4 month sleep regression/introducing formula/sleep advice

[nearlymumofone]

This is a bit rambly and not sure I make much sense (I'm not normally like this- the tiredness has taken over) so proceed at your perile!!

DS, 20 weeks today hit the 4 month sleep regression bang on 16 weeks. We've had it now for 4 weeks. Complete joy. It begun with him waking every 20-40 minutes throughout the night. Mainly to feed. At the time he was EBF. I lost half a stone in the first week (sounds good but wasn't really as just drained to death!). Anyway, over past 2 weeks have introduced solids (just baby porridge) and formula last week (all on advice of HV/GP) as DS had dropped from 98th-25th centile. Sleep improved a bit from inconsolable crying every 40 minutes and needing feeding to waking 3-4 times through the night to feed BUT also waking every 40 mins/1 hour to cry until I give him his comforter. When he has this he feels it in his hands then falls asleep quickly (generally).

I guess what I'm asking advice on is, whether it's safe to leave this comforter in his cot at this age, then he might not wake to need it (it's this little blanket thing- silky on one side, fluffy on the other with a teddy bear head attached to it- strange i know!!). As at the moment I give it to him when he wakes through the night, wait for him to fall asleep and then take it away.

Also whether introducing more formula would help the sleep situation. I have struggled with breastfeeding all along. DS is uninterested in feeding, not gaining weight and will only breastfeed lying down. HOWEVER for the past week has taken a bottle of formula each evening with such enjoyment, appears to feed much more happily and contently. I have really wrestled with weaning him off the breast, feelings of guilt, and been in tears about it a lot of the time (that's me not him.) But he seems more content on the bottle.

Oh and finally- with the sleep regression, can I 'sleep train' (have bought the no cry sleep solution, though not had energy to read it yet!!) him into waking less? or do I just have to ride this phase out?

Any thoughts/help/advice much appreciated...

First of all, if his blankie makes him sleep give it to him don't take it away - buy another one for washing obviously but don't sweat it. He will not be psychologically scarred by it and will grow out of it in his own time.

Secondly, sounds very much like he's teething. Try neurofen for children. And stop worrying, five month olds are not meant to sleep soundly. The ones that do are weird.

Let him have his comforter, definitely!

I don't think you can "sleep train" as such, but I do think it's possible to help him sleep better. But you have to be sure he's waking for comfort/can't self-settle rather than because he's hungry or in teething pain. When my ds was about 22 weeks I focussed on helping him self-settle at bedtime, and then in the night fed him at 10.30ish and 3-4am - DP went to him and rocked him back to sleep if he woke any other time. He was soon only waking for those 2 feeds.

Obviously all babies are different but having just come out of the 4mnth sleep regression (now 21wks, lasted 16wks - 20.5 wks) I think it will pass (bet that doesn't make you feel better!) and I was already mix feeding I can confirm that formula doesn;t appear to make it any better!

The extra times that he wakes, do you attempt to feed him. If your worried about weight then the best thing is feed more milk as this is more calorific than solids (which fills them up for longer).

As long as he is gaining weight, the slip in centiles isn't necessarily bad if he seems otherwise fine. My DD is now off the charts but it's just the way she is.

The only advantage of formula in this situation is it means (i) you know he's had plenty to eat prior to bed - if you choose to believe this and (ii) your partner can take alternative nights, meaning you'll get some sleep. Doesn't matter if he works that is not a valid argument. I was working by 4 months and DH is SAHD. Still do my share when I'm in the house.