4 Month Old Waking up Every Night at 3 Am

At 4 moths, it's probably a growth spurt. You are at the point where (if your pediatrician oks it) you can start giving some food (rice cereal, etc.), which could help his belly stay full overnight. At 12 pounds they are supposed to be able to make it 8 hours at night without a feeding, but a growth spurt does change that. Good luck!

Use the wake to sleep method. Go in about an hour before he would usually wake, and poke him (gently) until he just stirs. Then sneak out. The key is not to wake him all the way but interrupt his sleep cycle so he can get past this habitual waking. It may take 3-5 nights of doing this. It worked for my son. I know it is hard to set your alarm and get up earlier than you would have to otherwise, but it is an investment.

The AAP does not recommend any food before 6 mos. Period. Babies do not need solid food at 13 weeks. It's more likely to give the baby indigestion than to induce sleep.

Your baby is still young and is most likely hungry. Responding to your babies needs is what is important, not sticking to your idea of what is normal. I know sleep is very needed...I have a 7 month old, and for the first time he slept through the night last night. My experience with my twins and my new son is that they will let you know what they need whether you want them to wake you up and tell you about it or not! Feeding your baby extra at night may help, but it could also may his tummy upset. Replacing those calories he needs at night will take time, the older he gets and the more he begins to eat baby food the more nutrition he can get during the waking hours. It's normal for babies your son's age to need that nighttime nurishment.
My advice: feed your baby at 3:30 in the morning it will work its way out of routine soon enough...as for your needs go to bed a half hour earlier

Maybe there's something or someone waking him up. Possibly a neighbor coming home or leaving, the furnace turning on, birds chirping outside (sounds weird but I hear them sometimes this early) or one of you getting up to use the restroom. Just another idea.

rumbamel

I have 3 kids. My first slept through the night at 6 weeks, my second not until he was a year old, and my third at 8 weeks.(She's 4 months old now) If your son isn't screaming when he wakes up, let him sooth himself back to sleep. He'll eventually get on a sleep pattern.

A.,
Boy do I know the drill... I did it with 3 kids! First let me tell you it will take anywhere from 1-2 weeks. ANd you have to understand that you are a GREAT Mom for doing this.
Step one. BUY your self a fan, one that makes lots of noise.
Step two, The first night when he wakes up go in pick up, settle him down, and then instantly put him back down. He will cry, but wait 5 min before you go in and do the same. next time wait 10 minutes, go in ....next time he cries wait 15 minutes, go in... next time wait 20 minutes, go in... ect.
No you may not get any sleep the first couple of days of doing this, but actually he is learning that you love him, but he must comfort himself. He will learn to do this. It only took about a week of doing this. The fan is so you can turn it up on high so you dont have to endure the crying in between. You cant completely ignore him, because you need to make sure he is ok, and to send the message that "You are OK"
Like I said, I have done it with 3 kids and it worked every time! It came from my doctor.
Good Luck!
D.

It sounds like it could be a growth spurt. If you are breastfeeding and he goes to bed before you, it might help to nurse him again just before you go to bed so that his tummy is full. If you bottle feed, you would want to wake him up to give him a bottle and it would depend on his temperment whether he wanted to go back to sleep after that.

The biggest thing is to trust your intuition. You know him best so you'll know what he really needs when he wakes up. If he's just waking up, without needing anything, I really like the suggestions in The No-Cry Sleep Solution. The idea is for everyone to get the sleep they need without bedtime or night time being stressful. Good luck. I hope his sleep pattern improves soon.

If his diaper is needing to be changed, for goodness sake change it, that will not affect his sleep pattern if they are dirty they should be cleaned. As they get older they get longer gaps between going to the bathroom. If it is not the diaper, I know opinions differ but try a very small amount of rice mixed into the last bottle of the night. Sometimes a little for the tummy to work on helps tide them over through the night. Every baby is unique and it may not help but it did for my children. For those who freak out at any form of food this early if it doesn't work you can always stop and if it does. Horray!! (you may need to enlarge the nipple holes slightly to accomadate the thicker mix.)

We went through the same thing when my son was that age (he is 7 1/2 months now). I had thought he was crying because he was hungry so I would nurse him and put him back to bed. After awnile I realized his "internal clock" was stuck so I would just give him his pacifier and little blankie and he would fall back to sleep. He is a very good sleeper and he doesn't require rocking or anything. Have you tried a pacifier? You can also just have him cry it out. It is hard, especially when you need sleep, but better to break the habit when he is young!

Hi A.,

My advice feed him more throughout the day. So if you are formula feeding up the amount by 1 or 2 ounces.

If you are breastfeeding try to do 10 minutes longer on each side.

And if he won't take more try offering a pacifier when he does wake up.

He will grow out of it. He may be going through a growth spirt and he just wants a bottle. Not all 13 week old babies sleep through the night. My sisters kid is 8 months and still gets up 1-3 times a night so consider yourself lucky that it is only 1 time a night and he goes back down 20 minutes later.

Welcome to motherhood aka not enough sleep. If you are lucky he will start to sleep through the night soon but it may take some time. Each child is different. My first sleept through the night at about 6 mo and my second not untill about 18 mo. My first had a milk allergey and I believe the formula filled him up longer and may have helped him sleep longer. When he wakes up, how do you get him to go back to sleep? Try less contact. Maybe you leave him in his bed and just put your hand on him. Do NOT make eye contact. I know that sounds silly but the eye contact stimulates him. My guys both had Fisher Price aqueriums that have a little light show and can make bubble sounds or play music. I would turn that on and eventually, my guys learned to turn it on themselves if they woke. If you go out of town, don't forget to bring it with you. Otherwise, hang in there, he will get there eventually. You can do it mom:)

Maybe you need to feed and change him!

