4 Month Olds Waking up Every 3-4 Hours at Night.

Updated on July 22, 2009
F.V. asks from Columbia, SC
4 answers

My twins will be 4 months old in a week. WE just move from Brooklyn, NY to South Carolina and ever since we got here, they have struggled with sleeping. They are finally used to their new place but they are now getting up again every 3-4 hours to eat at night. We have started cereal in the mornings and veggies at night (per my ped). I thought this would help them to sleep but it hasn't. When one wakes up after 3-4 hours, I try the passy in the mouth, touch them, pick them up and rock them etc. in hopes that they will just go back to sleep. They will sleep for about 30 minutes and after several attempts to get them back down, they want nothing but to eat. So we feed them. However, this isn't teaching them to go back to sleep without having to eat all the time. Yet I don't want them to scream and wake each other up. Any suggestions?

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Z.L.

answers from New York on

They may really be hungry and not just having a hard time going back to sleep. Everyone has different philosophies but my pediatrician recommended feeding on demand still at this age. However, you may have a different recommendation from your dr. My daughter was fed on demand and eliminated night feedings on her own until she slept through the night around 5 months. Every baby is different and your needs may be different if you are back at work and need a good night's sleep (I am a SAHM and could nap during the day to catch up). Neurologically babies are too young to be allowed to cry it out until they hit around the 6 month marker (which it doesn't seem you are doing) so you may have to help them with getting back to sleep a little longer.

Sorry this may not be the answer you were hoping for. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.F.

answers from New York on

It sounds a like a growth spurt to me. Some kids really need the extra food suring these spurts even in the middle of the night.

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L.L.

answers from New York on

I agree with Zoe; your girls may just be hungry. My son is 4.5 months old and when he was about 2 months he would sleep 8+ hours at night ... in a row! And, he's exclusively breastfed. Then, about 4-6 weeks ago, he started waking more often and would only going back to bed after nursing. My ped suggested that by 4 months my son should sleep through the night and that if the nursing sessions are short (which they are; maybe 7 mins), my son isn't really hungry and I should let him cry. I've decided not to follow his advice yet. The quick feed, while it tires me out, helps keep my son settled (and my older son asleep!), so I'm going to keep it up for another month or so. I'm hopeful he'll drop the night feedings when he's ready.

My suggestion: do what feels right. Even if you're tired, keep in mind that your girls will start sleeping longer and this is likely just part of the soothing they need -- whether for real nutritional value or simply because of the fact that they're babies! :)

Good luck to you.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from New York on

Hi F., Congratulations on your twins. Not only the move but they could be teething and this would wake them up. I too do not believe in crying it out and never let any of my 5 do it. They grew up fine and happy to know that mom loves them and responds when they call. Hopefully this will pass and they will start to sleep longer. Grandma Mary

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