Help. Being driven insane through lack of sleep!

[Rockelburger]

My 16 week old who has slept through the night 10 hours since 6 weeks old (I realise how lucky I was) has now started waking every 1 or 2 hours for a feed. She'll only have 1/2 ounces then be deep asleep again.

I thought it was a phase but it's been about 3 weeks now. What is going on? Is this normal?

Someone suggested I use a rusk in the milk to thicken it before bed, is this safe? She hasn't started weening yet. Also she only has 1/2 ounces on her last feed of the day before becoming practically comatose! She used to have 5/6 ounces.

I'm going slowly insane through lack of sleep and so is the hubby! Any advice welcome

No, don't use rusk, it's bad for their teeth, gut and could cause choking. Google sleep regression. It is a normal stage at this age and it is normal for babies at 16 weeks to wake for milk and cuddles. It does pass!

Will google thank you. Just feel like I've done something wrong even though I haven't changed a thing

There's a huge sleep regression at 16 weeks. Hopefully things will settle down shortly.

She might need something to suck. Have you tried a dummy?

Yeah she has a dummy. It's like she can't be bothered to have much bottle and just goes to sleep instead.

It has been suggested to me today she might be wanting food instead?

First baby so I'm a novice. She is 16.5 weeks old. Is that about food time? Everyone says she will show signs but no one tells me what those signs are

No, she won't want food. As well as her dustestuve system not being developed yet, she'll still have the choke reflex to spot out anything out in her mouth.

Sounds like she's over tired. How much daytime sleep is she having.

At 16 weeks I would expect around 60-80 minutes awake time between one nap and the next, with naps of 30-45 minutes - repeated throughout the day.

If she was less overtired she'll be easier to keep awake for a full feed.

Digestive system...
Spit out...

Over tiredness or sleep regression.

Yes sadly it's a well known time for serious sleep regression. I guess you're feeling it even worse because your baby slept so well up til now. My DC2 is 3mo and I'm dreading this bit again. With DC1 it lasted months but I think most are lucky and it's just a few weeks. Try to just go with it. It won't last forever and he doesn't need solids. Good luck, sleep deprivation is the pits!

*she, sorry.

This is the 4 month sleep regression. . It is so horrible. Do as much as you have to but as little as possible to get her back to sleep. If you can avoid feeding her do. If she'll let you soothe her in the cot even better. She's learning how to self settle. (And obviously not great at it yet!)

Thanks for the support everyone