So, first time Mum here, totally winging it, but DS was sleeping beautifully. Put down at 7ish and woke maybe 4/5/6ish for a feed. The last week or so, I cant remember exactly, he has been a nightmare if im honest. He wakes shortly after settling for the night (he cried when hes put down for night time sleep, but not for naps).
His naps were awful but I didn't mind so much because he slept so well at night. We've had a total change and he naps great, not even a cry once we put him down for a nap in the day.
This was the case for putting him down at night, but recently he cries and we had been just going in and putting the dummy in. After a few goes of this he would settle and do his usual sleep until 4ish. Thelast week or so he wakes constantly in the night. But only some nights. Say three nights I'm up maybe nine times, then some nights he cries 3 times for a feed. I don't know what he wants or what to do.
I'm aware of the growth spurt and the sleep regression that apparently comes with a 4 month old, however I feel a bit lost as to how to tackle this. At the moment I'm putting his dummy back in once and if he spits it out and cries i try him with a feed. But then it's hit and miss. Sometimes he'll go 4/5 hours at night, then sometimes less than 2. There's no pattern, rhyme or reason. We have some good nights, then some bad. It's really baffling me.
I really don't want to introduce bad habits and if it#s sleep regression then I'm keen to let him work it out for himself, but then I can't bear the thought of letting him go hungry if that's what he needs.
I don't know what is going on, with having some okayish nights (I really don't mind going back to being up every 4 hours to feed) and some almost back to normal nights, I'm totally stumped. I'm trying to ride it out but I desperately don't want to be making bad habits if it's just regression.
He's worked his way up to 8oz per feed, however recently in the day he's barely been doing 6oz (not sure if this is because he's getting bored (he's on fast flow already)) in the day then guzzling 8oz at night.
At the moment I'm pretty much just replacing the dummy until I feel he needs a feed, and whilst it could be worse I'm desperate to make sure I establish good sleeping habits from the off.
My partner has a high performing job that he can't afford to be tired with, which includes travelling ridiculous miles therefore it's tricky to try the self settle thing once we've gone to bed.
I feel I should be leaving him to self settle for at least a few minutes before trying a feed but its hard to know what is best.
I'd be really appreciative if anyone could give me some advice.
I guess I want telling what to do.
He also could be teething. He's a naturally warm baby but has been chewing his hands for a while now, with flushed cheeks and dribbling horrendous amounts however I can't see anything and he's no more cranky in the day.
Pleas help!