(almost) 3 month old suddenly NOT sleeping through the night, but I want to start sleep routine.

[HarryB]

Think I got too smug too soon. My DS has been sleeping though the night since 5 weeks, but the past couple of nights, he's been waking up for a night feed (at 4 & 2am respectively). Could this be a growth spurt or should I resign myself to a change in his sleeping habits? He currently goes to bed with us at around 10pm (but does sleep downstairs from 7 - 8.30-ish in the evenings). I am looking to start a proper bedtime routine on Sunday (when he is exactly 12 weeks)- with a bedtime of 8pm (following a bottle, bath etc). If I start this routine now, is it likely that he'll wake up for more feeds during the night. Should I wait till he is sleeping through again to start the routine? Is the return of a night feed inevitable anyway given an earlier bedtime, so should I go ahead with routine regardless? Sorry for all the questions. Am a first time mum in case you hadn't noticed

Many thanks.

hi - i did the bedtime routine as in bath, bf and bed from about 12 weeks with ds2 and 7 weeks with ds1. They were both ready to start it at different times.

However neither slept through until about 8 or 9 months which is pretty normal as their tummies are still quite small.

I'd go for starting your bedtime routine if thats what you want - i know i liked re-claiming my evenings. And just see how the rest of the night goes.

Good luck.

I'm sorry but I think you just got lucky with him sleeping through the night as long as he did. Neither me nor any of my friends' children slept through the night at this age. One friend was like you, her ds slept through the night from five weeks until 10 weeks, then started waking for night feeds.

Babies often need more milk at night during growth spurts. You can always try a routine and a dream-feed but your baby will probably actually need feeds at night until they're about six months old or want them for much longer as in the case of my ds. I'm also a first-time mum of a seventeen month old who didn't sleep through until he was one so I've read alot of books about infant sleep.

A bedtime routine is a great idea and gives a nice comforting structure to the end of the day. But don't expect your baby to suddenly sleep through the night again, and be prepared to give a dream feed at the very least for the next few months. A five week old baby that will sleep from 11-7 is very rare indeed (I did it apparently so I know it does happen, but 90% of babies won't).

They are all different and do things differently and at various times. My Dd didn't sleep through until 19 months and then only because of 'training'.
Start your routine, but expect changes to occur because they are likely to as baby grows and changes.

Thanks so much ladies. I know how lucky I have been with his sleeping through up till now. I think - as some of you have said - that I will start the routine, but obviously stay in tune to his needs which will change as time goes on. All my friends were so jealous as well. Not anymore. Ha ha. Thanks again

"All these things are very exciting, but also very scary for him so interupted sleep is normal. (Just think how well you'd sleep if you suddenly discovered you had a superpower that you never knew you had)".

StarlightMckenzie, definitely agree with your comment above. Last night after I fed him, he coo'd quite loudly for ages. A new thing that he's learnt so - quite rightly - he wants to practice. Very cute, even at 2am. Doubt I'll be saying that in a week though