13wk old waking very often - help!

[philbee]

DD2 is 13 wks and over the last 2-3 weeks has gone from waking once or twice a night to waking every 2 hours, sometimes more often. Yesterday I put her down at 8, she was awake at 9.30, 12.20, 2, 4, 5 and 6 and hasn't slept since then. She clearly isn't hungry all those times, although in my addled state I have been feeding her back to sleep. But it's getting worse and I need to sort it out. Don't really want to cc, and it's not an option as DD1 needs to sleep. What can I do to help her to self settle? She is in a cot next to the bed and DH is in the spare room getting a solid 8 hours kip. She has four or five naps a day of about half an hour, but as DD1 is on holiday at the moment I can't sleep then.

in my opinion and experience that is quite normal for a bf baby. I know it's really tough though, been there very recently. I don't feel feeding to sleep is always such a bad thing; I always did and at 8 months he doesn't always need it.

might be worth checking for reflux though - is she a fussy feeder? arch back etc?

sounds very much like she's going through that 3 month old thing BUT if you are concerned it's always worth checking with a Dr. as I've just posted on another thread, we found our lo had both silent reflux but also a urine infection due to bladder reflux which causes poor sleep. he had no other symptoms eg temp etc.

Thank you. No, no back arching, she goes back off very peacefully? She's just waking a lot. Is this the sleep regression then?

sounds like it

I'm starting to learn that sleep comes and goes on and off for quite some time, it's learning the coping strategies that is the hard bit but we all get there in the end.

but, a doctor will never turn a new mum away as you just never know with babies

I'm also learning that no two babies are the same.....

the no cry sleep solution has some good tips if you're worried about managing it.

Thanks clarella. I ordered the book in the middle of the night after I posted! Waiting for it to arrive. Tbh, just accepting it and deciding not to try to manage or strategise has been better. As you say, sleep comes and goes for a long time and I can't face trying to follow different theories on my own at 3am. If she's still doing this in Sep when DD1 is back at school and I can have quieter days I will try some things then.