So, is the the dreaded 4 month sleep regression??

[avocadoaddict]

Hi all, I know this topic has been done to death but I just wanted to see what other people thought.

DD is 15.5 weeks old. She is EBF. She has been going to sleep between 6.30pm and 7pm. For a week or so I was giving her a dream feed somewhere between 10pm and 10.30 pm. After that she would sleep until 3am or 4am, feed once and then sleep until the morning - perhaps 7am. This was AMAZING! Unfortunately it didn't last.

This week it has all gone out of the window. She goes to bed at the same time, with the same dream feed. Last night she woke up at 12.30am, 2.15am, 4am, 5am and 6am. I only fed her during the 2.15am waking, the other times she cried for around 5 minutes and then settled herself back to sleep, before being up and awake at 6am. This has been typical of her sleep this week.

Even though she settled herself down, obviously the crying still woke me and DH, and so we're shattered this morning.

Please tell me, is this the sleep regression, or is she too young? Am I doing something wrong? Even a quick yes/no answer would be much appreciated if you have a second. Thanks

Sounds like it could be..... :(
I know how you feel...

Sounds like what happened to my DS. It's torturous but it DOES settle back down. For him it lasted quite a while, about four/five weeks (I'm sorry!!) It nearly broke me, I doubted everything I was doing and I was shattered. But just ride it out, keep doing what you're doing, it sounds like you're making really good decisions. Can you draft in daytime support for naps? (Naps for you!)

Thanks both.

I really need to make more of an effort to nap when she does, but there's always soooooo much to do when she's asleep!

I keep telling myself that it is much more important for my mental health to sleep rather than do the washing up!!

Yeah I know it goes against the grain but it's better to have a well rested mummy in a messy house than a grumpy mummy in a tidy house.... That's my logic!!

Sounds like it. My lo slept great until she was 3.5 months, then regressed just as you describe. She also stopper feeding to sleep and just screamed until she exhausted herself.

I tried pick up put down to encourage her to settle herself. It was very gentle and she responded well.

And yes, naps for you more important than washing up...so blinking tempting to get on and do stuff though! Good luck.

Oh, and our regression lasted 8 weeks.

I think it's to do with their sleep changing to be more like adult sleep, and the changeover unsettles them until they work it out.

Thanks guys.

Had a rubbish night again last night, wakeups at 9pm, 12.30, 2.30, 4.30, 5am and 6am.

Someone recommended to me that I could drop the dream feed in case it was unsettling her. She would never wake up during the feed, it was always extremely calm and quiet in the dark. Does anyone have any thoughts on that please?

I am praying that this regression doesn't last, I feel like a zombie half the time

I guess you could try dropping the df. I df now and never did before regression. It works really well. But nothing to lose?!

Sounds like it to me. We got through it by co sleeping for a bit, could this work for you?

It's definitely worth a try! It may just give you an extra hour in your bed. Or she may wake to ask for a feed. TBH at 4 months I wouldn't be feeding until baby asked but that's just me personally. Having said that I did feed back to sleep during regression if he woke and didn't settle with cuddles and rocking. I think it's a balancing act between staying sane and supporting and comforting them through the transition. Just do what feels right and take one night as it comes. It WILL pass

I did the dreamfeed at 10.30am as usual last night as I wasn't quite ready to try without it! At 1.30am she grizzled a little and went back to sleep, then was up for a feed at 3.30am. After that she slept until 6.30. Result!!

I'm naively hoping that this will be the end of this particular regression (yeah, right!).

I hope that's the end of it for you.

I'm only 1 week into sleep regression and on my knees. Every night I convince myself tonight will be different, it isn't