4 month old!

[smirnoff861]

Hi
My 4 month old was sleeping well at night but for the past few weeks has decided he doesn't like sleeping and the past week has been up mostly every hour or two and its getting so hard to keep going, im so tired!! He does have a cold and is teething. He is feeding nearly everytime he wakes. He barely sleeps in the day so I'm getting really worried he isn't getting enough sleep. When he falls asleep in the day I try to put him down but hr will then wake about 10 mins later. Should I keep putting him down or should I hold him so he gets enough sleep? Im worried he's getting held too much im the day now! Any advice would be great! Thanks!

hi Smirnoff,I don't have any great advice but I am in the same boat! my DS is 19 weeks and the last 2 days has just started settling down again. he was also teething and had a cold, and I think going through a growth spurt and developmental leap all at the same time! he is a nightmare with naps in the day though too, will sleep for a good hour on me but if I try and put him in his Moses basket 10 minutes and he's awake so I am just holding him at the moment to get him to have some sleep. don't know if this is any help but wanted you to know you are not alone. I good cup of should help and a

It sounds a lot like sleep regression. My DS had this, it can last anything from a couple of nights upwards. Rest assured that it does pass though. My DS took a couple of months to get back to normal.

I worried endlessly about DS taking his naps on me, but I should have just enjoyed the cuddles - it goes too quickly!

If you don't already do this, try putting in place a strict bedtime routine so your baby knows what is coming. I used to feed from one side, have a bath, read a story, feed from the other side and then put him down. Essentially, I still do the same thing except he eats solids now.

Good luck, it will pass!

Thank you! Our bedtime routine is in place but im perhaps not strict enough with it! I think we should work on getting that a lot stricter though he does have a bath, pjs, etc at the same time each night the time he goes to bed can vary depending on his feeding. We try putting him down and half an hour later hr wants to feed up to about 9 or half 9! To be fair it has got a lot worse the past week when he has had his cold but it wasn't perfect before then! I really hope it passes soon!! So many people say if you hold them they will get too used to being held, but then other places say before 6 months it doesn't really matter? Its all so confusing on a sleep deprived brain!! thank you for the replies, it does help to know its not just us. People I know with babies the same age or older always tell me how perfectly their (bottle fed) babies sleep but I now like to think they are just lying!! Haha!

My mum always says that women tell two big lies to each other:

1. I never argue with my husband
2. My baby sleeps through the night.

Don't worry, it'll all come together. And if he wants to snuggle, let him. My DS won't sit still long enough for a cuddle these days and cannot sleep on me ever. I miss it loads!

If he's got a cold, you could try 'baby nose clear' if you're not already. DS also has a rotten cold at the moment. It's definitely going around!

BigW: that is so true about women and 2 little lies :)
Smirnoff, I am going through exactly the same right now. My 15 week old DS has a few half hr snoozes during the day and is so easily disturbed. He wakes up happy so I guess these little naps are ok. During the night he is up 2hrly and I'm offering a feed(BF) almost at the point of giving up.
I'm just hoping when he starts weaning things will settle down...

It's really common, lots of babies seem to get it. I think it's due to all the developmental leaps at this stage.

I was worrying too because we are using sling / pram for naps. Now though I think it's just best they nap enough regardless of how. Thinks are much harder when they are overtired.

We have gone for waking every 45 mins to being able to sleep 2hrs at a time, sometimes more.

Lately too lots of people are telling me that weaning really helped their baby sleep . We are starting at 5 months - always planned to hold out for 6. The multiple night feedings though are making me think the wee man needs more.

So you're not alone, it will get better. I'd go with whatever you need too to get through ( co-sleeping etc).

Thankfully we are down to waking twice a night! So its better already but I still miss sleep! i have heard as well they food fills them up enough to sleep more so fingers crossed it does! Im just hoping he stays with two wakes a night, or less! Its so hard being awake every hour!! Robbo, that's good to know its nit just DS who doesnt have doesn't if naps in the day! I have found the days he has small naps he does sleep slightly better at night!