9wk old waking at 4, 5, and 6 - how can I break the cycle?

[novabrandybutterpowder]

My 9wk old DD's night goes like this:

Feed 19.30

Bath 19.50

Finish feed and put down at 20.15/20.30

She usually goes off ok, sometimes she needs a bit of resettling after 30-40 mins.

Up until last week she was having a dream feed at 22.30, but she started to refuse it, and even when she was taking it she would only drink a small amount. However, she now wakes at 23.30 for a feed, which I don't mind so much as she goes straight back to sleep.

She then wakes at 02.30 when I usually feed her, although she never takes a full feed.

Then she wakes at 04.00, 05.00, and 06.00 on the dot every night. I usually give in and feed her at the 6 wake after which she'll sleep until 07.30.

I spent 10 days trying to get her to drop a night feed, so only feeding at 03.00 and 07.30, but it didn't stop her waking at the other times and meant I didn't get much sleep as I was constantly trying to settle her. That went out of the window when she had her first set of jabs, so now we're back at the beginning.

How can I break this waking cycle? I've tried everything I can think of...

feed her at 4 .. she's far too young to be sleep trained IMHO

My DD went through a week or so of waking at 3:00 4:00 and 5:00. I'd feed her at all feeds and put her back in her basket, but she'd continue to wake up. I started feeding her at 3:00 and then leaving her on my stomach for about 15 mins, just stroking her hair. Then I'd put her back. If I did that, she'd sleep through til 5:00 so I'd get an extra few hours. Whenever she wakes up in the night, i'd feed but keep her with me for a while. She now sleeps from about 11:00 til 7:00 at 10 weeks.

Thanks, I was just worried that feeding when she woke up at 4 was like a step back rather then a step forward, but i'll give it a try.

My fifteen week old son was exactly the same at 9 weeks, and carried on until the last week really. I tried one night to 'dummy' one of the feeds out, but after that resigned myself to the fact he was still hungry and fed him anyway (after a stern talking to from my mum babies developing at their own pace/what a short time span it was in the scheme of things etc...).

You could set your watch by him...dreamfeeds and changes to bedtime seemed to make no difference at all. So in the end I just decided to feed him whenever he woke, but without fuss etc. Last week, he just dropped the 5 and 6 ones, and slept from 8 til 12.30, then 4.30 until 7. The last two nights he went to bed at 8, woke at 4 and then went right through until 9. Nothing changed my end - so I guess you just have to wait for them to be ready to go longer. I am praying tonight is the same...hope it pans out for you too!

what are your day naps like?

Agree with twiglett, I would feed her at 4 too. I dont think its a step backwards at all you might find she doesnt wake at 5 and 6 but sleeps right through till 7.30 instead. My dd had similar routine at that age, fed at 9pm, up at 1ish, then again at 4ish and that was her till 7am. Hopefully feeding at 4 will settle her for rest of night.

Well the first night she fed at 3, 5, 6 and 9, then the next was 4, 6, and 8. However, last night she did 3, 6, and 7.30 which may not sound great but was a huge improvement as she settled straight away after each feed so I'm feeling a little more rested and she's in a much better mood in the day.

Her day naps can be a little erratic, but she usually gets at least an hour out of every 3 (a la baby whisperer).

wake her at 3.45 and give her another feed - if you wake her and feed her before the time she normally does, that may break the cycle.