Hi
My ds had just turned 13 weeks. He was 6lb 5oz when born and is still quite a wee lad but healthy and gaining weight well, alert, active, playful etc. Up until 1 week ago had established what I thought was an ok routine - up at 6.30, feed, play, bed again 7.45/8 to about 9.30/10, then feed, play, sleep roughly every 3-3.5 hours. Breast feeding so don't really know how much taking in - but can be a quick feeder (8-12 minutes on average) and will throw a paddy if i try and put him back on - have tried switching sides etc but no luck - just assuming he's had his fill. Then bath at 7pm, feed then bed. He used to niggle alot and we would be in an out with the dummy, but then as routine more established would grizzle a bit but settle himself by 8.00pm usually. Fast asleep until we woke him at 10.30/11 for dream feed (formula) then awake at 2.30/3am. This all seemed ok.
However last week all has changed and the last 3 days have been a bit of a mare. Still doing 3-3.5 hours between feeds during the day with the feed, play, sleep thing. He can be quite sleepy so will wake him rather than let him go for more that a couple of hours. However night times going down hill, bath and feed still at 7pm, and going off to sleep fine, but waking at 10/10.30pm, then 2am, 5am and 7.30am. Getting very frustrated and exhausted! Thought by his age would be sleeping longer through night but feel like we are going backwards now! Feeding can be horrible sometimes, especially at 2am when only fed for 8 mins then coughs or something and won't go back on - get the whole hissy fit thing, which i just can't be doing with when so tired already - always settles back to sleep fine though! Don't think we have a sleep issue, but perhaps a food issue? Do you think we've got to the point over the last 3 days where he is waking and associating sleep with feeding? He used to sometimes wake at 5.30am but if we left him to niggle would go back to sleep. Now the niggling ramps up to full blown crying and when i go in his room he's got the covers off and wiggled half way up the bed!!
Any advice would be much appreciated, pretty exhausted and dh and I are at each others throats alot due to tiredness and not knowing what to do for best! Possible growth spurt??