20 wk DS waking every 2 hours too bf through the night for last 4 weeks. Normal?!

[kw111]

I appreciate these types of threads have been started in the past but I guess I just need to get my own thoughts and feelings of my chest. And to hear of other people's experiences!

DS was sleeping through the night until 16 weeks...then it suddenly went downhill. He started teething so I put the initial disturbance down to this. Then the HV said a growth spurt is common at this age and things would settle in a week or so. But this hasn't happened. DS did go on to develop a cold following 3rd jabs but is all better now and still waking. I am so tired...and panic every time DS wakes as my partner is struggling with work due to lack of sleep.

Partner and family keep telling me to start weaning but I am aware of the guidelines and the fact weaning won't necessarily put an end to night feeds. feeling the pressure now. And exhaustion.

Thanks for any feedback. x

and apologies for sp mistake in subject box....

I'd have a look on here for other posts about the four month sleep regression. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it seems to be pretty common and can go on for a few weeks. As I understand, it's developmental (their little brains are making some exciting new connections so they don't sleep) so a bit different to a normal growth spurt where they just need to feed more.

thanks RedKites :)

Absolutely normal, mine woke every half an hour at some points

And as you say, there's no evidence weaning helps, statistically.

I feel your pain, DD is 21wks and was sleeping through before. Now everything is far too exciting to feed properly in the day so she's waking at night. I heard it sometimes knocks off around 5 months so I'm hoping I've only got another week left. In fact she had gone back to sleeping through but since we've been on holiday during the last week she's waking again because we've been out and about all the time and she's very distractable when feeding outside

Fhdl34 - my DS has just started being easily distractable too in the last few days and daytime feeds have reduced. Pulling off the boob so frequently means he sucks in a lot of air, so having to wind him a lot too. 5 months is in sight so this gives me hope!

Would agree that it sounds like sleep regression. It is a common thing for people to start advising early weaning on solids but it won't make much difference, especially as first foods tend to be vegetables and fruit which are not calorific compared to milk.

If he is distracted during the day, I found going upstairs and feeding in a calm dark room (I feed lying down). Hopefully he'll come out of it soon.

Have you tried cosleeping? That got us through month 4 to 6 really :)

I admit, from after 6am I tend to bring him in bed with us. Has anyone else read this article? www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/14/six-months-breastfeeding-babies-scientists

The cynic inside me thinks this bit is very important:

Patti Rundall, of the campaigning group Baby Milk Action, said moving to weaning at four months would be "a regrettable and backward step that is out of step with current scientific thinking". She accused the paper's authors of taking funds from the babyfood industry. The paper acknowledges that three of the four authors "have performed consultancy work and/or received research funding from companies manufacturing infant formulas and baby foods within the past three years"

The Analytical Armadillo will probably do a blog about it in the next few days.

I just don't see how giving baby rice, purée vegetables or fruit is more nutritious than breast milk. I also don't buy into the fact that babies will be more likely to have allergies; whatever mum eats baby is exposed to through the milk ie peanuts, egg etc.

Well first night back from holiday and DD slept 9-4am, fed then back to sleep till 7.30am so back to the version of normal her sleep pattern was before holiday. I've unintentionally started keeping her in bed from the 7.30am wake up for a couple of hours and she has some good grazing time before we start the day.

That's quite an old article, she may have already blogged on it.

I have one like that too! 20 weeks and stopped feeding through the night at 16 weeks, now up every 2 hours. I'm struggling a bit as I have another one who is 22 months who is very demanding too.

I am not prepared to co-sleep as I did it with my 6 year old and it was fab at the time but hell on wheels when we finally tried to kick her out to her own bed. It's great in the short term but not in the long run in my opinion, but I know it works for some people.

Sorry just marking place as am in same boat

fhdl34 - hope you had a good holiday and I am pleased DD is sleeping longer through the night. My DS dosn't Go to bed until 9pm (or later, depending on length of feed, but this is what we aim for)...then he is hungry again by midnight.

Other MN's - I agree with all your comments about the article. My partner interprets it as demonstrating the risk of NOT weaning earlier and every day asks if DS has tried the baby rice yet. Followed by a lengthy pause when I repeatedly say no.

I admit, I thought perhaps DS was ready but I put him in his high chair and he just kept slouching down. I have ordered one of those Cushi Tush chairs to see if he sits up straighter in that..if he does, I will feel more comfortable trying. Mother in law says she fed her DC's in a bouncy chair...not sure I like the idea of that!

We have a bumbo which a friend fed hers in but we want to do BLW at the table so going to have to buy one soon. I had picked the one I wanted but have since found the tray doesn't come off so will have to restart the research. Only 5 weeks to go for us which I know will fly by :(