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Sleep

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Original poster

4-5 month olds sleep club, - come and join..........

685 replies

SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 13:10

Hiya,

There have been so many threads lately about babies who were beginning to sleep better, but suddenly hitting this regression to newborn hell.

So I thought I would start a support thread for us all to compete whinge about how little sleep we are all getting, and tips on how to cope.

Baby Starlight was up just twice last night, but the previous night it was 6 times, and because of that I kept putting off going to bed at all last night, so even though it wasn't too bad, I still had hardly any sleep

OP posts:
cyteen · 06/02/2009 20:54

loulou my DS is also really hungry atm - during January I started trying to settle him with shhhing/patting when he woke, as I realised he was waking out of habit some of the time, and it was working really well - we had one week of him waking once at around 12/1am and then nothing till 5/6am...one week ...then the 3 hour madness began. And he's feeding fully most times - occasionally he'll be shushed back to sleep but it doesn't last long.

If it's any consolation an NCT friend who has a 7 month old said her boy was also awful at this point - it was his worst time for sleep. I remember her then, she was a complete zombie. Now that zombie is me

Original poster
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 21:03

Dunno, - but there are endless threads started on MN by people when their los are this age.

Have a read of this though:

www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/4mo-sleep.html

It might answer some questions and I think there are some tips there too.

Aw lou in that case I wouldn't bother expressing. You have enough to cope with. When he slows on the second breast, - offer the first again. He might not be interested but even a couple of sucks or a bit of fussing will help stimulate supply. Trust your body though.

OP posts:
anchovies · 06/02/2009 21:08

Can I join?!

I have a 20 week dd who has never slept for longer than a 3 hour stretch. She is currently waking more often than that although I don't think she is really hungry but instead just likes being in our bed. I have always slept with her in our bed then just put her back in her bedside cot but she now wakes everytime I try and move her and goes beserk.

No problems in theory with cosleeping but my back always ends up sore and I like to turn over a lot. Doesn't help that her older brothers have both had constant coughs and colds and are awake shouting us or talking to each other half the night as well. It's going to be a long 6 weeks til weaning (if that even cures the sleep, does anyone know if it will?)

anchovies · 06/02/2009 21:12

That is a great link thanks, makes total sense!

Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:17

Hi I'm in!

DD is 20 weeks on Tuesday. It is getting better though. I can now reliably settle her by about 9pm which gives me half and hour in the evening before I crash! She's only waking every 2-3 hours in the night whereas DS was waking avery 30 mins.

Though at the moment I'm still struggling with DS's sleep as well which isn't helping or giving me much hope for the future.

I think this is the worst time for sleeping according to all my friends - after all that's why so many people wean at this age.

What I hate is being so tired makes me into a snappy, crappy mum.

Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:18

Are all your LOs breast fed by the way? Does this sleep regression affect both types of feeding?

Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:18

Are all your LOs breast fed by the way? Does this sleep regression affect both types of feeding?

Original poster
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 21:19

You're welcome. I think it was ninja (on this thread) who first brought my attention to it!

OP posts:
Original poster
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 21:21

My DD is bf, but my DS was mixed fed and was exactly the same. I don't 'think' it makes a difference.

OP posts:
Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:24

I just wondered after reading that link.

Is it a hunger thing? I always feed DD because I can't be bothered to do anything else!

Also, she used to always spit out a dummy but has started taking one this past week.

Really glad other people are going through it as well. Well done for starting thread Starlight.

Original poster
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 21:27

Skimpty I interpreted it as a growth spurt, so hunger, coupled with distracted feeds during the day leading to a need to catch up and feed more at night.

Sorry if I'm rambling, my eyelids are half closed, but I'm pinned to the sofa by, - well I'm sure you can guess.......

OP posts:
cyteen · 06/02/2009 21:27

Skimty my DS is breastfed and like you I always just stuck him on the boob at the first whimper. This is why I started trying to develop my baby-settling skills, because I knew I would probably need them at some point! And it was working but now he seems to be going backwards (or at least sideways).

Does anyone else have the same daytime sleep issues then? He's never been a great daytime sleeper but using shh/pat and regular nap times was starting to lengthen his naps...now he just pings awake after 40 minutes and nothing I can do makes any difference. I also hate being so thin on good humour, it makes me feel awful as he is so lovely

cyteen · 06/02/2009 21:30

He is also extremely distracted during the day which I'm sure doesn't help his calorie intake.

