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12 week old baby squirming and writhing in sleep but not actually waking, should I feed her?

3 replies

mamawhowantsmoresleep · 05/08/2025 02:01

My 12 week old baby used to go longer stretches, sometimes up to 6 hours after a dream feed, however more recently after introducing some formula (mostly breastfed still, just one bottle of formula as part of bedtime routine) she now writhes and squirms around 2 am each night, despite still having a dream feed, with breast, around 10/11.

When this first began I assumed she was about to wake up for a feed so just picked her up and fed her. I’ve now noticed however that she’s not actually awake as her eyes remain closed, but seems to carry this on for however long until fed, she’ll then go back down and stop the squirming, but will then repeat this 2-3 hours later.

I don’t want her to expect a feed at this time and I want to encourage those long stretches without intervention again. What should I be doing when this writhing and (loud) squirming happens each night? I’m struggling to sleep through it but I don’t want to create any bad habits/ routines of being fed at this time each night, unless she is actually hungry of course!

It feels as though her sleep is going backwards despite our routine staying the same and the only change being the introduction of formula around 2-3 weeks ago, could this be a growth spurt/regression? Any tips or advice welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Pennyforyourthoughtsplease · 05/08/2025 02:04

That sounds like a reaction to the formula? Maybe it's giving her indigestion/wind? Is there a reason you have to introduce formula?

DreamingOfALottoWin · 05/08/2025 02:06

I would say wind from the formula

voucherwowcher · 05/08/2025 05:55

Does she seem uncomfortable writhing? If she’s not waking up and doesn’t seem uncomfortable then just ignore it? The issue is you can’t sleep through it rather than her waking up?

Baby’s sleep is not linear and will “go backwards” many times, you just have to ride the waves I think.

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