17week old now waking at 4/5am every day for a feed

[CMG92]

Hello I think our little 1 is going through the sleep regression! It doesn’t matter what time we put him to sleep he wakes up at 4/5am for a feed then goes back to sleep. He didn’t use to do this and doesn’t always have a full feed, 5oz instead of 7. I just wondered is he now getting into a habit or is this normal at this age? I’m finding it hard as he feeds every 4hrs so having to feed him at 5pm then a nap when I think he should be going to bed around 7 before a final feed at 9 is proving difficult for him to wake himself as he really wants to go bed. 🙈

This is normal.
When I had my first this was taken as a sign to start solid foods. By the time my youngest was born you just went with it.

Eh totally normal, what the heck?

Honestly the best baby advice a mum of a young baby can take on board is that babies change. Just because they “used to do X, Y or Z” doesn’t mean they will do that forever. They will go through periods of drinking less, waking more, waking earlier etc. You just need to go with it.

He will change his needs fairly often. They don't 'get into habits' they just express needs. Be glad he goes back to sleep! It's a hard time, you'll come out the other side. Remember nothing lasts forever at this stage, it's just a phase!

My 18mo wakes up more than this 😭

Perfectly normal, just as they get you into a routine, they change it 😂

Baby wakes in the night for a feed - I'm struggling to see the issue here tbh.

If this is the only night feed then I'd be cartwheeling with joy

Well yes, of course he does, he's a tiny baby...? They'll do that. Not sure what you were expecting.

Just to be clear, your 17 week old sleeps from 9pm till 4/5am…and you’re complaining?

I want to be supportive, but jealousy and confusion are winning. 🤣

well what I was actually asking was I can’t keep him awake at night til 9pm for a final feed so is putting him to bed after a feed at 530 sleep say 6pm going to backfire by him then wanting to be up at 5am rather than go back to sleep! He was a big baby so has slept at least 5/6hrs since he was 2months old! I’m not complaining just looking for advice

My 11month old has been a horrific sleeper and has finally started to sleep until 4/5am for a feed and I'm literally elated. Not saying this to be an ass. But honestly, your baby is doing amazing at sleeping, take the wins where you get them!!!

Honestly op my youngest woke every single hour for 11 months! You don't need advice as kindly you don't have a problem to fix. You've got it good! Just tend to the baby when needed and try to make the best of things.

@Cindy1802 exactly!

Am I understanding this right-
Currently you are feeding him at 5ish, and are trying to keep him up until 9 for a last feed before bed, then he is sleeping through until he wake around 5 for a feed then goes back to sleep?
I'm no baby expert but in my opinion you don't know how good you have it 🤣. Is he not most likely just going through a growth spurt so needs more milk?
Do you not normally expect to feed him during the night?
Does he nap in the day? Why not juggle his feeds (4 hours is very exact.... is he bottle fed? Does he never have hungry spells when he needs it more often?) So that he is fed around 4, has a nap til 6 or so. Up for a bit then bath, feed and bed around 7-8. Feed again without getting him up around 11 (or whenever you go to bed) and maybe he will go a bit later in the morning without getting hungry.
But tbh I'm not sure I see what the problem is, your baby is hungry, you feed him then he goes back to sleep. I'm pretty sure that is damn close to perfection 😅

My 8mo is still waking every 2 hours. I wish I had the same problem as you lol

Our 4 month sleep regression involved wake ups every 25 - 45 minutes. This doesn't really sound like a regression. One feed a night for a 17 week old is great. You could try pushing each nap a little later until bedtime is at more like 7pm or so, but could be tough with take windows as short as a 17 week old needs!

If sleeping from 9pm til 4/5am then waking for a feed and going back to sleep is a sleep regression then I'd like to sign up.

What about offering him a feed every 2-3 hours during the day? Rather than every 4. You'll get more calories into him during the day.

I don’t understand either of your posts so I am not sure what you’re asking. But - I had a big baby who also slept through from 2 months. At around 4 months that all changed and he wakes several times in the night now for feeds. It’s totally normal for babies - especially that young - to wake for feeds. There isn’t much of a routine you can put in place apart from the time they go to sleep. They just do their own thing. They’re always changing so I think it’s more stress than it’s worth trying to fight it. I’d say relax and go with the flow.

Same thought here. Expectations way off.

Mine got up at 5 until they were at least 3 years old. I also don’t understand the big babies things. Mine were big babies but still woke to feed in the nights.

I think op the answers you are getting are a bit mean as so may of us would have sold our souls to have a smallbaby sleeping like this!

They change so much, just when you are used to something or think you've cracked a routine, they change. The mornings are quite cold now, his he waking up a bit chilly? Would another blanket work? You could push back the time he is falling asleep very gradually every couple of days to get his bedtime a little bit later as well.