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.

Flip

Original poster

Waking at 5am!!!

21 replies

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 18:47

Hi all
My ds is 4 months old and HAS been sleeping from around 8pm to 7/8am for atleast two weeks, however for the last week he keeps waking at 5am :(
The only way I can seem to get him back to sleep is by bringing him into our bed with his paci, but I really don't want to fall into a trap of doin this for the next god knows how long!
He usually has 3 or 4 1hr naps in the day - should I be putting him bed earlier or reducing his naps in the day or just leave him in the cot when he wakes at 5am? Any advice would really help :) also how did anyone else get theirs to self settle? Lo currently uses a paci but I can foresee this becoming a problem very soon

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 19:15

Do you feed him at 5am then try to put him back to bed?

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 19:24

Hey! No I don't feed him, he doesn't wake up hungry or crying, just babbling away to himself but if left long enough will start to cry!
He'll sleep till 8am once I get him back off in my bed with a paci. I just hope it's not the 4 month regression?

OP posts:

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 19:25

The reason I ask is the my ds did this at 4 months after sleeping thru, I feed him in the dark, wind him and put him back to bed and he sleeps till 8:30.
I wouldn't moan about it if your baby is sleeping that much at such a young age, as most people do not be that much sleep, just be thank full.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 19:32

My ds doesn't cry either but as you say if you left him he would. I tried a dummy/ paci and then just fed him, and have done ever since. i am lazy and use a ready to feed carton as he is ff, but means i dont have to leave the room. I would try feeding him and see what happens. Worked for me. They are growing all the time so if it works I would go for it.

Alexa007 · 07/12/2013 19:53

I remember my daughter doing this at about the same age. I used to leave her babbling as long as possible and wait for her cries to escalate before getting her. She just grew out of it but I personally wouldn't be getting into a habit of bringing into bed. Mine started to sleep through at 20 weeks and gradually the mornings got later. She's 8 months now and she usually wakes between 6.30-7.30

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 19:55

My dp seems to think its because I let him have a late nap at 5.30/6.00 for around 45mins but he gets really grouchy if up for any longer than 2.5hrs max!
I am thankful I know I'm luckier than some it's just so nice when you get a 11/12 hour sleep lol!
I don't mind getting up so much just wish I didn't have to bring him into our bed with his paci (well I don't mind too much but dp does) think it shows he can't self settle too?

OP posts:

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 19:58

Alexa007 I was hoping it mite be temporary thing or growth spurt maybe?? Did you just leave your lo in the cot then?

OP posts:

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 20:03

Just try feeding him, how often do you go 12 hrs without eating or drinking. If you leave a baby crying and escalating they are getting distressed, just feed them in the dark and put them back to bed. They won't do it forever.

lilyaldrin · 07/12/2013 20:05

I'd just take DS into bed with me at that age and enjoy the lie-in! Once they grow out of it you might find you have to get up at 5am.

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 20:11

Should I just offer him some water first?

OP posts:

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 20:12

No, just feed him a bottle. He won't do it forever.

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 20:36

Will give it a try he is a reflux baby so does have to stay upright for 20mins after a feed so will prob need to put a chair in his room :)

OP posts:

lilyaldrin · 07/12/2013 20:42

I would personally just bring the baby into bed with you rather than feed him and sit up for 20 minutes

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 20:58

The only thing that worries me feeding him at 5am means he'll be having too much fl oz in one day, which I do have to keep an eye on with him due to his reflux (too much milk in his tummy means only way is up lol)
I just don't want him or me to get into a bad habit already at 4 months of being in mummy n daddy's bed or is it too early to be worrying about that!

OP posts:

lilyaldrin · 07/12/2013 21:10

It's up to you of course, but I don't see how a nice cuddle with your baby and an extra couple of hours sleep can be a bad habit.

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 21:14

I do agree it doesn't hurt either of us, just got dp nagging in my ear that we'll find ourselves still doin it in 2 years time lol! They say at 5 months tho is when they start to wake up properly in the night and unless they can self settle we're on for more sleepless nights - pls tell me this isn't always the case!

OP posts:

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 21:22

Ds is 5 months now and sometimes sleeps 7/8-6 I feed him, sit up with him till he winds himself and then goes back in his bed till about 8:30.
But he is in a cot in our room.
I think people worry too much about the future and don't just think about what works now.

lilyaldrin · 07/12/2013 21:25

If he is self-settling at bedtime and settling himself throughout the night, then I can't see how having a snuggle with you in the mornings is going to stop him sleeping well.

I agree with yellow, do what works now, don't make life harder for everyone by worrying about something that might not even happen in the future.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 21:27

And unless your dp is dealing with everything he shouldn't nag you. What happens if you hand over responsibility of this to your dp? Would he just be rubbish, get worked up and the baby and then hand the baby over to you?

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 07/12/2013 21:30

Most definitely yellow lol
I think I do overthink things tbh - he needs his paci to settle and a lot of shushing fro me
Does your lo wake in the night and self settle?

OP posts:

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 07/12/2013 21:37

Very very occasionally he stirs and I give him his dummy and a pat and he is fine.
Other times again not every night he will stir, I wake up and look in his cot, and he's sound asleep.

Flip