Habit wakings?!

[beckieperk]

Is there such a thing as waking through habit? My ds 5.5 months wakes at midnight and four o'clock as regular as clockwork every night....but doesn't really want anything. Isn't hungry and goes back to sleep relatively easily most nights. Some nights trickier than others and needs a cuddle/rock, but most night just a sush/pat situation. Any ideas?! :-)

My DD (nearly 7 months) goes to bed at 8 and wakes around 12, 3 and 6.. and the only way to get her back to sleep is to give her a bottle, of which she will drink around 1-2oz then is sock on again. I'm told the only reason a baby will wake up during the night (from around 6 months) is down to habit. I'm not sure how true it is but for my DD she obviously needs the comfort of her bottle to get her back off again. Need to pluck up the courage to stop the bottles and get her to settle back down on her own!

Maybe your DS just needs the reassurance that you're still there and that's why he's waking. I would think that as he goes back off to sleep without milk or whatever, then once he gets more active he will start to sleep through because he'll be more tired through doing more.
Does he wriggle himself out of his blankets and is getting a little cold?
Or could he be too warm??

Thank you for your reply. He went a little longer last night....till 0115 then 5 am.....i didn't do anything different. I did wonder about the temperature in his room. He's in a sleep suit and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag. The temperature drops from around 22 (!!) to 18 degrees overnight in there. We have tried leaving the heating on low overnight to try and keep it at a constant temperature around 18/20 degrees, but it made no difference. Not sure how to sort the temp really. He is very nearly crawling so this should tire him out?! Think I might just ride it out like you say....he starts childminders in a few weeks as I'm back to work full time ....so anything I try now may go to pot then anyway. Would just like to get him sleeping better before my return to the land of the gainfully employed!!! Dreading it.

Not too sure....but will watch with interest. I'm having similar issues with ds similar age. Let me know any updates.

Also watching this thread for advice, even though DD is 16 months and 3rd DC I have no idea how to stop her. Rarely needs more than a shush and tuck in and/or find her dummy but I'm shattered and a terrible sleeper myself so am often awake for about 2 hours.