Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2

Original poster

4am! Really?

45 replies

autumnberry · 13/11/2011 05:54

For the at least a month now ds has been impossible to settle back to sleep ater waking for a feed at about 4am. He feeds until about 4.40, at which point he usually ( and rather loudly) fills his nappy. He then wiggles and chats for about 20 mins. I then consider 'getting up' at about 5am. He will eventually settle back to sleep at about 7am when we return to bed. We co-sleep, so I am aware of disturbing DP, but more than half the time we sleep in different beds anyway (when he is working) and the pattern is no different. I try to stay in bed and keep things dark and quiet and only nappy-change if necesarry. I have also tried more feeding and rocking to induce sleep to no avail. Does anyone have any tips on extending the sleep? I do have a lot of patience, but effectively getting up at 4am cannot continue. Baby is 7 months old, goes to bed any time between 6 and 7pm.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

wheredidiputit · 13/11/2011 07:44

Not sure if this well be what you want to hear, but dd2 only started to sleep until 6am when she was about 3yrs. She was always ready to start the day at 4.30 - 5am from day one.

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 13/11/2011 07:47

How is his napping during the day?

Sounds a bit woo-woo but we found taking DD outside for some evening air just before bed, and morning air at 7-ish helped to set her biological rhythms. Something to do with their pineal glands; can't link as am on phone, sorry.

Tis hard for you and I really sympathise.

Crabapple99 · 13/11/2011 07:50

Children sleep as much as they need to and no more. You couldn't be ordered to go to sleep when you are not tired, could you, nor can your son. All you can do, if you want to, is change his ruitene so he sleeps not more, but at different times, although this in itself is disruptive. 4am is not unusual for the first 4-5 years. That's what happens. It's no good you saying it "cannot"! That is a bit like King Canute saying the tide "cannot" come in.

MrsMuddyPuddles · 13/11/2011 07:53

They say that putting the lo to bed later doesn't help, but it did for mine

mumofthreekids · 13/11/2011 07:54

DS1 went through a 5.30am phase that lasted for months - agree 4am is hideous! He's sleeping through from 6-7pm to 4am though? Not bad for his age?

Only advice I can give is for you to go to bed early!

OldernotWiser47 · 13/11/2011 07:57

sorry, no better news here- both DD2 and DS started the day 5 am at the latest for years- DS is now 5, and manages to sleep to about 6 or 6.30.

snoopdogg · 13/11/2011 07:58

Is he weaning? If so you could try feeding him closer to bed time to see him through.

Otherwise, it's probably the need to poo waking him. DS2 has always needed to go immediately on waking - he's 7 now so takes himself thank god.

Agree with the fresh air thing too - my elderly Yorkshire neighbour told me it would 'fettle' him (whatever that means) but she was right.

nomoreheels · 13/11/2011 08:06

My sympathies, DD (nearly 6 months) is getting up at 5 am & that is hideous enough for me - 4 am would finish me off. I feel tired ALL the time & it's really affecting my relationship with DP. Nothing we do changes her routine. I'm back to work tomorrow & the thought of this early rise & then doing a very busy shift makes me want to run & cry in equal measures.

I wish I had some useful advice for you.

ChocolateBiscuitCake · 13/11/2011 08:20

I think it should change when he is having enough solids (especially protein and carbs, not just fruit and veg) during the day. That way, he shouldn't need the feed in the night. Can you really focus on these in the next two weeks?

Also, you may find that being in the same room as each other is not helping him. Perhaps you could try moving him to his own cot so he is not disturbed (and neither are you!).

The dirty nappy is a tricky one - DS1 used to do a dirty nappy at 5-5.30 EVERY morning till about 10 months. I seem to remember trying to make tea time later but he did eventually stop. Perhaps, if DS is in his own room, you could play some music (our monitor does it remotely so YOU don't need to get out of bed!) and this might settle him back to sleep?

Anyway, I sympathise.

OneWaySystemBlues · 13/11/2011 08:50

When you look at it, if he's going to bed between 6 and 7, then waking for a feed at 4, then he's already had between 9-10 hours sleep by the time he wakes and feeds. I'd try moving his bed time a little later so that hopefully he'll wake up a bit later for that feed, then perhaps go down for a morning nap a little later than 7.

RandomMess · 13/11/2011 08:56

Put in a very short later afternoon nap (30 mins around 4pm) and move bedtime back to 8.30?????

