem to be able to settle him back to sleep in the night without feeding so maybe he really is hungry.

I have two other DSs aged 3 and 5 and have no opportunity to sleep in the day.
I bought a box of formula today but don't really want to use it. Do you think that I could give him a bottle last thing and it would help him sleep longer?

sounds entirely normal to me sorry that is probably not what you want to hear!

we had those exact timings, including going to bed like a dream, for months !

I just wonder if I could be doing anything differently. Should I try to settle him without letting him suck? TBH I'm not sure I've got the stamina!

Could your partner try settling him in the night?

oh i know! i hear that and my DS is 14 months. He occasionally wakes up before 5am (from 6:30pm) and i try and settle him without. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and rather than deal with hysterics, if he really wants it, he obviously needs it.

and 4 months is classic time for sleep regressions here

Maybe a growth spurt and baby is trying to increase your supply. Hang in there- it does pass, try and hold onto that thought.

My husband Is really supportive and does try to settle him if I ask but it never really works and I end up having to feed and DS 1 and 2 end up getting woken up. I keep telling myself it will get better. Maybe once he's on solids at least I'll know he's not hungry.