CantSleepWontSleep · 06/02/2009 21:32

I was going to suggest the same as SM re offering the first breast again loulou.

Do the rest of you find that the first stretch of the night is the longest one? Ds went to bed at 6:50 tonight (handy, as we have been preparing stuff for his big sister's 3rd b'day party tomorrow) and is still asleep, but once he has his first wake he then wakes very frequently.

I'm bf skimty. I tandem feed ds and dd. Afraid that I know very little about ff.

CantSleepWontSleep · 06/02/2009 21:37

Liking that link sm. Going to post it on pn thread now.

Original poster
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 21:38

Yes CSWS so at the moment I ensure the first stretch is when I am sleeping.

We'll probably go to bed around 10pm and feed until around 10:30 (having fed for most of the evening first

I'm sad to have no evenings atm, but I HAVE to prioritise sleep.

OP posts:
Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:38

DD seems to always do 45 mins in the day until I'm out with my NCT friends (from DS) when she does 1-2 hours and makes me look like a liar

But again, I think this is slowly improving from 30 mins. But I hate it when she's tired by the end of the day. She also does the up after 45 mins in the evening too.

Starlight - I think it's massive growth spurt. DD is definately very hungry. My mistake with DS was not feeding him leading to a tired and grumpy mum and a baby that was too hungry to sleep and to tired to feed properly IYSWIM

I was thinking about how feeding evolved the other day - surely if you were out foraging wih your baby at about this age you may move them to your back? Then it would be easier to co-sleep and feed all night?

I find it v interesting how modern life is so anti-baby but I'm fond of intellectualsing things I actually find bloody hard to make myself feel better!

Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:40

Yes, I BF and I don't know anything about FF. How do you cope with growth spurts or is not so much of an issue? I've got no idea really.

Original poster
SnowlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2009 21:43

Skimpty I like that story lol.

I'm afraid I haven't a clue about daytime naps. Baby Starlight just does them as and when. If I want so peace I might rock her in her bouncy chair. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 06/02/2009 21:47

What me specifically because of tandem? I just feed all the time! Generally I only feed dd first thing and last thing at the moment - it was lots more for the first few weeks of ds being here, but it got a bit ridiculous, so I cut her back. She'd always be happy to oblige if I wanted to up my supply though . Actually my supply gets too much (too forceful and full of foremilk) for ds if dd feeds too much, so I restrict her to always having my right breast, and ds gets left as his primary one, but does feed from both.

Ooh - first wake of the night - I'm off to feed!

Skimty · 06/02/2009 21:51

I actually meant growth spurt with FF but I'd never thought about problems with tandem feeding like that. I bet you're v skinny

minkersmum · 06/02/2009 21:56

Hello i recognise a few names from sep ante natal thread and thought i'd drop in to say my little one doing exactly the same. She was doing quite nicely feeding just once a nigth then just after xmas she is feeding countless times thru the night. We co sleep and the feeds aren't too bad but last week she keeps waking at 5 and is stuffed full, does a big poo and is awake and ready for action and full of smiles. I'm not smiling when this happens!!
Its good to know we all in same boat !!

CantSleepWontSleep · 06/02/2009 22:14

lol at the idea of me being skinny. Am the complete opposite!

Ds just took a good (though sleepy) feed thankfully. He was too tired to feed well at bedtime.

daisyblue · 06/02/2009 23:10

Can i join too,please? - my DD is doing exactly the same ... from 8 weeks she was going down about 7.30 till 4.00 quick feed, then back down 'till 7.30 -8.00. thought i had it sussed ... then we hit week 15 and all hell broke loose (up every hour for a nine day stretch!) used A&P powders and they seemed to help -now she is up roughly every 2 hours (after an initial run of 4-5). It is so reassuring that it appears to be quite common. ( I am b/feeding also, but can't co-sleep as DH is a clumsy oaf heavy sleeper, who usually has has a few beers and we live in a one-bed flat).
Thank you Snowlight - link is ace (sorry for rambling - I am quite new to the ole MN)

Debs75 · 06/02/2009 23:24

Not only is the constant waking grinding me down but the gnawing at my nipples is agony. I cope fine during the day but once she gets really tired she sucks right at the end, not latching properly at all. Plus by this time of night my boobs look like 2 deflated balloons and feel so empty.
Every time she wakes the only way i can get her back to sleep is a quick 5 min feed. Usually i get in bed and fall asleep and wake up in the early hours so i am going to try and do it sat up then i can escape downstairs.