Help! Why is he waking?

[Kade's Mummy]

Hi everyone

Our 4 month old still has a dream or night feed but usually goes straight down to bed without fuss afterwards. He has always woken around 5am but a quick replacement of the dummy usually sees him through til 7 (quite reasonable!)

HOWEVER... the last week or so he has woken at least every hour from 2am. He is fine once I put his dummy back in, but it all starts again within 30-60 mins. I need your help - why is he waking?!

He is not wet, he doesn't seem cold, there are no obvious noises/lights distrubing him, he's not hungry... what is it? I thought maybe teething but he has no red cheeks etc, he just dribbles alot which I think is due to him creating more saliva now he can put everything in his mouth.

He does have reflux but is on Losec so I wouldn't have thought it would be that (besides, nothing has changed there and he's only just started doing this).

Any ideas? The broken sleep is KILLING me!!! :banghead:

[Cilli]

Hi Kade's Mummy,
Not good to hear you're having this trouble. Could it be the dummy? I know we got to a really bad point with our bub where he was waking every hour and we narrowed it down to the dummy.

You probably know how babies sleep cycles go for about an hour and then they briefly wake, and if the conditions are slightly different some babies may not resettle - for some, when they slightly wake out of this cycle and realise they don't have the dummy then they fully wake up. It drove us crazy after a few weeks and we made the executive decision to get rid of the dummy!!!

We did have to reach rock bottom to come to this point, but it was the best decision we could have made. It took about 2 nights of grizzling (us going in every 10 minutes for an hour or so) and now he does not sleep day or night with dummy.

But it's hard as every baby's so different - I know other mums whose babies sleep fine with the dummy (although they usually still have to get up once or twice to pop it back in) I wish you all the best in figuring out the problem!!!

[poshBecks]

Yeah. Ella went through that about the same time. I thought that maybe she was ready for solids coz "they" reckon it can sometimes mean that. She wasn't interested though til 5 months.

Anyhow she got through that stage, but I have no idea what was causing it?

The dummy idea sounds interesting though. :rolleyes:

[JE's Mum]

Its really really common for bubs, especially breastfed bubs, that have been sleeping through to start waking again at 4 months. The development stage at this age means they are so much more aware and far more interested in everything other than feeding during the day so many can wake hungry at night (if you are breastfeeding, think about the day time feeds, are they 'on again off again?').

Otherwise its often because they are just more aware that you're not there. Anyway, my DS started waking again at 4.5 months and sorry to say, has only just started sleeping better now - he's 16 months.

They're all different!

[Natsmummy]

No advice to offer but just glad to hear I'm not the only one - my 17 week old son has been carrying on like this for the last 3 weeks - waking approx every 2 hours from when I put him to sleep at 7.30pm.
My early childhood nurse has suggested starting him early on solids - I'm still weighing up whether to do that or not.

[arleevic]

I have an 18month old son who is a good boy but always been a bad sleeper.I have tried everything....everything in the book and now have resorted to putting him in my bed(BAD IDEA) and even then he is not settling...I have ruled out any sickness or teething, and have put it down to 'He has it over me'(or clingly some mums like to say) He knows I will pick him up and do what HE WANTS,and I will do anything for SUM sleep!And lately have tried letting him cry it out(without me being there) and he falls asleep after 10minutes:) BUT wakes 2hrs later SCREAMING:( After seeing a baby clinic nurse today, I have no option but to go BACK to 'CONTROL CRYING':devil6:
I know its hard, I know it may seem Cruel (2 sum)but Im at braking point and it has started to affect my relationship with my boyfriend(arlees dad). NOt to mension I have a second on the way in 2 months and it is scaring the hell outta me!:o Does anyone suggest anything different , or do I have nothing to lose?

As my mum has always said on the matter..."YOu are the Cheif, He is the indian"...

[Natsmummy]

arleevic - Not sure if it was Tresiliane or Karitane but on that Kerrie Ann a few months ago they did a segment about how one of these is now doing programs to help people with their problems with toddlers. Maybe it would be worth you visiting one of these places? Hope it all works out.

[arleevic]

Thanks natsmummy... I have cut out cordial from his diet and replaced it with water and even since(2 days ago) HE IS SLEEPING alot better:D
Im sure that had something to do with it. and Ive been told to start giving him more 'NATURAL' foods rather then preservatives and additives...ITS working a charm... I notice if he wakes its for like 1 minute and he is straight back to sleep. :yelclap:
I suggest to all mums having problems with there toddlers sleeping, TRY not giving them lollies and cordial and stuff like that during the day and it makes a big difference at night...Ill keep u all posted...HOPEFULLY IM RIGHT lol
Id also love sum feedback if other mums/dads find this advice helpful.
CHEERS ALL

[Sara's Boys]

Kade's mummy,
I think it's pretty normal, well it was for me. Every couple of months Cruz would start waking evry couple of hours,regardless of teeet , sickness etc.Some times they just goe thru stages. But it's when the stage laste longer than a week or 2.I was BF completely and was told, no no, you cannot run out of mlik. But as soon as I offered him a bottle of formula (straight after 10 mins on each boob) and he drank 60 mls, I told the nurse, and yes, he was still hungry. I felt terribly I had been offering him boob, which was enough nutrient for him to thrive, but he was still feeling hungry. I continued to BF with top ups of formula, until 6 months. I am not saying it's the same situation with you guys. But just saying it really can be anything or even nothing at all. I hope it's a stage that passes really quick.

Cruz is almost 1, and he sleeps for 10-12 hours and 2 x 2hour day naps ! YEAH! and he still has a few days here and there when he just can't sleep.

[arleevic]

yer my mum says it is very normal for babys and toddlers to wake during the night. funningly NONE of my friends have this trouble , so either Im very unlucky or they r extremly lucky...??? he is still sleeping BETTER , but not through the night. He did go through stages of sleeping through at like 12months old, but now :confused:
I have also noticed the few teeth he DOESNT have are starting to cut, and he is drooling so bad he needs a bib through-out the day!!! BUt would this be the reason he is waking at night ScREAMinG his head off?????Anyone know?
All seems very confusing to me...but im not helping the situation by putting him in my bed (AS i tend to just give in after a while). Anyway...Ide LOVE all mums advice on sleepless toddlers...:thumbsup:

[kadownie]

I have twins- and my little boy is not a good sleeper- it started at about 5 months- they were sleeping through but then it all stopped. it was driving me crazy until I did a lot of research and came to realise that it's not abnormal for babies and toddlers to not sleep all night long. I do think it's related to breastfeeding for us- and that he just loves the feeling of being close to me- and when he wakes and I'm not there he doesn't feel safe.

So I don't mind him waking now- after all the research I've done I'm convinced he's normal and that the best thing for us is for me to just meet the need I see in him.

My little girl doesn't seem to have the same need to be near me to go to sleep or stay asleep- all bubs are different hey. She sometimes wakes in the night but not always.

As I've accepted that it's normal- I have coped a lot better.

Just wanted to share my experience, hope it's helpful