For about the past 5 weeks my son has slept a solid 10 hours thru the night, sometimes would wake up once to eat and go right back to sleep. Over the past week, he's suddenly not sleeping nearly at all. He kind of acts like he's teething with his hands shoved in his mouth all the time and all the drooling, but he doesnt seem to be in pain when he wakes up at night. He's up every 1-2 hours for an hour, and he just wants to play, and ALWAYS wants a bottle but I dont want to overfeed him. I know he's not hungry, he eats 5 oz every 4 hours during the day, and has one solid meal every day. He's not napping in the day anymore either, and he was napping 3 times a day at the same exact time every day. I feel like i've gone from the best baby ever, to a very difficult one. I asked his doc about it, and he didnt seem to help me at all. He simply said my son has nothing wrong with him and is just having some problems sleeping lately like any human being but im not satisfied. Ive researched my problem alot and saw alot about 4 month olds going thru this due to a developmental growth spirt, when their minds are just so busy all the time they dont sleep. But i dont know what i can do about it! Im completely sleep deprived and delusional at this point and i usually have the patience of a saint bbut im at my wits end and need help. Oh, i went back to work about 3 weeks ago and im wondering if that could be affecting him too? I really just need some comfort or suggestion.
Maybe he is hungry. Try feeding him every three hours. My kids were never able to go four hours in between feedings. Ar four months, I was happy if they were able to go three hours without a bottle! Just a thought, I feel your pain. It is soooo tough when they do not sleep!!
The baby is at an age where it very well could be teething, but he's also at an age where he could be having a growth spurt. At 4 months old if he's waking during the night and is actually hungry, you have a choice of things to do. You can feed him when he wakes and there's nothing wrong with that at all. Babies have very small tummies and the milk goes through their digestive systems quickly because they need it to grow. When they have a growth spurt they're burning more calories so they need the "extra" formula/breastmilk from an extra feed. You would NOT be over-feeding.
Your other option is to add an extra ounce or half ounce in each of his day bottles to see if that helps at night. Sometimes you can get all of the necessary calories in during the day before bedtime, but don't be surprised if increasing the amounts during the day doesn't work right away.
You could also try giving him one extra bottle right before bedtime, a "dream feed" and give him his additional calories that way.
If he's teething, then give him a dose of Infant Tylenol drops and if that soothes him and he sleeps better then you know that's what it was. A baby doesn't have to cry to be disturbed by teething.
You've probably hit the nail on the head with the growth spurt (physcial and developmental) hypothesis. Take comfort (if you can) in that this only lasts a week or two. That said, night-time waking can become habit, so in a few days, you may want to do some sleep training to help your son learn to sleep through the night again.
Your son could be waking due to a number of reasons. He's still so tiny at 4 months...he absolutely could be hungry...teething...having nightmares...it could be anything.
Try co-sleeping...or if you're not a fan of that then try lying with him until he falls asleep and transferring him back into his room.
If he's hungry...feed him...period. Save everyone in the house the aggravation of no sleep and give your child what he wants. Four months is usually when they start eating more anyway...you will not overfeed or spoil your child...they need to eat to grow.
I have a four year old who was never a good sleeper and sometimes still isn't...and we've co-slept since his birth. Children let you know what they want and need you just have to listen and be in tune to what it is they're asking for. Embrace it and nourish the mother-baby bond. Before you know it your son will be big and all these sleepless nights will be behind you.
Perhaps the book "The Vital Touch" by Sharon Heller will help. Check your local library for it or grab it from Amazon.com
Good luck.
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My daughter did that, too. I would always just breastferd her and change her diaper and she'd go back to sleep. I really don't see the logic in letting my baby cry when I can quickly give her what she needs and all is set right.
Now my daughter is 7 months old and sleeping like a champ. Yours will, too! Good luck!
Oh, I feel your pain. Sleep deprivation has to be one of the most difficult parts of being the mom of a newborn. It's very possible that your son really is hungry at night or really wants to suck on something. I completely understand not wanting to overfeed him, but you could try offering the bottle. Most babies at that age will refuse if they're not hungry. Also, does he take a pacifier? You could try that. Some babies just need something to suck on to get them back to sleep. Good luck! And just remember, they go through so many phases, so this too shall pass.
I remember how frustrating it was to have a week of uninterrupted sleep and then go back to the frequent nighttime wakings. Their habits and needs are constantly changing. Just when you think you have him figured out, he will change again! That said, I think he might be going through a growth spurt and perhaps you should feed him at night when he wakes (if that seems to be what he wants). Focus on enforcing a nap schedule during the day and the nighttime sleep will follow. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is a great book about infant sleep, and how it relates to neurological and hormonal development. Check it out if you haven't already. Try putting him down a bit earlier for his naps so you can wind him down before he becomes overtired. I really think that once the naps are re-established he will sleep better at night. But if he's having a growth spurt or in the process of learning a new skill he might still have restless sleep for a little while. It won't last forever! Hang in there!
Did he get knocked off of his day sleep pattern somehow? you've got to try to get him back to napping during the day. He MUST HAVE more sleep. babies that age should only be awake for 15 minutes or so after eating and then back down for a nap. He will cry when you place him down for the nap because he is tired. Let him cry himself to sleep- Many people think the baby is crying because he wants to be up- this is NOT true, all he knows is his central nervous system is AWAKE and it doesnt want to be. it is actually painful to be awake when you are dying for sleep (ever try to stay up for two days straight? that is the equivalent for a baby) an infant is wired to cry until the NEED IS MET, which in this case would be falling off to sleep. A baby will grow during sleep- and they grow more during the first 6 months that anytime ever in their lives. They must have the sleep to be able to do thier work (grow).
The excessive lack of sleep may be depleting his cortisol levels which will contribute to insomnia. Here is an age old addage: sleep begets sleep. The more your baby sleeps during the day, the better night sleeper he will be.
Number one causes of crying are need for food and need for sleep. Thats typically it. rarely it will be pain or even a wet diaper. They never cry for play time. That is not part of an infant's reality. So just try to get him back on schedule with sleep patterns. Stay home more to be able to do this. I know its not fun but it does help.
