What has happened to my 17 week old sleeper?

[notonmywatch]

DD is 17 weeks and since about 4 weeks old has been a pretty good sleeper and made it through the night many times, or getting up once for a feed and settling back down no problem (v lucky I know). However, for the past 2 weeks things have gone downhill.

She goes down between 7 and 7.30pm, but stirs everynight about 12ish and I settle her again by putting on the womb noise bear. She does not cry out but lies there sucking her hands very loudly (she often does this to get to sleep). Then again she stirs about 5ish and for the next hour and a half I lie there and listen to her gong between dozing and handsucking, as a keep on putting the womb noise back on (only lasts 5 mins).

I don't think it is hunger as she does not cry out, which surely she would do. I really don't know what to do about this?

thanks
Sarah

It's developmental - see all the threads on here about the '4 month sleep regression' or google it as well. Basically they just become more aware of things and more interested in the world, which has an effect on their sleeping for a while.

I'm not sure there's anything much you can do about it, apart from wait it out and tbh it doesn't sound all that bad in your dd's case on the scale of things. (I'm saying this as someone whose baby began waking every hour!)

Sorry that sounded a bit flippant - I know how rubbish it is when they stop sleeping if you've been used to it. But it is extremely common at this particular age. I think the fact that you don't feed her to sleep is a good thing in the long run.

Besom I totally understand where you are coming from! I know I was starting from a very good place and many parents would be happy with what I have.

Hope she settles down again soon. I thought I saw a whole support thread for this not very long ago but I can't find it for you.