Also slot in an extra feed before bed if you can - or a dream feed.

I'm a mean mummy I just cut back on the early morning feed as I went back to work when mine 4-6 months old.

Familydilemma · 13/11/2011 09:07

I feel your pain! Four month old does similar and I have two other early risers so by the time dd2 goes back to sleep at about six, the other two tag team and get up! I'm considering waking her up for the evening and feeding her lots. Nine or ten hours from nine or ten in the evening would be lovely.

Familydilemma · 13/11/2011 09:09

Also, if you are in mat leave, can you go back to sleep for the first nap? I used to do that with dd1 and it saved my sanity. I know I'd be better off with early bed too but I quite like a cuppa and trashy tv with dh. Sometimes even a chat!

nomoreheels · 13/11/2011 09:43

I'd like to do a later bedtime, but what do you do with a baby who's eye rubbing & cranky by 5:30 pm, 6 if I'm lucky? She has several naps a day, I follow her cues (eye rubbing etc) & they are roughly every 3 hours, but it doesn't feel like there's a natural way to set when they are. Regardless of her naps, by 5:30 ish she is ready for her bath & bed routine. Someone suggested rousing her at 7-8 pm for a play but I am too scared to try it.

wheredidiputit · 13/11/2011 10:38

I keep with her bedtime as it is. But that probably because with dd2 it didn't matter what time she went to bed be her bedtime of 6.30 or 9pm she would still wake at 5.30am but be extra grumpy as she was over tired.

northernwreck · 13/11/2011 10:48

Well, I would cut back on the afternoon nap, and put to bed a bit later, tired or not. Babies will usually take a few days to adjust, but will naturally adjust to getting up later if put to bed later.
Agree with the fresh air thing-and loads of carpet athletics to wear him out!
I had a difficult sleeper, but persevered and would no way have accepted that you are going get woken up at 4 am for three years! It's the middle of the night!

FabbyChic · 13/11/2011 11:22

Put him to bed later, you are putting him down too early surely that is obvious.

Dialsmavis · 13/11/2011 11:42

Is he warm enough? We had the heating on a few weeks ago as dp was sick and he forgot to turn it off, dd slept for an hour longer, we now leave it on in her room all night and she stirs and wakes less. Btw dd is of the earlier to bed then the later to rise Style so you may not be putting him to bed too early

CoraBear · 13/11/2011 12:11

OP you have my sympathy. My seven month old has been doing this since he got his six month injections and it is sapping the life out of me. He previously slept from 8pm, quick feed at 4am and then back down 'til 8am. Now he goes to bed at 8, will be restless and cry on and off 'til 12am, wake up fully for a scream at 12.30am, feed at 4am and be awake for about an hour, then wake properly at 6am. I am a walking mess.

Could you put your son down at 5.30 pm for a nap and then wake him up after 30/40 mins? It might mean he's up a little later but he might sleep a little sounder for you. My DS is teething and this has meant that when he wakes up he finds it really hard to settle.

SirHumphreyAppleby · 13/11/2011 12:16

As others have mentioned, if you take him out for a walk before bedtime, he should start to sleep longer. I think it is to do with exposure to sunlight though, so might not work as well at this time of year.

stainesmassif · 13/11/2011 12:22

My best advice - don't worry, time passes really quickly and he will not do this forever. Just accept IT'S A PHASE, go to bed really early and enjoy him while he's little. Ds2 is 11 months, regularly up at 4.30 and I'm back at work. It hasn't killed me yet and I just have to remind myself that I'll want these days back when he's a teenager. All things shall pass.

valiumredhead · 13/11/2011 13:00

I think you your baby is doing very well for sleeping 9 hours straight, I would've killed for that!

Original poster

autumnberry · 15/11/2011 19:21

Thanks for the gentle advice and sympathies. I'll try the early morning walk. We do usually go for a walk before it gets dark, but I live in Scotland and it is DARK at 5pm. I'm sure this contributes to the sleeping pattern. Well, its after 7pm, so bedtime for me now, too!

OP posts:

Andrewofgg · 15/11/2011 19:33

DS slept through the night from six weeks and never once woke us again - we had to wake him when we went to bed after he was out of nappies to go to the loo and he didn't like it (but went straight back to sleep) - now come and hit me!

Familydilemma · 15/11/2011 21:31

Andrewofgg-that's brilliant for you! But not relevant to the op's question.

Flip

1 2