I know it may be tough, but try to ride it out. If he is not wet or hungry, let him fall back to sleep on his own. Don't even get out of your bed.

four months is a little early for "crying it out" so you may just have to deal with an early wakeup for awhile. He could be getting a tooth or a cold, or just going through a growth spurt. I agree with the other moms on here, don't be afraid to feed or change him. It's pretty normal for a baby to wake up once a night for quite some time. The best thing to do is just keep a quiet environment when you do it so he understands that it's still night. Keep the light down, or off and don't talk or interact too much. Keep it all subtle and quiet. Sleep patterns shift a lot at this age so don't worry. I hope you get more sleep soon.

A.,

I might try changing his daily sleep pattern. For instance, if you are putting him to bed at 8:3oP, I would try putting him to bed at 10P. This might help him stay asleep a little longer in the morning hours. Even though it extends his (and your) evenings, he will grow used to getting up later in the morning. Also, I would have his daycare provider make sure that he stays awake during the day more. He might be getting too much sleep during the day.

Also, one of the old tricks of the trade includes adding a little bit of cereal to your little one's bottle at night before putting him to bed. This fills up his little tummy more so than simply using formula. This might prevent him from waking up because he's hungry.

I hope this helps!

Hi A.!
I have 4 children, recently twins that are almost 6 months and they still wake up for one night time feeding.
I was told by my doctor that this is fine.(That technically they are not expected to "sleep through the night" until 6 months- but at 3 months my oldest son did sleep through the night!)
THe twins go to bed at 5pm., wake up at 2am and sleep until about 6, so I am not sure what your schedule is for your baby, but it could be that he is hungry. He could also be teething. Try a pacifier w/o picking him up. Just put the pacifier in his mouth. DOn't interact w/ him too much.( Although I do think that 13 weeeks is still very young and it would be normal for him to wake up needing comfort, to eat, whatever.) My twins wake up and if I know that they are not hungry, I just use a pacifier. BUt again, they are 6 months and yours is still a little too young to assume he is not hungry.
I wold give it some time and he will get past it soon (but then he may wake up at other hours....just determine if he is not hungry, and then you need to sooth him to sleep quickly and w/ o too much interaction. I wouldn't do that, though, until 4 months or so..wait a few more weeks b/f you stop picking him up to rock him.) You could also try swaddling.

I know that the doctor doesn't usually want the baby to have solids before a certain age, but a lot of mothers find that their baby needs something more than breast milk or formula before that time. Have you tried feeding him some rice cereal before putting him to bed?

When is his last feeding? 4 months is alittle young to be going all night. I would feed my boys before I went to bed around 10pm. If you are sure he is not waking because he is hungry try going in to check nothing is wrong (wet sheet, tangled in covers etc.) If everything is okay don't pick him up. I know it sounds mean but let him cry try turning off the monitor. If you can't let him cry himself to sleep (I had trouble listening to mine cry.) try letting him cry ten minute and go back and let him know you are there. BUt don't pick him up. Try letting him cry alittl longer each time if you can. I know it is hard I've done it three times (I have three boys) But is ususally only takes a few nights of little sleep to get to the point being able to sleep all night. Good Luck!!!!

Why r u not feeding him or changing him? My grand son is almost a year old and he still wakes up during the night for a bottle. Plus that would be a good time to change him if needed. U dont want diaper rash if he is wet. I guarentee that now that u have a child, U will never get much sleep again. Even when they are adults. Get use to it dear.

Hang in there! I have two kids and my first slept through the night at 6 weeks, but my son took until 10 months! Kids sure are different! I know not what you want to hear. I was working at the time and it is rough. Still, my doctor said it is normal for kids to not sleep through the night until 12 months. I feel for you. Just know, this too shall pass???

Okay, and my question is: Why are you not feeding him, he is only 13 weeks young?? Babies have growth spurts continuously. Under the age of one, a baby that sleeps 4 to 5 hours straight is considered sleeping through a session.
All moms need sleep, but you have a baby and their needs come first. His little clock will change for the next 18 years.
I apologize if this sounds rough, but that is what you signed up for "motherhood". M.

Does your baby stay asleep aftet you get him/her back to sleep? Neither one of my kids slept through the night until they were close to a year old. If you are breast feeding, your baby will wake up more often. You should feed your baby when he/she wakes up in the middle of the night. I worked full time with both my kids and it was not easy when I was up 2 - 3 times each night, but you have to do it. A diaper change should be done too if you don't want diaper rash.

Don't worry! It's perfectly normal for him to do this at 4 months. Train yourself to not fully wake up while you change him and put him back to bed - that's the key. Some babies don't sleep all the way through the night right away. So enjoy your little 20 minutes in the middle of the night because, yes, it will be gone soon.

I think I read in BabyWise that if your child is waking in the middle of the night because his 'internal clock' is stuck (i.e. you've determined he is waking up at the same time each night but is not hungry, wet, hot / cold, uncomfortable etc...) you can try to reset it by not responding and letting him cry it out or otherwise soothe himself back to sleep. He recommends doing this on a weekend rather than on a day when you have to get up for work in the morning.

Try feeding and changing him! It is not at ALL unusual for a 13 week old to wake during the night.

Hi A., as hard as it might be I'd advise that you let him cry himself back to sleep. I know I hated doing that when my son did that during the night, but I had doctors and family all tell me to do that and it'd help him get his sleeping routine back in order and it did work. Good luck!