20 week old sleep has started waking all night.

[Lizbiz89]

My 20 week old has started waking like he did when he was a newborn. We had just started to get to a point where he was waking once for a feed at 5-6am and now we're back to 3 or 4 times a night! It's actually killing me. Has any gone through the same? I feel actually ill with sleep deprivation.

surely you work in months now??

@FunnyFinch what difference does that make?

I think there is a five month regression stage however some babies are just like that - my 18 month old wakes 3 or 4 times a night and gets up at 5am but my three year old has been sleeping 12 hours solid since 8 months old.

Bless you I feel your pain ! Feeding can go in clusters as I recall so hang in there !

Someone posted about their 28 month old recently and I thought, surely it's time for years now? But did I feel the need to say anything.....

He’s 20 weeks. That’s tiny. Waking 3-4 times a night is completely normal.

I said 20 weeks because some people see 20 weeks as 4 months and others would say it's 5 months. That's the only reason I said it 🤷‍♀️

Look up the 4m sleep regression, it is probably that!

Sorry, I didn't mean you were wrong - I used weeks until mine turned one!!!

This is normal at 5mos.

It’s completely fine to say weeks.

Is it the 16 week sleep regression?

@britneyisfree thanks, yes it's confusing isn't it! My husband says he's still 4 months and I've read 20 weeks is 5 months! Doesn't make sense 🤣

Definitely a sleep regression. It should only last a couple of weeks and settle down again. It’s hard going back the way. My 2 kids have both started sleeping through the night and now if they’re up a couple of times I find it hard. I honestly don’t know how we all survive the newborn phase but somehow you do! It will get better.

It's the first sleep regression. Totally normal and expected at this age. It's utterly exhausting. It will pass... and then the teething will start happening, developmental milestones also affect sleep and then the next sleep regression kicks in. I'm currently having 5 hours a night in two chunks with my 15 month old, partly due to him cutting three molars at once. My dd slept through once she started walking at 15 months. The only way I manage the sleep deprivation is to go to bed hopeful that tonight will be the night he sleeps through. It will happen one day. Despite all of this I'd love another dc. My DH thinks I'm mad to say this when he sees how frustrated I am at 3am. My advice is to read about sleep regressions, have some treats to enjoy in the day and if this is your first dc then to try and relax in one of their day time naps. I can't do that this time round with a three year old and part time work. Just as well that babies are cute .

Welcome to the 4 month sleep regression….! It could be short lived or it could last a month or two, but it will end (promise!). Just be consistent and try not to change too much. Don’t worry if you resort to co-sleeping if it helps you get through. Look after yourself- take a break when someone is there for you to be able to.
you’ve got this 🌟

I found the sleep regression much tougher than newborn sleep because at least newborns don't DO anything, hahaha.

My five month old (exactly, today) requires so much entertainment and energy than when he was a puddingy newborn.

@thecatsthecats yes I 💯 agree! Plus I feel like you're living off adrenaline in those first few weeks with a newborn so you cope better. How's your baby sleeping now? My ds is 5 months tomorrow and still wakes multiple times a night, starting with 1am 😫

@Lizbiz89 do you use white noise at all? It was a lifesaver when my DS started waking hourly at about 5 months. He actually started sleeping through at 4m then it all changed a few weeks later. From what I remember, with the white noise he would go down at about 7 until 1ish, wake for a feed, then back down until about 6/7. Which was much more manageable! We have only just stopped using white noise at night and he’s 2 now but I was too scared to switch it off in case he couldn’t sleep without it 🙈 luckily he does!
Good luck. Sleep deprivation is a killer and I remember it well!

@waryandbored yeah we use white noise and tbf it does help as he does go straight back to sleep when he's put down but still wakes up multiple times a night.

I’m guessing he’s fully waking and needs comforting at this age? As in, you can’t leave him to self settle yet.

@waryandbored yeah fully waking. I do try to leave him to settle and pop his dummy back in his mouth which sometimes works but at the moment he's having none of it 🤣. He's also waking himself up sticking his hands in his mouth so I've had to try and find babygrows which have scratch mittens inbuilt which is tough as he's now in 6-9 month clothes. Got a lovely set from next which he can't wear as they don't have mittens in the sleeves 😫

@Lizbiz89 oh bless him. We always used sleeping bags and still do but didn’t have the problem of hands in mouth! It does get better. I hope it does for you soon.

Going through this right now! I know your post is a little old now, but how and when did it improve?

@Lizbiz89 Going through this right now! I know your post is a little old now, but how and when did it improve?