It's all going wrong

[lobsters]

I've got a DD who's 4 and a half months. We had settled ourselves into a rhythm that seems to work for us, I wouldn't go as far as calling it a routine. Things seemed to happen in a similar order everyday, but as we don't start at the same time, things don't happen at the same time everyday. however we usually managed to end up with a 7pm bedtime. It was all going well, but in the last week or so it's suddenly started to go wrong. She used to sleep well once down, and only wake when hungry sometime between 3 and 7am. She also used to nap well.

But now she goes to bed at 7, but wakes regularly during the night before 3. She doesn't seem to be hungry, as she settles once we put her dummy back in. If she wakes from 3 and doesn't settle quickly I give her a feed.

We were on a 3 hourly routine of eat, play and sleep (not always in that order), however now it seems she wants to eat about every 4 hours, but sleep every 2. It feels like we're regressing a bit. I'm not sure what's going on. I don't think it's teething, as other than continual drool, there are no other signs. She doesn't seem ill, but a bit out of sorts. Any tips for getting back into some kind of rhythm?

Apologies for any spelling mistakes, I'm really tired and had a glass of wine

It is early days. Don't stress about it. Try not to do too much, take it as it comes and it will gradually get easier.

The things with babies - and children in general - is you sort out a system that works for you and then - ta-daa! - your baby moves on a stage, it all goes tits up and you have to start again. This will keep happening! Don't worry, it sounds normal to me - as they get older they feed less frequently, and there could be many reasons for her being out of sorts - could be teething, could be a growth spurt, a minor virus, or just a developmental stage - you might find it coincides with her doing something new like rolling over.

Just gently go with her needs and let the rhythm rearrange itself as necessary - it will (until the next stage!)

It will get so much easier too as she gets better at communicating her needs. It's all guesswork when they're so little.

Well, first of all you're about due a growth spurt I think, so that might disrupt her sleeping.

Secondly it all changes all the time. Everything does. All things to do with children and babies keep changing, and it isn't linear progress. It doesn't mean it's gone wrong as such.

Sorry but my experience is that you just ride it out and don't worry too much. It will all get better but sometimes it gets worse first.