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Sleep

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Original poster

dd 14 weeks night waking

22 replies

katherine2008 · 10/12/2008 11:22

hi, my wonderful dd had been sleeping pretty much 'through the night' for about 3 weeks - she had stopped waking for her 2/3am feed - and was waking once or twice a night every other night at various times needing her dummy to get back to sleep. For the last 3 nights she has woken up at 2am pretty much on the dot and then about every hour, grizzling, through til about 5.45am when I'm feeding her (last night not helped by a poo at 3.30am - she went straight back to sleep after I'd changed her). I'm fairly certain she is having a growth spurt as she is draining her bottles at the moment - so wanted advice - do I keep popping the dummy back in or does she need feeding? any help grateful received. Thank you!

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rubyslippersisappearinginpanto · 10/12/2008 11:25

feed her - she will probably settle a lot quicker and not grizzle until 5 am

at 14 weeks most night wakings are for food or a cuddle

Original poster

katherine2008 · 10/12/2008 14:58

could it be teething yet?

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Maria2007 · 10/12/2008 15:07

If it's a growth spurt, it'll only last a few days, at least that's what I have heard... If it continues more than a week, maybe try using the dummy & settling her without feeding- usually with my baby (who is a little older than your daughter, he's 18 weeks) I can tell quite clearly if it's hunger (in the night) or if it's just general whingeing. When it's hunger it's a very insistent cry.

Original poster

katherine2008 · 10/12/2008 16:01

thanks - not hunger then - this is just grumbling and the dummy sends her back to sleep again - all be it with a lot of arm flailing! will persist with the dummy - thanks!

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Maria2007 · 10/12/2008 16:06

if it was hunger the dummy would certainly not be enough to send her back to sleep. So you can be fairly sure it's more out of habit or something else, maybe just general unsettledness...

Original poster

katherine2008 · 10/12/2008 16:15

is there anything i can do?

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Maria2007 · 10/12/2008 17:00

you mean apart from what you're already doing? well... most possibly she'll start sleeping better soon on her own, I think 14 weeks is a bit of an unsettled period sleep-wise anyway. I would give the dummy, stroke their tummy gently, go sh sh sh & try to soothe back to sleep... It may take a while, but she should get the message soon! However, if she's hungry, I would feed (at this age).

ches · 10/12/2008 17:16

It's a classic age for a growth spurt and v. young to be sleeping through. I'd feed her!

littleboyblue · 10/12/2008 17:20

Personally I wouldn't start feeding again after 3 weeks, I'd maybe offer some water but if I'd gone 3 weeks withoutnight feeding I wouldn't go back. I'd prob offer some water or somehing and give a reassuring hug for now, but that's me. I weaned ds off night time feed at about 16/17weeks.

Maria2007 · 10/12/2008 17:28

Ches: would you feed her even if she's clearly not hungry ? Babies wake up for other reasons apart from hunger...

ches · 10/12/2008 19:24

Yes I would, because the surest sign of not being hungry is not taking the feed. It's not like she can say "I'm not hungry, Mum, I'm waking up because that's nature's way of making sure I don't succumb to SIDS."

Original poster

katherine2008 · 10/12/2008 20:11

will keep trying with the dummy for another couple of nights and if we have no change will try water, but worry that will wake her more than she is - she goes off very quickly again, just wakes again an hour later... will report back tomorrow - if anyone is going through the same at this point would love to hear! thanks for all the advice...

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ches · 10/12/2008 22:10

Water! They are supposed to be fed exclusively milk until 6 months. The liquid diet means that they need all their liquids to be nutritive. Please don't feed your tiny baby water.

littleboyblue · 11/12/2008 11:33

The OP has not stated whether or not she is bf, if she is not then a baby on formula does need liquid apart from milk. Breast milk will adjust to fit baby's needs but formula will not, so if the baby is ff, then it is perfectly acceptable to offer water and a little mean not too

jem1mapuddleduck · 11/12/2008 12:22

so glad to see this thread! DS is 15 weeks and in the last 4 nights has gone from waking once or twice between midnight and 7am to every 1-2hrs with lots more crying. Initially felt it was a growth spurt as he was waking with his mouth wide looking for the nipple (he's excl bf) but last night he was unhappy about an hr after a feed. i don't know what to do - do i just sit it out or do i need to be doing something to help him get into a better pattern? Very relieved to hear its a common time for a growth spurt.

OhLittleBitShyOfBethlehem · 11/12/2008 14:07

I have to say I don't agree with not looking back after 3 weeks.... My ds had been sleeping 4out of 5 nights from about 8 weeks then did a month of every single night (that was at 13 weeks onwards i think), then he started waking occasionally... If a quick cuddle doesn't re settle I always offer to feed him (and he never refuses ) because even though he is capable of sleeping and even though my dd never had a night feed after she was 8 weeks old (but did I appreciate what an angel sleeper i had then with my pfb? nooo, of course not ), it desn't mean he isn't hungry that day. He's too little to force not to feed....Of course it isn't always hunger but sometimes it may well be... Plus he's only small - feeding is comfort, feeding is cuddles with mummy...

ches · 11/12/2008 14:10

Little boy blue that is true of babies past weaning age, not pre-weaning age.

littleboyblue · 11/12/2008 15:21

I'm pretty sure not for formula fed babies ches

ches · 11/12/2008 17:50

www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyneedwater.htm

While breast milk is approximately 88% water, formula is not and thus many pediatricians will recommend that formula fed babies be given sips of water from 6 months of age or when solid foods are introduced. The offering of water is a recommendation only. It is not intended to be taken as an absolute must that you offer your baby water!

Should you decide to offer your baby water, please limit the intake to 2-4 ounces a day. You do not want the water to displace the intake of breast milk and/or formula!

The article goes on to explain the dangers of giving water to young infants.

littleboyblue · 11/12/2008 18:35

Fine, but you wouldn't be giving 4 oz water if it was just a means to get lo back to sleep if you felt he wasn't hungry.
I'm sure the OP will will appreciate your info though

Original poster

katherine2008 · 11/12/2008 19:40

thank you all for your feedback - we are on the bottle at the moment and taking around 6floz per feed on average. last night she woke hourly from 3am (I got an extra hour at least!) so will see what tonight brings and have a rethink again tomorrow. I don't think she is hungry - when she's hungry she really does let you know - but she obviously does need something!!

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Original poster

katherine2008 · 12/12/2008 10:34

jemima how have your last couple of nights been?

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